Additive Manufacturing for Sustainable Use of Resources

Abstract

This chapter explored ways in which additive manufacturing can be incorporated to enable sustainable manufacturing. Findings showed that the technology has the capacity to enable efficient use of natural resources, reduce waste production, and prevent environmental pollution. 3D printing is additive rather than subtractive and hence optimizes on the use of raw materials to only manufacture products when needed by customers with less wastage, which results to reduced resource use. The process is less energy consuming, produces less emissions and less waste compared to conventional machining and tooling processes. Additionally, the technology can use biodegradable filament as input or reuse and recycle metals and polymers for waste and pollution avoidance. Additive manufacturing however requires optimization through research, design enhancement, improved circularity of its inputs, and comprehensive life cycle assessment of its production processes to be more sustainable.