As many of you liked the article on biological polymers that can lead to circular manufacturing models, I will dive deeper into this topic, explaining how a transition to biological polymers could be achieved. So far we have learned that the most abundant organic biopolymers like cellulose and chitin can be used to produce very strong…
Unlocking the value of a circular economy using 3D printing is leading innovation everywhere. Recovery initiatives to increase sustainability, like reusing plastic waste and turning it into 3D printing filament, are becoming more common. In tune with the need to care for Earth’s limited resources, Italian studio Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA), in partnership with global energy…
Extracts of lemon and almond peels can be used for sustainably produced car parts and building components. This BARBARA project jointly funded by the European Union and industry ensures that food waste can be put to good use, replacing petroleum-based plastics with more environmentally friendly bioplastics. The BARBARA project is supported by the European consortium called…
Plastics and their byproducts are littering our cities, oceans, and waterways, and contributing to health problems in humans and animals. 70 % of the deep sea fish have eaten plastic and 55 % of fish species were even found with microplastics in their body. But as the number of uses rises, so does the demand for…
One of the main reasons why bioplastics have not been adopted more yet, is that often they can’t compete on price with fossilbased materials (at least this goes for the traditional manufacturing technologies). That means they need to offer other benefits, let’s have a look into these benefits. There are two major advantages of biobased plastic…
There are many misconceptions and myths when it comes to Bioplastics. One example for such a misconception is that bioplastics are considered to be always compostable and can’t be used for engineering applications. However this is not true. Let us have a closer look and see what bioplastics are. According to European Bioplastics, a plastic material…
3D printing has been touted for its ability to re-shore production and use less overall feedstock than conventional techniques. Discussed less frequently is the technology’s ability to repurpose materials. One 3D printing startup keenly aware of this fact just came out of stealth and is in talks with investors to scale up its operations. But Marvel Labs doesn’t…
FRIBOURG, Switzerland—Volvo Cars is using ampliTex flax fiber composites from Swiss company Bcomp to make optional trim for the dashboard and doors of the new EX30 compact electric SUV. It is the first production vehicle to use the new, lightweight material. While Bcomp’s natural fiber composites have been used in motorsport applications, such as Formula 1,…
As issues related to global warming continue to arise, people around the world are constantly searching for solutions to our environmental concerns. One notable one is seeking ways to address the growing waste issue, with the World Bank estimating that global waste would grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050. It is for this reason that…
With the ability to create custom objects quickly and efficiently, 3D printing has opened up a world of possibilities for designers and engineers. But what if we could take 3D printing a step further? What if we could use AI and other tools to make the process even more efficient and streamlined? In a world where…
Remember Arris? The tech company behind Additive Molding™, a high-speed manufacturing process that aligns continuous carbon fibers and enables the integration of electronic components and multifunctional materials into a single topologically optimized part or component. The R&D team has developed natural-fiber composites with high-performance capabilities to complement its already available bio-nylon resin material being used with carbon and glass fiber.…
In the previous article of this series, we discussed the power of first principles thinking, which involves breaking down complex problems into their fundamental components to gain a deeper understanding and identify new solutions. In this article, we will explore how first principles thinking can be applied to the world of 3D printing to design more…
Mexico-based company MANUFACTURA has led “The Eggshell Project” to convert organic waste into a building material, creating new opportunities to ground people’s lives in environmental protection. The research project uses a KUKA KR-150 robotic arm to 3D print a bioceramic created from used eggshells and combines it with sustainable aggregates. The process, when completed, produces building…
French designer Laurence Carr is on a mission to make sustainability and circularity a mainstream conversation backed by action. Carr is an interior and product designer who has been focused on circular and regenerative design for more than a decade. Her original series, Chez Laurence, runs on EarthxTV, and both seasons focus on the urgent need…
Frankfurt start-up Enable 3D and German DIY magazine Selber Machen have collaboratively launched the Print and Play Construction company collection. The designs were created and presented entirely on a newly developed recycled printing material from Amsterdam-based startup Reflow. Reflow’s bioderived material, which is made with recycled food packaging, is available in a variety of translucent colors.…
As the topic of sustainability continues to grow in importance, 3D printing is increasingly at the center of the debate about greener production. One example of this comes from a possibly surprising source. Krill Design’s projects may in fact be proof that 3D printing and planet go hand in hand. The startup was founded by three…