3D printing is good for the air you breathe

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Society is wholly reliant on a complex and vulnerable network of manufacturing supply chains—a realization we’ve all had as we’ve grappled with the shortages and supply chain challenges of the last year and a half.

As we rethink our production strategies to reduce single points of failure and increase agility and resilience, we would be missing a major opportunity if we didn’t also rethink supply chains through the lens of sustainability. The Boston Consulting Group and the World Economic Forum found that supply chains are responsible for a whopping 80% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

With the intensifying emphasis on green technology across practically every industry, it’s easy to overlook the invisible logistics chains that bring products from manufacturing hubs to the point of need. As businesses rally to reduce their emissions and exposure to the risks and costs associated with freight and inventory holding, digital manufacturing—and specifically additive manufacturing—present promising opportunities.

By 3D-printing critical products at the point of need, manufacturers can circumvent lengthy logistics chains and eliminate associated emissions altogether. Three major trends in the industry are driving rapid adoption of this environmentally advantageous approach:

Cloud connectivity. A subset of additive manufacturing devices is now being designed with software as a core element of the product’s DNA. The result is efficient fleets of cloud-native devices that can be commanded by global parts managers and design teams all over the world. Users can now iterate on new concepts locally and immediately distribute the production version globally with the push of a button.

Materials. Ceaseless innovation has seen cheap, throwaway plastics give way to robust composite materials strong enough to replace machined metal. As more versatile material offerings empower manufacturers to contain more manufacturing problems with additive manufacturing, high-emissions fire drills have turned into calm, deliberate solutions with zero associated logistics.

Accessibility. Manufacturers no longer need to choose between desktop prototyping machines and finicky high-end R&D equipment. The wider material capabilities are now accessible on efficient systems the size of a microwave at a cost commensurate with ordinary office equipment. As a result, manufacturers can easily justify distributing printers in multiple strategically advantageous locations. As manufacturers add more sites with additive manufacturing capabilities, they eliminate the need for logistics chains that connect these sites.

Manufacturers adopt additive manufacturing for many reasons: to increase innovation, to solve tricky engineering problems, to save time and money, and to create more-resilient manufacturing organizations. The time has come to add reducing carbon emissions and achieving climate goals to the list.