Greener Layers: Exploring Sustainability in 3D Printing at 3DGT

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Overconsumption is becoming more and more normalised in today’s world. The more we're encouraged to replace rather than repair, the less we take the time to consider what could be done with something broken.

Sustainability in our business has been on my mind recently, so I’ve spent a few days researching and reading studies on the topic. What I’ve learned surprised me — 3D printing isn’t as environmentally friendly as I originally thought, but not for the reasons I expected.

The Pros and Cons of 3D Printing for the Planet

Additive manufacturing, like 3D printing, can be far more sustainable than traditional subtractive methods. We can minimise waste by carefully designing our products to reduce support materials, printing multiple items together, and adjusting settings based on the required finish.

Working on a small scale also gives us an environmental advantage — our local customers can walk into the shop and buy directly, avoiding the carbon footprint that comes with overseas shipping or warehouse delivery chains.

However, 3D printing does use a significant amount of energy. When mass-producing items, traditional moulding methods can be more efficient in terms of energy use — something that came as a surprise.

Our Materials and Their Impact

We primarily use PLA (Polylactic Acid) — a corn-starch-based, non-toxic material that’s biodegradable in industrial settings. It’s often marketed as eco-friendly, but it isn’t as simple as tossing it into a compost bin. While it can technically be recycled or composted, it requires specialist equipment and facilities that are currently few and far between.

In addition to PLA, we also use TPU, ABS, PETG, and Carbon Fibre blends. Each has its own purpose and environmental impact, but we only use them when a specific project demands it — and we never waste them unnecessarily.

Repair, Don’t Replace

One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is helping customers breathe new life into old or broken items. With a bit of time, creativity, and problem-solving, we’ve repaired countless things that might otherwise have ended up in landfill — often replacing them with sturdy, custom parts instead of disposable alternatives.

Our Commitment Going Forward

We’re not perfect, but we are conscious. We do our best to keep our carbon footprint low, and we’re always looking for new ways to improve. From reducing print failures to exploring recycled filament options, we’re committed to learning, adapting, and doing better — for our customers, our community, and our planet.

If you have thoughts on sustainable 3D printing, or ideas you'd like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you!