3D Printing Industry ESG Thematic Report, 2023

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in the 3D Printing Market

ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting provides a brief public statement about a company’s ESG performance and its commitment to act socially, responsibility while operating its business.

The 3D printing industry, also known as additive manufacturing industry, embodies many green factors & also provides many social benefits. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data points have developed into useful resources, not only for investors looking for performance indicators but also for publicly traded companies trying to improve operational efficiency, reduce dependence, and draw in a new generation of empowered workers.

3D bioprinting is growing as an effective alternative to animal testing for developing new drugs; thus, helping improve social responsibility for many healthcare companies. 3D tissues offer a much more accurate representation of reality, which leads to more conclusive results for drug candidates and fewer late-stage failures.

ESG Issues that may have significant negative/positive impact on the industry

Environment: Emissions Reduction, Resource Management, Waste Reduction, Increased Material Durability, Environment accidents, Risk Mitigation

Social: Health and Safety, Human Rights, Community Relations, De-risk Supply Chain.

Governance: Executive Compensation, Shareholder’s Rights, Accountability of Board Leadership, Vision.

Environmental Impact

3D printing market offer significant environmental benefits through their activities, which include decreased manufacturing waste, a lesser carbon footprint (comparatively lower number of plastics and VOCs are emitted in the air from the printers), and support for the circular economy.

Also, 3D printers use less materials as compared to traditional methods. It also reduces the need of transport as it can be made available anywhere, they are also lighter in weight. Thus, the 3D printing market helps in reducing the energy consumption and emissions from transportation, thereby contributing positively to the environment.

However, in comparison to conventional production techniques, 3D printers use heat or lasers, which consume 50 to 100 times more electricity to produce a similar object. Therefore, the 3D printing market can likely exert a significant negative impact on the environment because many nations still produce most of their electricity using fossil fuels.

Companies in the 3D printing market are emerging as leaders in product responsibility. 3D printed objects can also be recycled if they are made of thermoplastic. They can also be made of eco-friendly materials. Companies in this market space can have a significant impact on design decisions, energy sources, plastic types, and whether products are properly recycled, all of which have a significant positive impact on social metric within ESG.

Growth of The 3D printing Market:

The global 3D printing market size was valued at USD 13.84 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.8% from 2022 to 2030. Globally, 2.2 million units of 3D printers were shipped in 2021 and the shipments are expected to reach 21.5 million units by 2030. 

There are numerous environmental advantages to 3D printing. According to the study, 65% less material is needed for conventional building when 3D printing is used. When compared to traditional manufacturing methods, 3D printing uses less raw materials, produces fewer CO2 emissions, and uses less embodied energy. On the downside, the industry is focused diligently to address printer and material emission issues. The 3D printing industry should think regarding boosting all its advantageous environmental characteristics because the investment community is becoming more and more interested in ESG factors. A more sustainable manufacturing sector may be made possible by 3D printing; however, how the industry addresses product stewardship in terms of manufacturing and management of end-of-life waste remains a key issue.

Key Companies in this theme

    • Stratasys, Ltd

    • Materialise

    • EnvisionTec Inc

    • 3D Systems Inc

    • GE Additive

    • Autodesk Inc

    • Canon Inc.

Scope of the 3D Printing Industry ESG Thematic Report:

    • Macro-economic analysis of the 3D Printing industry from an ESG perspective, analyzing the regulatory, policy, and innovation landscape of the sector

    • Industry Benchmarking, including a detailed SWOT Analysis based on GVR’s proprietary ESG Framework

    • ESG score disclosure including overall industry disclosure score and disclosure score benchmarking

    • Ranking of companies in the 3D Printing sector theme based on GVR’s proprietary ESG disclosure scoring relative to their position and,

    • Detailed analysis of individual companies discussing their ESG disclosure and impact.

Key Benefits of 3D Printing Industry ESG Thematic Report:

    • Developing a comprehensive understanding of macro-economic, Policies & Regulations and innovations affecting the 3D printing sector, globally

    • Key insights into Infrastructure developments and ESG issues affecting the theme

    • Identifying ESG risks and opportunities to business among leading players in the 3D printing industry

    • Obtaining a clear and relevant understanding of company actions, progress, and impact and find opportunities for investment.