Experimenting Bioprinting for Wood Waste Upcycling in Architecture and Design Preliminary Assessments and Application Scenarios

Reclaiming timber waste poses a significant challenge for wood-intensive industries such as construction and design, where it is often downcycled or landfilled. Biofabrication with natural fibers has emerged as a promising method to transform wood debris into high-value products, extending its lifecycle. It is already demonstrated how biopolymer composites – blends of water, glycerol, organic binders, and fillers – can be 3D-printed to create full-scale architectural and design components. Despite this potential, however, further research is needed to address material limitations, assess environmental impacts, and explore design applications. In this sense, a deeper understanding of biopolymers’ material properties and performance is critical for realizing their full potential.
This interdisciplinary study bridges Architectural Technology, Engineering and Material Science to investigate biofabrication with wood waste at material, environmental, and design scales. It proposes and tests a methodology for evaluating the performance of 3D-printed biopolymers, employing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework to measure environmental impacts. Additionally, it identifies application scenarios for architecture and design, offering a foundation for scaling this technology.
Starting from previous studies on “Bone Glue”, a protein-based biopolymer, novel bioprinting was implemented incorporating wood waste deriving from a local sawmill. Results demonstrate promising potential applications in dry and controlled environments, but also exhibit significant limitations in water-rich or high-humid conditions. Design application can find places where its biodegradability, lightweight structure, and renewable origin are prioritized, but improvements in water resistance and bio-deterioration prevention are necessary for broader adoption, while preserving its eco-friendly attributes.