Is Additive Manufacturing (AM) sustainable? The 3D printing industry claims it reduces waste because builders can only print what is needed for a specific project. The use of 3D printing in construction can reduce or eliminate the need for heavy construction equipment or trucks to transport supplies to construction sites, thereby reducing emissions.
3D printing buildings could reduce waste
Waste reduction is an established benefit of 3D printing a house or building, provided the company overseeing the project has invested time and talent in perfecting its process. For example, consider powerful buildings. Its method virtually eliminates all excess construction waste. The base size of these modular structures is 350 square feet, although customers can use both together, making them 700 square feet.
In another case, a team in Italy 3D printed an ecological habitat made of locally sourced clay. They also suggest that people can adapt their methods to be compatible with other types of loam found elsewhere. In addition to reducing waste associated with off-the-shelf materials, the process promotes recyclability and supports people in need of climate-resilient housing.
Emission reduction is not guaranteed
Many people might think that the materials used in 3D printing buildings are naturally superior in terms of emissions. However, this is not necessarily true. Most 3D printed houses still use cement in their construction. However, more sustainable alternatives exist. In one case, Hyperion Robotics combines automation and 3D printing with low-carbon concrete in its AC process, claiming it uses 75 percent less concrete than conventional construction. This approach reduces both the materials used and greenhouse gas emissions.
Those who are particularly concerned about the sustainability of 3D printing should always check which materials are used by the companies involved. They should also identify relevant emissions compared to traditional materials and practices, including whether the process involves transport-related emissions. This makes it easier to analyze whether 3D printing is really a more sustainable method of construction.
Taking Additive Construction Sustainability to New Heights
One of the positive outcomes of combining 3D printing with architecture is that businesses and researchers continue to find innovative ways to make them more sustainable. Consider the work of researchers at Texas A&M University. They created a new material called hempcrete for 3D printing buildings. The team said they created a net carbon-negative material, mainly from hemp, that has excellent fire and thermal insulation properties.
Sustainable 3D printing can also be extended to the interior of buildings or construction sites. A company uses pellets made from agricultural waste to make 3D-printed lights. Another group 3D printed a portable toilet using single-use medical plastic. Could this example pave the way for reducing emissions from conventional portable toilets brought to construction sites? Only time will tell.
3D printed buildings are more sustainable in many ways, but not all
Describing that 3D printing is always more sustainable than traditional construction methods would be an overly broad statement. If the parties involved have honed their processes and eliminated all inefficiencies, this is likely the most likely from a waste reduction perspective.
However, as most 3D printing materials still use concrete, there is plenty of room for improvement. It's also worth noting that most of the sustainable alternatives mentioned here are still very new, not yet widely available, and some are still in the concept stage.
It may later be discovered that certain materials are not as durable as previously thought. If such projects require extensive rework after only a few years, they may not be as sustainable as homes without 3D printing in the long run.