Laser cutting machines are essential for a wide range of industries from automobile manufacturing to medical equipment, signage, furniture making, and even DIY arts and crafts. But is laser cutting environmentally friendly?
Accurl is here to answer that question while providing tips for sustainable laser cutting practices, to help you keep laser cutting and engraving while staying eco-friendly.

Is Laser Cutting Environmentally Friendly?
For decades, laser cutting was terrible for the environment, but recently there have been new innovations that improve the sustainability of laser cutting machines. Modern machines are designed with the Earth in mind, providing better energy efficiency, reduced waste, and lower emissions.
That being said, there are still machines that can damage the environment, especially older & cheaper models. Before we look at how to make laser cutting more sustainable, whether you’re an industrial laser cutting business or a DIY craftsman, we must look at the environmental impact of laser cutting.
The Environmental Impact of Laser Cutting
While there are many advantages and disadvantages of laser-cutting machines, we believe the benefits far outweigh the downsides. They have revolutionized the manufacturing industry as a faster, more precise, and highly cost-effective option.
That being said, laser-cutting machines can have a profound environmental impact with their energy consumption, emissions, fumes, and material waste.
Laser Cutting Energy Consumption
The biggest environmental concern with laser cutting machines is their energy consumption. After all, they require a lot of energy to create lasers that are powerful enough to swiftly slice through materials including steel & aluminum.
That’s one reason many operations & businesses are switching to fiber laser cutting machine
like the Accurl High Power ML Plus Series are significantly more efficient than CO2 lasers.
For example, a 6kW CO2 laser cutting machine consumes around 152k kWH in 3,600 hours, while a fiber laser cutting machine only consumes about 52k. That’s a difference of 100k kWh.
Pollution & Fumes
Another concern when it comes to the environmental impact of laser cutting machines is the emissions, fumes, and pollution. Laser cutters can produce airborne pollutants both from the machine and the material that’s being cut.
These pollutants can harm both the operators and the planet. They include metal fumes, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Additionally, gases can be released during the cutting process, particularly with carbon dioxide laser cutters, which are another reason why fiber laser cutters are becoming more popular.

Material Waste
When cutting materials, there will inevitably be some waste. After all, once you cut out the specific part you need, the remainder might not be useful for creating more components.
That material gets wasted, which is never good for the environment. It will end up in a landfill which also means more material needs to be produced, despite there being extra materials left.
That’s why it’s important to have a precise laser-cutting machine that minimizes waste & the heat-affected zone. Again, this is where fiber laser cutting machines excel, being the most precise models on the market in 2025.
Sustainable Laser Cutting Practices
So you want to know how to make laser cutting sustainable? Here are some sustainable laser cutting practices to keep in mind when selecting and using your laser cutting machine.
Choose the Right Type of Machine
As we’ve already mentioned, fiber laser cutting machines are substantially more energy-efficient, precise, and environmentally friendly than other options. While they might come with a higher initial price tag, the energy you’ll save will ensure a higher ROI in the long run.
Not only that, but they are likely to produce higher-quality results with smoother edges, unmatched accuracy, and minimal heat-affected zones (HAZ). Finally, the best machines will accelerate efficiency, meaning a great output that could skyrocket your bottom line.

Choose the Right Model
In addition to choosing the right type of machine, it’s important to choose the right model. That’s because some models are designed with sustainability in mind, while others aren’t.
For example, here at Accurl we’re always trying to stay at the cutting edge of environmentally friendly innovation, both with our laser cutters & other machines like our premium bending machines. Due to our highly accurate CNC controls and state-of-the-art fiber lasers, our MasterLINE series of sheet laser cutters is one of the most eco-friendly options you can get.
Recycle Material Waste
While top-of-the-line fiber laser cutting can reduce wasted materials, some waste is inevitable. However, you can determine what you do with it. Recycling those remaining materials can mean the waste goes to good use, reducing your carbon footprint in the process.
This can also help your company build a better reputation as one who cares about the planet we all live on, including your customers.
Use Effective Ventilation
One of the best sustainable laser-cutting practices is to utilize effective ventilation and filtration. This won’t just reduce the amount of harmful contaminants that you could breathe in, but also positively influence the air quality in your entire region.
We urge you to implement the highest quality air extraction and filtration systems to minimize pollution and protect your workers during the laser cutting process.
Maintain Your Machine
By regularly maintaining and repairing your laser cutting machine, you ensure that it remains as efficient as the day it was made. This doesn’t just help the environment but also helps you improve your bottom line by reducing the amount of energy you use during the cutting process.
Regular maintenance means cleaning your air filters, fans, nozzles, and optics, as well as regularly calibrating & inspecting the machine. Doing so will extend the lifespan of your machine & boost performance as well.
Conclusion
As you can see, laser-cutting machines aren’t always the best for the environment, but there are plenty of sustainable laser-cutting practices you can implement to reduce laser-cutting energy consumption, material waste, and pollutants.
The best part is that most of these practices don’t just reduce the environmental impact of laser cutting, but also improve the efficiency, profitability, and safety of the laser cutting process. If you want the best, most energy-efficient laser cutting machines with unparalleled precision, speed, and quality, then check out Accurl’s line of fiber laser cutting machines. There’s a reason we’ve been trusted to provide the highest quality for over three decades.