3D printing technology has a lot of benefits as a method of manufacturing, one of the bigger perks being its ever increasing ability to work with a variety of raw materials. Printers have been created for producing items out of various plastics, metal alloys, foodstuffs, concrete, and a growing list of more exotic substances. It is for this reason that the technology is proving to be an enormous boon for the recycling industry.
It has been estimated that the demand for 3D printing “inks” throughout the globe is up to about $531 million. Meanwhile, with waste piling up around the world, recyclers sometimes struggle to find the means to put used goods back to work. To take advantage of this, many groups are coming up with innovative ways to 3D print with recycled materials. Some groups have started making filaments out of 95% recycled plastic. Others have invented printable materials made from food waste. One printer, known as the ProtoCycler, combines a shredder with a controlled filament extruder so that a user can turn trash directly into new products.
The future is very bright for 3D printing, which means a brighter future for the world as a whole. Learn more with our 3D printing company in Seattle.
