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

Abstract

Reclaiming timber waste poses a significant challenge for wood-intensive industries such as construction and design, where it is rarely reused and of-ten 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 biopoly-mer 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 mate-rial limitations, assess environmental impacts, and explore design applica-tions. In this sense, a deeper understanding of biopolymers’ material prop-erties and performance is critical for realizing their full potential. This interdisciplinary study bridges Architectural Technology and Engi-neering, 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 envi-ronmental impacts. Additionally, it identifies application scenarios for ar-chitecture and design, offering a foundation for scaling this technology. Starting from previous studies on “Bone Glue”, a protein-based biopoly-mer, novel bioprinting was implemented incorporating wood waste deriv-ing from a local sawmill. Results demonstrate promising potential for ar-chitectural applications in dry and controlled environments, but also exhib-it significant limitations in water-rich or high-humid conditions. Design application can find places where its biodegradability, lightweight struc-ture, and renewable origin are prioritized, but improvements in water re-sistance and bio-deterioration prevention are necessary for broader adop-tion, while preserving its eco-friendly attributes.