US-based 3D printer OEM Stratasys has printed its ESG & Sustainability Report citing a major discount in its world carbon footprint, with emissions throughout operations and its worth chain falling by 23.1% in 2024.
In keeping with the corporate’s newest sustainability report, whole emissions stood at 188,843 metric tons of CO₂ equal, a decline pushed largely by enhancements in provide chain practices and product use.
The findings come from Stratasys’ first complete evaluation of Scope 3 emissions, which account for 92% of its local weather affect. Bought items and providers represented the biggest share, whereas the lifetime power use of its 3D printers made up practically 1 / 4.
Each classes confirmed reductions final 12 months, reflecting adjustments in materials sourcing and stronger gross sales in markets the place electrical energy grids are much less carbon intensive. Transportation-related emissions additionally fell sharply after Stratasys reduce its reliance on air freight, which had coated about 80% of shipments in 2023 however dropped to 45% in 2024.
Ready in keeping with International Reporting Initiative (GRI) requirements and independently assured by Motive Analytics, the report marked the primary time Stratasys disclosed emissions throughout its full worth chain. The corporate framed these efforts beneath “Conscious Manufacturing,” its technique of utilizing life-cycle assessments, round design and data-driven instruments to chop materials, power and emissions impacts in additive manufacturing.
Sustainability technique in motion
Alongside the emissions reductions, Stratasys expanded its use of renewable energy, notably at its most important manufacturing web site in Kiryat Gat, Israel. Photo voltaic panels there generated 972,035 kWh of electrical energy throughout 2024, a contribution that averted 653 metric tons of carbon emissions.
The share of renewable electrical energy on the web site rose to 23%, up from 18.1% a 12 months earlier. The corporate additionally added electrical automobiles to its fleet and put in new charging stations, a part of efforts to chop emissions from operations and transport.
Circularity and waste administration shaped one other core aspect of the technique. Stratasys reported that greater than 477 metric tons of product supplies had been reused or recycled in the course of the 12 months by means of refurbished machines, trade-in schemes and a return system for empty materials canisters.
A key improvement was the introduction of SAF ReLife, a course of that enables manufacturing with 100% reused PA12 powder. Impartial evaluation discovered the tactic can scale back the carbon footprint of manufacturing by as a lot as 89% in contrast with standard approaches when powered by renewable power.
Water use got here beneath nearer scrutiny in the course of the 12 months, with consumption depth falling by 15% in 2024 and persevering with a four-year downward pattern. Synthetic intelligence monitoring programs put in throughout Israeli websites recognized leaks and inefficiencies that will in any other case have wasted hundreds of cubic meters of water, stopping losses and avoiding injury to tools.
The report detailed progress past environmental measures. Worker engagement reached a report rating of 74, with 39,366 hours of coaching delivered throughout the workforce. Ladies accounted for 38% of recent managerial hires, exceeding the corporate’s personal targets, and parental go away uptake continued to rise beneath an equal dad or mum coverage launched in 2022.
Including to that, the 3D printer OEM relocated its U.S. headquarters to a brand new campus in Minnetonka, Minnesota, designed with power effectivity and worker wellbeing in thoughts.
Throughout the 12 months, it additionally acquired a Silver Medal in its first EcoVadis evaluation, inserting it within the high 15% of corporations reviewed, and was acknowledged on the Additive Producer Inexperienced Commerce Affiliation’s (AMGTA) 2024 Member Summit with a number of awards for environmental administration and transparency in reporting.
3D printing’s position in sustainability
Sustainability in 3D printing is vital as a result of it cuts down on waste and power use whereas encouraging the usage of recyclable or eco-friendly supplies. By retaining issues inexperienced, 3D printing can assist a round economic system and guarantee innovation doesn’t come at the price of the atmosphere.
This 12 months, UK-based 3D printing filament model Filamentive launched Materials Sustainability Profiles (MSPs) to boost transparency in additive manufacturing. Every MSP offered clear knowledge on a filament’s sustainability credentials, together with polymer origin, recycled content material, packaging kind, and end-of-life steering, alongside compliance with REACH, RoHS, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 requirements.
Designed to be concise and comparable, the profiles tackle the shortage of standardization in materials specs. Initially utilized to PLA, PETg, ASA, and choose engineering filaments, the initiative marks a step towards higher accountability and a round economic system in 3D printing.
Elsewhere, International rail and transit producer Wabtec’s 2020 Sustainability Report highlighted how the corporate superior its environmental technique by means of additive manufacturing and remanufacturing. By incorporating 3D printing into manufacturing, the agency reduce materials and power waste by 70–80% whereas lowering time to market by as much as 90%.
In 2019 alone, it produced greater than 1,250 prototypes and set a goal of over 25,000 printed elements by 2025. On the similar time, its remanufacturing program introduced again about 296 million kilos of end-of-life materials every year for reuse or recycling, with lower than 1% finally discarded.
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Featured picture exhibits cowl of Stratasys’ 2024 ESG & Sustainability Report, titled “Conscious Manufacturing.” Picture through Stratasys.