Can 3D printing help rescue natural reefs?

Environmental issues are becoming more and more unavoidable and the degradation of natural reefs is one of them. Natural reefs are vital for the well-being of our planet for they are one of the most varied ecosystems on Earth. However, they are quickly disappearing due to several factors that can be collectively called “environmental damage”. The answer to this problem seems to lie in additive manufacturing. According to the experts, 3D printed reefs could be the best short-term solution.

INTERREG Atlantic Area (European funding programme that promotes transnational cooperation among 36 Atlantic regions of five European countries) funded the 3DPARE project, which was born from the cooperation of several European research institutions – University of Cantabria (Spain), ESITC Caen Institute for Civil Engineering and Construction (France), University of Porto (Portugal) and Bournemouth University (the UK). The project is led by the University of Cantabria Department of Civil Engineering who specialize in 3D Printing. The 3DPARE’s goal is to deploy and then monitor the artificial reef blocks that they have been planting in the Atlantic Ocean. These reef blocks were designed and manufactured using innovative 3D printing technology and sustainable bio-receptive materials.

Credits: 3DPARE

For the sake of avoiding confusion it should be noted that artificial reefs had, in fact, been planted before. However, compared to those existing artificial reefs, whose design and structure are created from conventional materials such as concrete and steel, the solutions of 3DPARE are ecological, sustainable and specifically tailored for enhancing the biodiversity and the ecosystem in the marine environment. The optimized artificial reefs were shaped through large-scale 3D printing; the materials were developed from natural and renewable raw materials to stimulate the colonization in the marine habitat.