Moving Forward Consciously
We want to move forward. To ensure this happens in the interests of society at large, Materialise runs a company-wide environmental management system that seeks to understand and above all minimize our effect on the environment. This deep-down belief is enshrined in our ISO 14001 certificate that ensures engagement, compliance and continuous improvement.
Water & Energy
As a society, we have to reduce water and energy use – significantly. In our case, that means using water sparingly – or tapping into rainwater - and opting as much as possible for renewable energy. So our 3DP facilities use solar panels and recover the heat of the printers for our central heating system.
Materials
Intrinsically, 3D printing technology leads to lighter or less material without compromising on quality. What’s more, continuous research into new and environmentally friendly materials will further minimize the amount of material we use.
Waste
We have a complete waste management system which tracks how we handle our waste. We are also constantly thinking of new ways to reduce our waste and to re-use materials. In 2015, we recycled 90% of our waste. The recycling does not stop at the colored recycling bins. We try to reuse our print materials wherever possible.
Transport
To minimize the impact on local sites, we try to encourage as many employees as possible to come to the office by bike or public transport. At HQ for example, 1 in 4 employees cycles to work. A carpool system is in place for those that live outside public transport routes.