INDUSTRY NEWS AND RESOURCES

Sustainability initiative in 3D printing industry to advance more mindful manufacturing

20 Aug 2021 | BY ALEXANDER STARK, ETMM

Israel — 3D-printing company Stratasys, announced its commitment to the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association. The non-commercial organisation seeks to advance sustainability efforts in the 3D printing industry.

To advance its commitment to sustainability, Stratasys joined the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association as a Founding Member, with Coblens serving on the AMGTA Board of Directors. The AMGTA is a new global trade organization launched in November 2019. The AMGTA is a non-commercial, unaffiliated organization open to any additive manufacturer or industry stakeholder that meets certain criteria related to sustainability of production or process. Part of the AMGTA’s mission is to commission research that highlights the sustainable uses of additive manufacturing.

“Stratasys’ Founding Member status is critical to our organization’s mission to advance sustainability in additive manufacturing as we secure a selective group of market and industry experts to represent and advance our work to report on the environmental benefits of additive manufacturing,” said Sherry Handel, Executive Director of the AMGTA. “Our goal is to introduce new lifecycle analysis research projects in additive manufacturing that clearly measure impact and increase the world’s understanding of 3D printing as critical to the global manufacturing industry’s move towards greater sustainability.”

Stratasys also identified four U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the cornerstones of its purpose-driven sustainability efforts. Measurable goals are being designed as part of Stratasys’ 2022 focus areas:

• > Responsible Consumption and Production: The world continues to use natural resources unsustainably. Ensuring more responsible consumption and production patterns includes the environmentally sound management of chemical waste, the disposal of waste generally, and the efficient use of production materials. Additive manufacturing can be a more efficient production method, alongside a growing use of recycled and renewable materials. Stratasys is committed to innovation in reduced waste, reused materials and recycled packaging.

• > Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Industrialization benefits economies around the world, creating jobs and wealth; it makes information and communications accessible through technology, it promotes inclusive research and innovation, and supports entrepreneurship. Stratasys intends additive manufacturing to benefit people worldwide, enabling designers, engineers and manufacturers with local, on-demand capabilities that empower companies and organizations of all sizes to improve quality of life everywhere.

• > Climate Action: Climate change continues to impact the frequency and severity of natural disasters, and not enough action is taken to move towards net zero carbon emissions. Such targets become easier to achieve by reducing global shipping, and by using more efficient, digital manufacturing methods. Stratasys is committed to reducing not only its own carbon footprint but to making it easier for customers to do so when using Stratasys’ products, as well.

• > Quality Education: As a company powered by the possibilities of innovation, Stratasys is committed to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and learning opportunities for everyone, advancing ‘learning by making’ opportunities, and leveraging our technology to empower students — the workforce of tomorrow. This means ensuring everyone has the literacy and relevant technical skills for rewarding careers. Stratasys both markets solutions to educators and advocates for them.
• ARTICLE BY ETMM