Greener Layers: Sustainability and 3D Printing at 3DGT

In 1987, the UN’s Brundtland Commission described sustainability as meeting today’s needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs. That idea feels increasingly relevant in a world where “replace it” is often easier than “repair it”.

Sustainability has been on my mind a lot recently, so I’ve been digging into the reality of 3D printing and the environment. What I found was… mixed. 3D printing can be a brilliant tool for reducing waste and extending the life of products — but it isn’t automatically “eco-friendly” just because it sounds futuristic.

Where 3D printing helps (and where it doesn’t)

3D printing is an additive process: you make the part by adding material, rather than carving it out of a bigger chunk. That can reduce waste compared to some traditional methods — especially when we design parts carefully, minimise supports, and print efficiently.

It also shines when it prevents unnecessary replacement. A small replacement part can keep a larger item working for years, which is often the most sustainable outcome.

But there are trade-offs. Printing takes time, and time usually means energy. For high-volume mass production, traditional manufacturing methods can sometimes be more energy-efficient per part. In other words: 3D printing is excellent for the right jobs, not every job.

Materials and what “eco-friendly” really means

We primarily use PLA (polylactic acid), which is plant-based and often marketed as “green”. It’s a good material for many prints, but it’s not as simple as tossing it into a home compost bin. PLA can break down in industrial composting conditions, and recycling options vary a lot depending on what facilities exist locally.

We also use other materials when a job requires them — TPU for flexible parts, PETG for durability, and occasionally ABS or carbon-fibre blends for specific use cases. Each material comes with its own pros and cons, which is why we try to match material choice to real-world need rather than using “fancy filament” for the sake of it.

Repair, don’t replace

One of the most rewarding parts of our work is helping customers repair things. A broken clip, a missing knob, a snapped bracket — the kind of small failure that often sends a whole product to landfill.

When we can replace a single part with a sturdy, well-fitted alternative, we’re not just making something new — we’re keeping something useful out of the bin.

a pair of glasses we fixed for a customer

What we’re doing to improve

We’re not perfect, but we are conscious. Some of the practical steps we focus on include:

• reducing print failures (less wasted material, less wasted energy)

• optimising prints to use fewer supports

• choosing materials based on function, not hype

• exploring recycled and more sustainable material options where they make sense

Sustainability is a moving target, and we’re treating it like any other part of the business: learn, measure where we can, and improve over time.

Join the conversation

If you’ve got thoughts on sustainable 3D printing — or you know of better recycling options, materials, or local schemes — we’d genuinely love to hear them. The more we share what works (and what doesn’t), the better choices we can all make.