Earth Day: Can 3D Printing Help Preserve our Planet’s Resources?

Preserving our planet has become one of the main challenges facing our current society. But it is difficult and long to change mentalities, still there are a number of initiatives that have been developed with the aim at protecting the Earth’s resources. And in fact, quite a few have turned to additive manufacturing as a solution. This is because, by definition, 3D printing involves the addition of material to build a part, which results in a reduction of the amount of waste. It is in this sense that it is more “green” than other manufacturing methods. 3D printing also allows for a focus on local production while promoting a more circular economy. And in honor of Earth Day (April 22nd, 2023), and in order to help you learn more about some of these initiatives, we decided to take an original approach, via the 4 elements: earth, water, wind and fire. How does additive manufacturing help preserve them? How does it rely on these resources to build a more sustainable world? Here are some examples that put our planet in the spotlight!

Earth

TOVA, Spain’s First 3D Printed House Made With Local Soil

TOVA was created by a group of students and professionals from the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona (IAAC) using WASP’s 3D printing facilities and Rhinoceros 3D’s Grasshopper software. To build it, they combined traditional construction with additive manufacturing, getting the best of both processes and applying them to the project. Why are we interested it? Well the construction materials were fully sustainable: clay and water. To achieve the perfect mix of natural materials for printing, research was done on the soil conditions. This made it possible to find the right mix of clay and water to mold the walls. In addition, geopolymers were used for the substructure and wood for the roof. The creators managed to build a 3D printed housing prototype on a 1:1 scale, using clay and wood for the roof and making sure it was weather-resistant. Moreover, it isn’t just sustainable, the house was also designed to be cozy and sustainable.

Photo Credits: IAAC

TECLA, an Eco-Sustainable Habitat 3D Printed With Raw Earth

TECLA is an eco-sustainable habitat that was 3D printed with local raw earth in Massa Lombarda, Ravenna. Its creation was possible thanks to the collaboration between the architect Mario Cucinella and WASP, relying specifically on Crane WASP 3D printing technology. TECLA is a carbon-neutral house made from local raw earth, eliminating the need to bring construction materials to the site while also reducing waste. Its shape has been designed with climate and latitude in mind. The soil mix has been optimized to balance the thermal mass and ensure the best conditions in terms of thermal insulation and ventilation. TECLA is about 60 square meters and is divided into a day area with kitchen and a night area with bathroom. Some of the furniture is integrated into the raw earth structure, while others are designed to be recycled or reused in the future.