Volvo 3D-Printed Living Seawall
Every minute, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic pollutes the world’s oceans, destroying vibrant, natural habitats. In order to help save sea life, Volvo teamed up with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science along with Reef Design Lab to create the Living Seawall.
Constructed with 50 3D-printed tiles replicating the structure of native mangrove trees, the Living Seawall will serve as an exceptional habitat for marine life. The structure is designed to attract filter-feeding organisms that aid biodiversity. Over time, the filter-feeding sea life will absorb the pollutants, such as heavy metals and particulate matter, to keep the ocean clean. The 50 tiles are fixated alongside an existing seawall structure in Sydney Harbor and researchers will observe the Living Seawall over the course of two decades, watching it improve the quality of the water and biodiversity.
