3D printing is making headlines around the world. It will change production in various ways, but the big question is: at what environmental costs?
We're already seeing the devastating effects of climate change, and we don't want to make it worse for future generations. That's why companies and individuals are wondering how 3D printing relates to the environment. Read the article and find out!
November 7, 2025
Material waste is a major problem in the manufacturing industry. However, 3D printing appears to be more environmentally friendly than conventional manufacturing. If your product does not require additional material when printing, the FDM machine involves negligible waste.
For example, the 3D printer can produce hollow pieces, which saves material. You may be surprised that an FDM printer can produce more than 90% of the hollow section, reducing the amount of material and energy needed.
One of the most important advantages of 3D printing is therefore the manufacture of lightweight objects. Think about how much fuel you would save if you lightened a car or plane.
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Thanks to the innovation of 3D printing, you can quickly prototype complex shapes such as windmills, cars or furniture. These 3d objects are created in a miniature format. They are then printed with a maximum volume of 10%. This not only speeds up production time, but also reduces the power consumption of the machines.
3D printers can create a variety of objects without having to drastically change the machine configuration. Unlike machines where equipment and installation or configuration have to be modified to produce different parts, the 3D printer makes the production process flexible.
Everything can be turned into a 3D model with a 3D printer. As a result, it would be less necessary to move manufactured items from one location to another in the future.
This in turn reduces transport costs and associated pollution.
3D printing uses a significant amount of recyclable materials such as PLA or PET. 3D printing technology has improved over the years, making it easier to reconstruct 3D objects with greater accuracy.
Compared to CNC or other production machines, 3D printers for metal parts require a large amount of energy. The blasting or heating technology used to combine materials requires a lot of energy and can have a significant impact on the environment, especially in countries where fossil fuels are used to generate energy.
Another harmful effect of 3D printing is directly caused by the machine. According to studies, small pieces of plastic and other toxic chemicals are released into the atmosphere during printing, and inhaling them is not a smart option. Asthma and other breathing problems can worsen, and most of these pollutants have been proven to be harmful to everyone.
Innovation in 3D printing is rapid, and we can expect dozens of new materials to be available for 3D printing, such as plastic, clay, cement, and so on.
3D printing experts have also considered using biodegradable plastic, which requires less thermal energy to dissolve and can greatly reduce the costs and side effects of 3D printers.
Several attempts have been made to use wood products as a permanent bond that requires less energy than burning plastic. With technologies such as Solar Sinter, which uses renewable electricity to melt grit into the glass, 3D printing is expected to have become more environmentally friendly.
These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg and make 3D printing more environmentally friendly. Given the current pattern of technological progress in 3D printing, we can expect 3D printers to run on renewable energy in the future to reduce the negative impact on the environment.
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