Rrreefs
Using 3D printing technology to restore coral reefs.
By Tom Barton
Summary
Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to around a quarter of all marine life. However, these vital ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change.If current trends continue, experts estimate that over 90% of the world’s coral reefs could disappear by 2050.Swiss startup Rrreefs blends science, art and technology to restore and maintain coral reefs around the world. As part of their efforts, they deploy 3D- printed modular reef systems that facilitate the growth of coral larvae.In some cases, the rate of coral colonisation on their artificial reefs was twice that of the surrounding natural reefs.
Although coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to around a quarter of all marine life. They also protect coastlines from storms and swells, and support the livelihoods of around a billion people, mainly through fishing and tourism. Unfortunately however, these vital ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change.
As the planet warms, so do the oceans, leading to a phenomenon known as coral bleaching. Even a slight increase in water temperature can cause corals to expel the algae that provide them with food and their vibrant colour. Without these algae, the bleached corals lose their main energy source and die.
Since the late 1990s, there have been five major coral bleaching events, each more devastating than the last. The Great Barrier Reef saw half of its corals perish during back-to-back bleaching events in 2016 and 2017. If current trends continue, experts estimate that over 90% of the world’s coral reefs could disappear by 2050.
Founded in 2020, Zürich-based startup, Rrreefs blends science, art and technology to restore and maintain coral reefs around the world. Their objective is to regenerate 1% of the world’s coral reefs over the next decade - an ambitious goal given the scale of the challenge. So, how do they propose to do this?
Rrreefs operates on a for-profit basis, offering tailored reef regeneration projects to companies and other groups seeking to invest in conservation. In doing so, Rrreefs is capitalising on the growing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. At the heart of Rrreefs’ solution is their 3D printed modular reef system, made from recycled clay. These modular structures are designed to mimic natural reefs, interacting with water currents to attract and facilitate the growth of coral larvae. Eventually, the structures help to generate vibrant and resilient artificial coral reefs, which provide habitat for countless reef-dwelling species.
Using 3D printing technology comes with a number of key benefits:
It allows their systems to be highly adaptable, meaning their design can be altered to suit different environments or keep up with new research and findings.
It allows Rrreefs to integrate art into their designs and create structures that are beautiful and marketable!
Rrreefs also work closely with local communities - particularly those who rely on the coral reefs for their livelihoods - to ensure that their efforts support the well-being and resilience of these communities.
The results from one of their first projects in Colombia have shown that coral larvae began settling on the structure in around eight months. Even more promising, after twelve months, the rate of coral colonisation on their artificial reefs was twice that of the surrounding natural reefs.
Overall, conservationists can draw important lessons from Rrreefs' approach. Their success shows that a for-profit model can effectively drive conservation efforts, offering advantages like investment attraction and faster growth compared to non-profit models. Additionally, Rrreefs' have shown that innovative technology— in this case 3D printing—can be effectively integrated into conservation initiatives.