Michael Larson

One of the questions we always have to ask ourselves when it comes to additive manufacturing is, "What makes a project successful?"

Of course, a cost-efficient, swift manufacturing process is always going to feel successful. But it's got to be sustainable too.

Innovative materials are helping achieve this sustainability in AME, reducing waste and safeguarding our future on this planet. Perhaps the most effective way to do this is to use recycled materials to develop substrates for 3D printing. Nanocomposites, for example, can be produced using plastics and other materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

Nanocomposites can even be used to make the printed components themselves biodegradable. While additive manufacturing reduces the risk of waste through overproduction, it still leaves behind harmful materials. Using biodegradable materials reduces the impact on the environment.

With the right approach to sustainability, AME can make a real difference for our planet.