Clay, Code, and Coral – How 3D Printing is Rescuing Coral Ecosystems Worldwide
June 6, 2025

By Ziqing Li, 2025 Future Blue Youth Council member

Cover photo by Scientific American – Coral reefs in aqua ecosystem.

One of the most striking underwater sights that gives coastal cities their shine and scuba diving its glamour has been on the decline for over 50 years now – coral reefs. Aside from their brilliant colors, these reefs play a crucial role in the health of our oceans: providing food, coastal protection, and homes to numerous marine animals. Unfortunately, it has been predicted by the UN environmental program that a 70-90% decrease in coral reefs may occur by 2050 if there is no drastic action to limit our climate crisis (Rolls).

Hope, however, is still on the horizon as scientists, engineers, and architects tirelessly explore new possibilities, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to tackle this challenge. Among the most groundbreaking approaches is one that sounds almost futuristic: 3D printing artificial reefs! This technique is offering a sustainable and scalable way to restore coral habitats and could possibly breathe new life into damaged marine ecosystems. Read on to find out more…

Importance of Coral Reefs

As already mentioned, coral reefs are vital for our coastal oceans. They are “an expansive network of dynamic skeletal-like invertebrates” which “harbours at least 25% of all known marine species” (UNEP) – so, of course they hold great importance! Alongside their role in marine ecosystems, they provide cultural, economic, and social benefits to millions of people as well, through their support of tourism and fisheries to name a few (Razek). And like how our trees filter CO2, healthy reefs filter water by removing pollutants and producing oxygen too! Lastly, they act like coastlines’ own Guardians of the Galaxy, by acting as buffers that help absorb significant amounts of wave energy and mitigate the impacts of storms, tsunamis, and floods (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (NOAA).

The Prevailing Danger

Gabriel Grimsditch from the UN Environment Programme says that “coral reefs are one of the most sensitive ecosystems globally to the ravages of human activities,” and that “they are especially vulnerable to climate change and warming ocean temperatures, and mass coral bleaching and mortality events are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity as temperatures continue to rise.” This issue is only prevailing, and the impacts of these threats disproportionately influence minority, low-income, and indigenous groups. If we do not take local and global measures today, then we might not be able to see the corals of tomorrow.

Photo: barrierreef.org – Effects of coral bleaching

The Idea

The sudden rise of 3D printing has led to numerous organisations and groups turning this into a developing solution for our world coral problem. From 3D Natives, NOAA Researchers to Archireef, these coral restoration projects differ in their workings but all share one common factor: 3D printing, design, and construction. This technology preserves marine biodiversity through the creation of artificial coral reefs by employing additive manufacturing techniques. But what does that entail? Below, we will explore and learn about the specific works of a few key players in this new solution for coral reef restoration.

Archireef

Photo: archireef.co – Integrating Archireef clay reef structures into the seabed

Archireef offers private and public sector entities the amazing opportunity to restore and protect our precious marine ecosystems through their invention of the world’s first 3D-printed reef tiles made from clay! Each patented tile is made from terracotta clay, “which is a non-toxic and fully eco-friendly material that doesn’t negatively impact the ocean and its marine life” (ArchiREEF – Building Dynamic Ocean Ecosystems). Their reef design consists of various layers, with a base layer that prevents the reef from sinking into the ocean floor and a biomimicry layer that takes on after the Platygyra coral, a key player in the marine ecosystem in dealing with sedimentation stress.

Aside from their primary venture and creative name, Archireef also offers educational programs in ocean literacy for children, students, and professionals in the field – it’s almost like what Bow Seat does!

Australia’s Reef Design Lab

Photo: mongabay.com – Reef design lab’s artificial reef in the Maldives

Host to the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, it is without doubt that scientists, designers, and engineers in Australia are working on cutting-edge solutions for an issue that strikes so close to home.

A key group of these inspiring people are located in Mentone, under Reef Design Lab, a multidisciplinary design company that is working on developing marine habitat infrastructure. They provide for a range of research and commercial applications, from architects and builders to governments and research institutions.

As a broad-ranging group of not just engineers or architects but also digital designers and ecologists, Reef Design Lab offers a wide range of services including coral reef transplanting and ship grounding mitigations. Their capabilities in design and fabrications lets them constantly research and work with the latest 3D printing and casting technologies to bring new manufacturing ideas to life.

Ørsted and WFF Denmark

Photo: offshorewind.biz – First time 3D-printed reefs are lowered into Danish waters

A country of which most people are not aware boasted coral reefs is also stepping up their design innovation game to protect their coasts. Ørsted and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Denmark are working together and have deployed 12 3D-printed reef structures on the seabed, Kattegat, a strait between Denmark and Sweden, that is currently experiencing a historically low cod stock.

Among many issues, overfishing, increasing oxygen depletion, and habitat loss all resulted in the decline of cod in the Kattegat, which is disrupting a careful balance in the marine ecosystem. With a declining number of this predator, their prey will deplete more of the seeds of eelgrass, which itself is of great importance to the climate and biodiversity.

Their 3D-printed reefs were developed to complement the stone reefs nearby, offering surfaces and crevices where organisms can attach and where fish can swim in and out of hiding places. Shaped like a wedding cake with multiple tiers connected to each other by hollows, these reefs are made from 70% sand and 30% pozzolanic cement – both of which are natural materials.

Towards the Future

The fight for our bright and beautiful coral reefs is far from over, but with pioneers like Archireef, Reef Design Lab, and Ørsted, all working from different ends of our globe, there is a glimmer of hope beneath the waves. These innovations are not just about creating reefs, but are about reimagining and reshaping our own relationship with the ocean, as they blend cutting-edge technology with nature’s own blueprints. So, can we truly restore these underwater marvels? That is not the question! We should instead be asking ourselves whether or not we will act fast enough. The tide is turning, and with continued collaboration, creativity, and commitment, we might just ensure that coral reefs don’t fade into memory but thrive as vibrant players in our oceans for generations to come.

 

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Clay, Code, and Coral – How 3D Printing is Rescuing Coral Ecosystems Worldwide

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