Preserving Our Oceans With 3D Printing: An Overview of Current Projects

According to a study conducted by the European Parliament, between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes of plastic find their way into our oceans. This alarming statistic poses a significant threat to both our planet and the species inhabiting it. The Ellen Macarthur Foundation warns that by 2050, there could be more plastic in the oceans than fish.

In response to this pressing issue, numerous initiatives are emerging worldwide to safeguard our seas and oceans, with some leveraging 3D technologies. Indeed, 3D printing presents several advantages in waste recycling, such as repurposing fishing nets into printing materials and preserving marine biodiversity by creating artificial coral reefs. A multitude of projects employing additive manufacturing techniques are underway to protect our oceans, and today, we’ll explore a few of them.

Fish Alternatives

Revo Foods and Its 3D Printed Fish Substitutes

The demand for seafood products continues to drive the overexploitation and degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Overfishing, in particular, is depleting ocean wildlife at a rate faster than stocks can replenish. In response to this urgent global challenge, Revo Foods is proposing a solution in the form of plant-based, fish-substituted food produced using 3D printing technology. Recently, they have introduced a new 3D printing system, called Food Fabricator X2, which will allow them to take their production to an industrial scale. This new system highlights the high extrusion precision that gives a very real texture to the printed food, in addition to allowing the combination of different ingredients. In September of 2023, Revo Foods introduced their products to select supermarkets in Austria, where they were well-received by consumers.