KarunaNews Story

Two University of Wisconsin-Platteville professors have found a way to turn dairy waste into a key ingredient for eco-friendly 3D printing, reducing the environmental footprint of 3D printing materials while providing a new revenue stream for Wisconsin dairy farmers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions led to significant dumping of milk across the US. “We knew dairy products contain proteins like casein and whey,” said Dr. John Obielodan, professor and chair of the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. “We asked ourselves, ‘Why can’t this milk, instead of being wasted, be turned into something valuable?’” The research began with a grant from the Dairy Innovation Hub, a state-funded initiative that connects three University of Wisconsin campuses — UWPlatteville, UW-Madison and UWRiver Falls — to support research, teaching and outreach related to dairy. “As farmers, we work to avoid waste, and the motivation behind this project aligns with that core value,” says Hub program manager Maria Woldt. “We are thrilled that after a little more than five years we helped move an innovative idea forward that will lead to additional uses for milk.”