OWA 3D: Pioneering Sustainable 3D Printing with Advanced Recycled Filaments and a Circular Economy Vision

The landscape of additive manufacturing continues its rapid evolution, marking 2017 as a pivotal year filled with both immense promise and significant challenges for the 3D printing industry. With the arrival of global tech giants like HP, General Electric (GE), and Michelin making strategic moves within the sector, the market’s dynamism is undeniable. This thriving environment has fostered a new wave of innovative startups eager to contribute to and capitalize on the technology’s advantages. Recognizing the vibrant talent and crucial trends shaping this industry, 3Dnatives proudly embarks on its own journey to highlight these trailblazers, featuring our “3D Startup of the Moment” each month. Our aim is to spotlight companies that are not only pushing technological boundaries but also addressing critical societal and environmental needs.

This month, we are thrilled to introduce OWA 3D, a truly distinctive startup that recently captured our attention. What sets OWA 3D apart is its unique integration with the established French industrial powerhouse, ‘Armor Group.’ For several months now, OWA 3D has been at the forefront of offering a revolutionary range of environmentally friendly 3D printing materials. Their mission is clear and impactful: to actively combat the growing global plastic pollution crisis, a challenge intrinsically linked to the increasing use of plastics across various industries, including 3D printing. By prioritizing sustainability, OWA 3D is not just developing new products; it’s championing a new paradigm for additive manufacturing.

3DN: What is OWA 3D, and how did this innovative concept come to life?

OWA embodies the visionary concept of managing a product’s entire lifecycle, extending beyond its initial use to encompass its end-of-life phase. This approach is deeply rooted in the principle of “producer responsibility,” a critical component of the circular economy. While the ultimate holder of a product typically bears the responsibility for its waste, we at OWA felt compelled to go further. Our ambition was to provide users of our products with a comprehensive solution for the collection and responsible treatment of materials once they reach the end of their operational life. In the realm of 3D printing, this waste primarily consists of filament off-cuts, empty spools, and even 3D printed parts that are no longer needed or failed during production. To effectively address these pressing challenges and offer a viable, sustainable solution, we established the OWA brand.

The foundational philosophy of the OWA brand originated from the Armor Group’s extensive experience, spanning over two decades, in producing cartridges for traditional paper printers. This long-standing expertise in responsible manufacturing and recycling practices, particularly with ink cartridges, naturally extended to the burgeoning field of 3D printing supplies. Our core objective was to equip the additive manufacturing industry with a new generation of printing materials – materials that are not only of superior quality and technically advanced but also customizable to precisely meet the evolving and diverse needs of professional users. This commitment ensures that our products contribute positively to both performance and environmental stewardship.

Beyond providing high-performance materials, a paramount goal for OWA 3D is to maximize the reuse and valorization of plastic resources. Our journey began with a critical observation across two key areas. In the traditional ink cartridge sector, we noted that only a mere 20% of cartridges were effectively reused as cartridges. A staggering 100%, however, eventually became waste due to inherent limitations in direct reuse. This stark reality pointed us toward a definitive solution: comprehensive material recovery. This involves breaking down products into their constituent materials, which can then be processed and reformed into new, valuable products, thus circumventing the traditional linear “take-make-dispose” model.

Our second critical observation highlighted the broader global plastic crisis: of the more than 350 million tons of plastics consumed worldwide in 2015, barely 5% were effectively recovered and valorized. This alarming statistic underscores a monumental challenge, primarily due to insufficient collection and preliminary sorting mechanisms necessary for qualitative material valorization. Tragically, a vast proportion – approximately two-thirds – of our valuable resources currently end up in landfills or polluting our environment, effectively lost within our garbage. OWA 3D is committed to changing this narrative. We are actively seeking collaborations with leading printer manufacturers, specialized resellers, and industrial users. Our aim is to foster partnerships that enable us to collectively develop innovative 3D printing applications, utilizing appropriate and high-performing materials that are fundamentally designed with this crucial environmental aspect in mind. This collaborative approach is essential for scaling sustainable solutions across the industry.

3DN: What is your specific role within OWA?

My role at Armor is multifaceted, primarily focusing on the dynamic development of our 3D printing business and forging strategic partnerships that are essential for our growth and innovation. The OWA 3D startup itself was founded two years ago, ingeniously drawing upon the Armor Group’s profound and extensive experience across various printing technologies, including thermal transfer, inkjet, and laser. Furthermore, it leverages our deep expertise in recycling and material recovery processes, which have been central to Armor’s operations for decades. Crucially, OWA also benefits immensely from Armor’s long-standing strategy of innovation and strategic investment in cutting-edge technologies, exemplified by projects such as ASCA solar film and En’Safe current collector film. This rich heritage provides a robust foundation for OWA’s ambitious goals in sustainable additive manufacturing.

The Armor 3D Printing team is a lean yet highly effective unit, composed of diverse talents. It is led by a general manager who also oversees Armor’s Office Printing business, ensuring synergy across relevant divisions. Our core strength lies in our dedicated RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) and R&D/Production teams, who are constantly pushing the boundaries of material science. We also have a dedicated sales manager focused on cultivating robust distribution channels, alongside a dynamic web marketing manager who ensures our message reaches a global audience. This close-knit team fosters exceptional reactivity and adaptability, crucial for a fast-paced startup environment, all while benefiting from the unwavering support and industrial might of our medium-sized enterprise (ETI) based in Nantes, France. This combination allows us to move with agility while retaining significant industrial backing.

