When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D ...
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP), the Palo-Alto, CA-based company that makes printers, computers, and servers, came out on top of Greenpeace International’s 17th annual ranking of electronics companies. Use of plastics and other materials figure into the criteria.
Jeremy Carroll reports for Waste & Recycling News:
Hewlett-Packard Co., which landed third in 2010, led the group of 15 electronics companies based on their energy usage, green products and sustainable operations. New criteria this year also challenged the companies to reduce their carbon footprint in manufacturing, in their supply chain and through the end-of-life phase for their products…. Greenpeace said the company was the leader in sustainable operations as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Dell ranked second and takes most improved. It is up from 10th place in last year’s list. Carroll reported that the quick rise in the rankings was attributed to the company’s “ambitious target to reduce emissions by 40% by 2020, along with a strong policy on sustainable paper sourcing.”
Nokia, Apple, and Philips rounded out the top five spots.
However, all of the companies could improve. Although HP came out on top of the list, it still only scored 5.9 on a 10-point scale. RIM, the maker of Blackberry, was new to the list and scored 1.6.
Don Loepp, the editor of Plastics News, provides highlights from the report about materials that the companies are using or phasing out. For example, Greenpeace notes that HP is “on track to achieve 90 percent of its new goal to phase out [brominated flame retardant] and [polyvinyl chloride] in newly introduced personal computing products in 2011.” In addition, Loepp summarizes how plastics could further figure into those improvements: “Processors may note that Greenpeace now is looking favorably about companies that are using post-consumer plastics.”
Carroll quoted Greenpeace campaigner Tom Dowdall regarding the challenges for consumer electronics companies to improve even more:
After many of the world’s leading electronics companies rose to the challenge of phasing out the worst hazardous substances, we are now challenging them to improve their sourcing of minerals and better managing the energy use throughout the supply chain.
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