Lower your footprint with 3D printing

Why would you invest in sustainable manufacturing? You will notice the benefits by improving the efficiency of your manufacturing process such as: lower production costs, faster production and, finally, it is good for the environment.

Increase sustainability with 3D printing

You might ask yourself “is 3D printing environmentally friendly?”, the answer is yes. Most manufacturing companies can lower their footprint in the world by using 3D printers to manufacture their products. This is due to the following reasons:

Using less printing material

By using 3D printers in manufacturing, you will need less material to produce your products. This is due to two main reasons, the (printing) waste is less compared to traditional production, and because of the strong internal structure of the 3D prints.

Saving filament by using the right internal structure

With 3D printers the possibilities are endless because you are almost able to create anything you put your mind to. You can also decide for yourself how strong the internal structure should be. Is the purpose of your product for heavy usage? Then you might want to make it solid. If your product does not need to be that strong, like when it is for decorative purposes, you could save by using less filaments by creating a less dense filling. Thus, making this way of manufacturing not only very sustainable but also cost-effective.

Sustainable materials

The world is overflooded with plastic waste. Of course, you want to make your manufacturing process more sustainable, but how can you do that with 3D printing? First things first: a good 3D printer is as eco-friendly as the filament you print with. There are two options options you could consider, printing with either biodegradable or recycled filaments.

Printing with biodegradable filament

It’s possible to print your products with biodegradable materials like PLA. This is one of the most commonly used filaments in 3D printing. The main weakness of PLA is its sensitivity to moisture. This filament is also less bendy than non-degradable filament ABS. Therefore, PLA will break more often when put under pressure.

Using recycled plastic as filament

You can even print your products with recycled plastic. There are few ways you can achieve this. You can transform your printeded waste and old 3D prints to new rolls of filament. It is possible to transform unneeded plastic waste like PS and PET to recycled filament. This way of manufacturing is obviously very sustainable and eco-friendly. Although, this process could be more expensive than using less eco-friendly filaments.

Contact Tractus3D

Want to know more about how 3D printing can impact your manufacturing processes? Feel free to contact us. We will gladly share our knowledge with you, so you can make well informed decisions.

Sustainable manufacturing