3D Hubs holds the dream of distributed manufacturing, in which products are made locally, rather than shipped in from far off places. Not only does this improve a sense of community between consumer and producer, or prosumer and prosumer, but it also decreases pollution associated with transportation. At the moment, though, 3D printing is not as sustainable as it could be.
Though additive manufacturing uses less material than subtractive manufacturing, which leaves scraps that need to be processed in one way or another, it also results in wasted plastic from failed prints or relies on petroleum-based feedstocks. As a new fabrication technology, however, there’s plenty of space to reverse this trend and begin using recycled materials to print new goods. Many Makers have taken it upon themselves to 3D print with recycled plastic – made from old prints, milk jugs, plastic bottles, and more – with desktop shredding and extrusion systems.
Now, 3D Hubs is making it easier for others around the world to take advantage of those equipped with plastic recycling systems. 3D Hubs Head of Community Filemon Schoffer explains, “As the biggest network for 3D printing we’re most likely also the biggest producer of failed prints. 3D printing holds great promise for a more sustainable way of manufacturing, so we thought it was about time to give those fails a second chance.” For that reason, they’ve unlocked three recycling Hubs in London, Breda, and Boston, all equipped with a Filamaker shredder and a Filabot extruder, that will collect failed prints via community events and turn them back into new filament.
To promote the initiative, 3D Hubs has launched the REMAKE campaign, in which the community can share their biggest 3D printing fails with a pic of their failed print on social media with the hashtag #REMAKE3D. The three Hubs with the most popular pics will be rewarded with a fully recycled spool of filament made by Refil. You’ve got from now until September 9th to submit, but the importance of the campaign will last much longer.