Demonstrating our commitment to continuous innovation, we are excited to announce the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art R&D and production center in Nantes, scheduled to launch this April. This facility will be entirely dedicated to developing the 3D printing materials of tomorrow, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable additive manufacturing. Our vision for this center is highly collaborative: we aim to co-develop solutions directly with our partners. By working hand-in-hand, we can collectively identify and create the most effective and innovative solutions that precisely meet the evolving needs of manufacturers worldwide, driving both technological advancement and environmental responsibility.

3DN: What does your current materials catalog include, and what exciting developments can we expect in the future? 

To date, our catalog proudly features three innovative materials, with two of these groundbreaking products having been launched just this past February. Our first offering is the OWA PS-R filament. This is a high-quality material renowned for its exceptionally smooth finish and impressive versatility. It combines ease of use with robust mechanical properties, making it an ideal choice for both novice users embarking on their 3D printing journey and experienced professionals looking to create high-quality prototypes. What makes OWA PS-R truly special is its origin: it is meticulously crafted from recycled Polystyrene (PS), derived from common items such as yogurt cups and the black PS found in laser printer cartridges. This commitment to repurposing waste materials underscores our dedication to a circular economy.

Our next exciting product in the lineup is the OWA TPU-R. This material offers a remarkable blend of flexibility and extreme resistance, making it suitable for demanding applications. Its exceptional layer adhesion further enhances its durability, resulting in parts with superior structural integrity. OWA TPU-R is engineered as a technical product, specifically designed for industrial applications and the manufacturing of both functional parts and durable finished products. In a testament to our innovative recycling efforts, this filament is produced from recycled ski boots. Imagine creating products that possess the same formidable strength and resilience as your own ski boots – that’s the power of OWA TPU-R.

We will also be releasing the PLA-HI OWA, where ‘HI’ stands for High Impact. This filament is a game-changer, being 100% bio-sourced, meaning it is derived entirely from renewable resources. It offers the user-friendliness typically associated with standard PLA, but with the added benefit of significantly enhanced mechanical strength. This superior impact resistance is the result of an advanced internal formulation developed by our R&D team. PLA-HI OWA is perfectly suited for the manufacturing of high-performance finished parts and products, catering to both personal and demanding professional applications, providing a sustainable alternative without compromising on performance.

Looking ahead, our research and development pipeline is bustling with other ongoing projects, all centered around various recycled materials and advanced technical formulations. We are actively exploring materials such as recycled PETF (Polyethylene terephthalate film) and continuously developing new bio-sourced filaments to expand our eco-conscious offerings. Furthermore, we are innovating to incorporate new functional features into our 3D printing materials, exemplified by our groundbreaking ‘Technologie Lumintech©’. This technology promises to introduce exciting new properties and capabilities, opening up entirely new possibilities for additive manufacturing and reinforcing our position at the cutting edge of sustainable material science.

3DN: What is the profound relationship between 3D printing and the circular economy?

By its very definition, 3D printing is inherently positioned to address the critical societal challenge of preserving and effectively reusing our precious resources—a core tenet of the circular economy. This powerful synergy stems from several key characteristics of additive manufacturing. Firstly, 3D printing facilitates local production, dramatically reducing the need for extensive transportation and its associated carbon footprint. Parts can be manufactured closer to the point of use, optimizing supply chains and minimizing environmental impact. Secondly, it is a tailor-made manufacturing process, also known as additive manufacturing, where material is only added where needed, significantly minimizing waste compared to traditional subtractive methods. This precision reduces raw material consumption. Lastly, 3D printing thrives on producing items in small quantities, eliminating the imperative for mass production and its often wasteful economies of scale. This ability to produce on-demand further supports resource efficiency.

Moreover, as 3D printing technology becomes more accessible and its users grow more environmentally conscious, there will be a heightened sensitivity towards the waste generated by materials. This increased awareness will inevitably lead to a much greater demand for innovative and effective solutions for waste management within the additive manufacturing ecosystem. This shift perfectly aligns with the fundamental principles of the circular economy. Instead of thinking about resources in a linear fashion—from consumption to eventual destruction—users and manufacturers alike will increasingly adopt a circular mindset. This involves comprehensively integrating eco-design principles from the initial stages of product development and meticulously planning for the treatment and valorization of materials at the end of their life cycle. OWA 3D is actively driving this paradigm shift, demonstrating how 3D printing can be a cornerstone of a truly sustainable future.

3DN: Do you have any final message for our valued readers?

At OWA 3D, we hold an unwavering belief in the foundational spirit of 3D printing, a spirit that truly blossomed from the vibrant and collaborative ethos of the global Makers community. We firmly believe that openness, knowledge sharing, and collective effort are absolutely essential for this transformative technology to continue its remarkable progress and reach its full potential. Therefore, we extend a heartfelt invitation to all enthusiasts, innovators, and industry professionals: join us in our mission! We encourage you to actively participate in co-developing groundbreaking new materials, enhancing existing printers, and devising innovative solutions that can be shared widely with other 3D printing users. By working together, we can collectively unlock and showcase the immense benefits of this technology, not only for industrial advancement but also for environmental sustainability.

For more comprehensive information on OWA 3D and our pioneering range of sustainable filaments, we invite you to explore our dedicated website.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you think of OWA 3D and their innovative recycled filaments? Please share your insights and comments below!