Our Commitment to Sustainability
After many years of inaction we now have a climate crisis on our hands. The scale of this crisis is enormous and its going to take action across all sectors including small businesses. Unless we all confront the urgent carbon problem, science tells us that the results will be apocalyptic. At Midlands 3D we’re keen to ensure we play our part through a range of actions and initiatives continuing the work started by Lancashire 3D prior to our acquisition in February 2020.
Sustainability requires us to take measures to avoid of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. At Midlands 3D aspire to curate a Circular Economy business model – designing out pollution and keeping materials in use by reusing and recycling. In addition to resource efficiency, we are also taking action to minimise the overall impact of our business operations.
Reducing our environmental footprint
- Up to 100% recycled content in our plastics
- Waste streams, such as plastic food containers and drinks bottles
- 100% Plant based plastics available (Biodegradable & Compostable)
- Recycling where possible and reducing waste which might otherwise go to landfill
MAKE – USE – RECYCLE
Working toward a zero-waste circular economy!
Sustainable 3D Printing
Whilst at its core 3D printing is fundamentally less wasteful than traditional, subtractive manufacturing techniques, the method of Additive Manufacturing is fast becoming a major manufacturing trend. As more businesses and individuals turn to 3D printing, there is a growing environmental concern regarding the plastic parts at their end of life. The majority of discarded 3D Printed plastic parts end up in land-fill due to a lack of recycling infrastructure. The use of plastic as a feedstock has the potential to exacerbate the global plastic epidemic unless sustainable solutions can be implemented.
Carbon offsetting
Midlands 3D is now investing in environmentally-sustainable projects globally – These projects include turning waste biogas into electricity, reforestation and setting up renewable technologies in remote locations. This not only helps to offset our carbon but creates employment for families primarily in the developing World and goes some way to restoring wildlife habitats.
As a result, carbon emissions arising from production, transport and employee activity are now offset, harnessing a Climate Positive Workforce.
The Midlands3D Ecologi Profile Page visualises the commitment to global environmental sustainability, displaying the number of trees in a virtual forest, as well as the total quantity of carbon reduction (tonnes).
The Ecologi platform provides full transparency, with specific information on projects funded and also CO2e calculation. More information on Ecologi can be found here.
Recycled Materials
“Material sustainability is an issue that can no longer be ignored due to wide adoption of 3D printing”
Our aim is to use a sustainable source of raw materials for our 3D printing where possible.
Our materials partner, Filamentive have a careful selection criteria in place in order to guarantee, single-source waste streams. As of March 2021 they are mainly working with post-industrial waste streams – material diverted from the waste stream during a manufacturing process.
The positives outcomes of this production model include:
- Minimising the amount of plastic being sent to the diminishing landfill sites
- Avoiding consumption of the Earth’s finite oil stocks
- Lowering energy demand compared to producing new, virgin polymers
Recyclable Packaging
We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations by increasing the use of recyclable packaging and packing materials wherever possible.
We’re moving to the use of paper based packing tapes, recycled boxes and already use biodegradable packing materials.
