Designing for Circular Economies: Creating Impact from Local Plastic Waste Using Off-Grid Containerized 3D Printers & Practice Based Learning

Award ID: 49100423C0002 - Phase 1

Plastic waste pollution is an increasingly prevalent environmental issue, with a recycle rate of only 9% for all the worldwide plastic ever produced. The Designing for Circular Economies: Creating Impact from Local Plastic Waste Using Off-Grid Containerized 3D Printers & Practice Based Learning project convenes academia, educators, nonprofits and industry experts to develop a deployable, net-zero-footprint manufacturing system that enables lay users to design and manufacture goods from plastic waste, resulting in sustainable infrastructure with significant socio-economic impact. The system includes an interactive design tool and sustainability dashboard to help users better quantify the environmental impacts and economic opportunities of redirecting waste streams, originally designated for a landfill, into feedstock for 3D printing goods in a circular model. This project will stimulate job creation for historically underserved people through plastic preparation, 3D design and 3D printing. The workforce serving priority includes zero-waste and technology education with the goal of creating jobs and services for underserved communities. This solution leverages re:3Ds expertise in 3D printing directly from plastic waste, Habitat for Humanitys desire for customized 3D printed home goods made from plastic trash, The University of Texas at Austins expertise in engineering design and Lif The collaborative effort will work with Habitat for Humanity to better understand waste generated from their operations, product needs of low-income homeowners and users who will customize/buy/use the goods, the metrics needed for the LCA, and comprehensive requirements for the hardware, software & training solutions. As the National Science Foundations Convergence Accelerator is providing an opportunity to collaborate and make an impact beyond the scope of one entity alone, this project unites research towards a multi-tiered impactful solution.

NSF Program Director: Linda K. Molnar