{"id":92422,"date":"2021-07-12T07:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T05:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=92422"},"modified":"2021-07-09T12:41:43","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T10:41:43","slug":"this-startup-is-3d-printing-wood-made-from-upcycled-sawdust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/this-startup-is-3d-printing-wood-made-from-upcycled-sawdust\/","title":{"rendered":"This startup is 3D-printing wood made from upcycled sawdust"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.weforum.org\/article\/image\/Bb6pNNSTNmpVtCA--7kOEGeiHlXBykQ0uBRg0O3wVGQ.PNG\" alt=\"The workings of a Forust factory.\"\/><figcaption>3D-printing naturally produces less waste than other manufacturing processes.Image: Forust<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Forust is a startup printing wood products using sawdust and other waste materials.<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Forust spreads out layers of specially-treated sawdust, which are then treated with a biodegradable and nontoxic binder to turn them into wood.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Even though 3D-printing naturally produces less waste than other manufacturing processes, it&#8217;s unfortunately the norm for 3D-printed creations to be made of plastic-derived materials. So to combat that, a startup called\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/forust.io\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\">Forust<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/3d-printed-tiny-home-homeless\" target=\"_blank\">3D printing wood<\/a>\u00a0products \u2014 and its raw material is upcycled sawdust and other byproducts from the wood industry that would otherwise be considered waste.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Forust technology allows us to take something that was previously wood waste and re-materialize it into exquisitely beautiful and useful things,\u201d William McDonough, a world famous sustainable architect (who is not involved with Forust, but is a supporter of the technology) said in a statement sent to&nbsp;<em>Green Matters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy allowing millions of trees to remain in place in their forests, Forust is launching a highly evolved technology for the circular technosphere that supports and celebrates stewardship of the natural, regenerative, and diverse biosphere, making it not only smart, but wise,\u201d McDonough added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/3d-printing-wood\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.weforum.org\/editor\/-n4GxtK3Pct4DTXQOqTqP78uigpJ4qo8waIy8EEJkb0.PNG\" alt=\"Shoe horns produced by Forust.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>Shoe horns produced by Forust.Image: Forust<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Desktop Metal just acquired Forust, a 3D-printing wood startup.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On May 6, 2021, Massachusetts-based 3D-printing manufacturing company&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.desktopmetal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Desktop Metal<\/a>&nbsp;announced that it recently acquired Forust, a Massachusetts-based startup that is 3D-printing wood with a goal of \u201cdeveloping a greener future.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSustainability and reusing waste streams are key objectives of creating Forust,\u201d Andrew Jeffery, CEO of Forust, tells&nbsp;<em>Green Matters<\/em>&nbsp;exclusively via email. \u201cWe want to be part of a revolution creating great products using on-demand technologies while also reducing the amount of waste that goes into the atmosphere and landfills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Here\u2019s how Forust is 3D-printing wood products from wood waste.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how Forust\u2019s 3D-printing process works, according to press materials shared with&nbsp;<em>Green Matters<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forust starts with two wood industry byproducts: wood flour (a fine, filtered sawdust) and lignin (a natural polymer found in the cell walls of woody plants). Forust then uses advanced CAD 3D-printing software, proprietary materials, and Desktop Metal\u2019s binder jetting mass production platforms to upcycle the wood industry waste into \u201cisotropic, high-strength, sustainable wood parts.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specifically, Forust spreads out layers of specially-treated sawdust, which are then treated with a biodegradable and nontoxic binder to turn them into wood. Then, digital grain is printed on every layer of the wood before traditional wood treatments are applied, such as sanding, staining, and dyeing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The parts can then be used to make furniture (including chairs and cabinet doors), luxury interior parts (such as gear shifts and other parts for yachts and homes), various consumer products (such as fruit bowls and flowerpots), and even in architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith the Forust process, we are upcycling sawdust waste and turning it into usable, beautiful products for a number of applications \u2014 interior design, buildings, furniture, architectural products, and consumer home goods,\u201d Jeffery tells&nbsp;<em>Green Matters<\/em>&nbsp;exclusively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/3d-printing-wood\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.weforum.org\/editor\/qxrq5_NKhU3WTL4y3zBvVzvZ8zt7dkGeAJfhlu_tHK0.PNG\" alt=\"A 3D printed gearstick.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>A 3D printed gearstick.Image: Forust<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe inspiration for Forust was to begin with sawdust and end with forests,\u201d Jeffery added. \u201cOur process is based on extensive research conducted over the past decade in the field of hardwood lumber, leading to complex and elegant finished structures.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forust claims that its process can emulate nearly any wood grain (including a unique grainless wood), adding that its 3D-printed products are \u201cdigitally rematerialized wood, with grain that flows across the entire part and can be sanded and refinished.\u201d These products are nothing like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/is-particle-board-furniture-safe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">particle board<\/a>, an affordable wood alternative made by pressing wood chips with a synthetic binder (and commonly seen at places like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/ikea-buy-back-furniture-uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IKEA<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur finished pieces are indistinguishable from traditionally manufactured wood products you would find in a store,\u201d Jeffery said. \u201cThe additive manufacturing process literally becomes invisible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenmatters.com\/p\/3d-printing-wood\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.weforum.org\/editor\/BUGhHs8h9I0F2RmEDGTPhyWCEMDabEwF5_fic1kcvoM.PNG\" alt=\"A number of bowls produced by Forust.\"\/><\/a><figcaption>A number of bowls produced by Forust.Image: Forust<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get your hands on a 3D-printed wood product, Forust has launched a collection of products made with several independent designers and brands. The products are now available for purchase on\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forust.com\/store\" target=\"_blank\">Forust&#8217;s website<\/a>, including a line of wood vases and bowls designed by\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fuseproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">fuseproject&#8217;s Yves B\u00e9har<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forust is a startup printing wood products using sawdust and other waste materials. Forust spreads out layers of specially-treated sawdust, which are then treated with a biodegradable and nontoxic binder to turn them into wood. Even though 3D-printing naturally produces less waste than other manufacturing processes, it&#8217;s unfortunately the norm for 3D-printed creations to be [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"The sawdust is imported as a byproduct from the wood industry that would otherwise goes to waste","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[10588,5838,5847,18748,5820],"supplier":[18751,18749,18750,3416],"class_list":["post-92422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-3dprinting","tag-bioeconomy","tag-bioplastics","tag-sawdust","tag-wood","supplier-desktop-metal","supplier-forust","supplier-green-matters-community","supplier-world-economic-forum"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=92422"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92422\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=92422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=92422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=92422"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=92422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}