As we look to the future, pundits and thought leaders routinely point to 3D printing as a solution for improving and streamlining manufacturing to something leaner, greener and more environmentally friendly. Is 3D printing more sustainable than traditional manufacturing methods? It depends on how you look at it. When it comes to multi-material 3D printing, like 3D printed electronics, part counts are reduced while electrical and mechanical functionality is combined, creating a more streamlined, efficient and sustainable production process. A groundbreaking 2014 study offered confirmation to the mantra that I and many of my colleagues in the additive manufacturing industry have been repeating for more than a decade: 3D printing will help slash CO2 emissions in the future – projected in this study to be as much as 5 percent by 2025. Not only is the manufacturing process itself more efficient in 3D printing but by its very nature, additive manufacturing eliminates the need for extensive transport, storage and travel required by traditional production. Plans for even the most complex printing process can be shared digitally, allowing any factory with a 3D printer to become an instant production hub, no transport, trucking or carbon-fuelled trekking required. 3D printing is an additive process, so how can it be that there are waste products that need to be reused? Well, it all comes down to human error – many prints have been made with no use or simply can’t be used.

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