How 3D Printing Could Revolutionize the Future of Development

+SocialGood
4 min readMay 1, 2018

--

By Annie Rosenthal as part of the 2018 +SocialGood series on emerging technologies

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has the potential to democratize the production of goods, from food to medical supplies, to great coral reefs. In the future, 3D printing machines could make their way into homes, businesses, disaster sites, and even outer space. Get 3D printing basics from this 2 minute Mashable video.

As this technology spreads, it could help connect marginalized and difficult-to-reach populations with essential products. All in all, this emerging technology has the potential to revolutionize our societies, and transform the development sector. In order for this to happen, we need to ensure that this emerging technology gets into the hands of development practitioners and stakeholders around the world. Here is one way that people are working to make 3D printing more accessible.

Like content on the top technologies and how they can be used for social good? Get updates about 3D printing and more with the +SocialGood newsletter.

The Sustainable Development Goals carry a big promise for the future of our people and planet. Goals this big will need big changes in order to succeed. 3D printing is being used to progress many of the Global Goals, and has the potential to make a further impact.

Supporting the fight against hunger and homelessness

3D printing is being explored as a major solution for current and future levels of hunger and homelessness. For example, Anjan Contractor hopes that one day, his 3D food printer will be able to empower the earth’s population to feed themselves “customized, nutritionally-appropriate meals synthesized one layer at a time, from cartridges of powder and oils they buy at the corner grocery store.” These cartridges would be easy to transport, long-lasting, and could be made of sustainable materials like insect protein. 3D printing is also revolutionizing home construction, making it cheaper and more efficient.

Transforming humanitarian response and modern medicine

3D printing also is being used to get essential goods and services to disaster areas and refugee camps, allowing workers and stakeholders to have access to the tools they need to recover. For example, in Nepal, the United Nations is implementing 3D printing as part of their plan for earthquake response, including printing customized pipe parts necessary for sanitation infrastructure. 3D printing is also enabling new and essential medical tools to get into the hands of people who need them, from medical possibilities like an 3D printed artificial heart to basic tools like umbilical cord clips.

Protecting our planet

3D printing is also allowing us to use old materials in new ways that are more sustainable. For example, researchers have figured out how to convert carbon dioxide into concrete using 3D printing. Utilizing former waste to create future products makes our society have more efficient consumption. 3D printing innovators are even exploring how to make the process itself more sustainable, including using algae based filaments to reduce the energy necessitated for the printing process. The creative use of materials and production methods opens up new possibilities as we approach climate action and sustainable living.

Ensuring access

The United Nations is working with innovators and programmatic implementers to make this transformative technology more accessible to people worldwide. Currently, they are mostly confined to technical university and specialized labs, especially in developing countries. However, in order for the true possibilities of the technology to be realized, it must be brought outside those spaces and into the hands of stakeholders and local changemakers. United Nations agencies, like UNICEF, are using their reach and resources to help make this a reality. Check out UNICEF’s Innovation Fund here.

Join +SocialGood throughout May as we explore the opportunities 3D printing presents to help progress the Global Goals. Share your thoughts, solutions, and ideas with #SocialGoodTech!

Stay-tuned for our #SocialGoodTech Twitter chat on 3D printing for the Global Goals! Join the conversation at 10am ET on May 31st.

--

--

+SocialGood

A global community of changemakers united around a shared vision for a better world in 2030. A project of the UN Foundation in support of the United Nations.