Leading the Way on Responsible Production with Additive Manufacture

3DPRINTUK is thrilled to announce our ambitious goal to become the first fully certified, carbon-neutral 3D printing bureau by the end of 2023! We are also proud to share that we aim to be the first 3D printing service to offset 100% of our plastic output.(1)

Achieving certified carbon-zero is no easy task but as a manufacturer of plastic parts we wanted to tackle the problem head-on. With a pragmatic and committed approach to fully sustainable, certified operations, 3DPRINTUK wants to lead the way where others will hopefully follow.

3DPRINTUK takes climate change and its impacts seriously, and this is the driving force behind our net zero roadmap. We have set ourselves a bold target of achieving carbon-zero certification through a combined approach of carbon-reduction and carbon-offsetting projects.

Our roadmap includes:

• Kickstarting our sustainability journey with the goal of recovering 25 tonnes of non-recyclable ocean-bound plastic by the end of the year in partnership with CleanHub
• Carbon zero certification by the end of 2023, with annual recertification
• Attain ISO 14001:2015 certification for our environmental management system
• Adoption of more eco-friendly practices throughout our operations
• Adoption of eco-materials through new technologies
• Transition to DPD carbon neutral deliveries

Nick Allen, CEO at 3DPRINTUK, commented:

“As a manufacturer of plastic parts, we cannot hide from the environmental impact of plastic on the environment. However, we also believe that plastic materials continue to offer benefits and do have a part to play in a sustainable economy. This can be seen in the way that plastics can replace some metals making parts and components that are lighter in weight. For transport industries, for example, these are essential applications for reducing fuel consumption.”

He continued: “With that said, the bad name that ‘plastics’ get in general does have some validity, owing to consumerism and a throw-away culture. Single-use plastics, unnecessary packaging and the like contribute to the increasing problem of plastic pollution especially in the form of micro-plastics. For us, in 2023, it is about adopting a strategy seeking to do the ‘right thing’ while regulation catches up. That is why we have developed our road map.”

Carbon Neutral

3DPRINTUK’s net zero roadmap works within existing standards and protocols, specifically using the GHG Protocol⁽²⁾ as the framework for our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory and emission statement report.

The report will not only cover Scope 1 and Scope 2⁽³⁾ emissions but it will also account for the carbon footprint of our entire operations, from raw materials all the way down the value chain to our dispatch consumables. Once the report is complete, it will be verified by a third-party company to ensure it meets all 5 principles of the GHG protocol⁽⁴⁾.

Allen commented further: “We want to separate ourselves from the culture of greenwashing by certifying what we are saying. Adhering to GHG protocols means that we can ensure that our emissions are accurately measured, reported, and properly addressed.”

Plastic offsetting

In addition, 3DPRINTUK is partnering with CleanHub to tackle its plastic footprint and support impoverished communities. 3D printed plastics can have a significant impact on the environment and 3DPRINTUK is committed to addressing this issue as part of its sustainability goals. CleanHub specialises in the collection and safe processing of non-recyclable plastic and through this partnership, 3DPRINTUK will be working to offset its plastic consumption and output as well as developing internal processes with more sustainable solutions.

Allen explained: “CleanHub’s innovative approach involves partnering with waste collection organisations in impoverished areas of the world to safely collect and process plastic waste whilst also contributing to the development of the local communities. Our partnership with CleanHub will facilitate the safe collection and processing of 25 tonnes of ocean-bound plastic by the end of 2023.”

He concluded: “Achieving carbon neutrality is not only the key to avoiding the worst consequences of climate change, we also believe it brings benefits to communities and society as a whole. This includes less environmental pollution, improvements to health, boosting sustainable economic growth and the creation of green jobs.”

Eco Materials

Our team is actively engaged in extensive research and development to discover new materials that can be added to our portfolio with lower carbon emissions than our current offering. We are committed to investing significant resources in order to make swift progress in this area. We are excited to share updates with you soon.

ISO 14001:2015 certification

As a company, being accountable and obtaining official certification for our operations is really important to us. We take great pride in announcing that after achieving our ISO 9001:2015 certification, 3DPRINTUK is now embarking on a new journey to establish an Environmental Management System (EMS) and obtain ISO 14001 certification.

Obtaining ISO 14001 certification demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility to our customers, employees, and stakeholders. It provides us with a framework for managing environmental risks and opportunities, ensuring legal compliance, and improving our environmental performance.

By implementing an EMS, we will be able to identify, measure and manage the environmental aspects and impacts of our business operations. This will allow us to continuously improve our environmental performance, reduce our carbon footprint, and minimize waste throughout our supply chain.

References

1.The terms “carbon neutral” or “net zero” refer to the target of reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming to zero by balancing the amount released into the atmosphere from sources with the amount removed and stored by carbon sinks.

2.The Greenhouse gas emission standard (GHG protocol) is recognized world-wide and provides guidance for identifying collecting and reporting on GHG emissions. The standard provides guidance at the organizational level for the quantification and reporting of GHG emissions and removals.

3.Scope 1 emissions occur from sources that are owned or controlled by the company, for example, emissions from combustion in owned or controlled boilers, furnaces, vehicles, etc. Scope 2 emissions are associated with the generation of purchased electricity.

4.GHG accounting is based on the principles of relevance, completeness, consistency, transparency and accuracy.