Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sustainability Implications of Additive Manufacturing

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Human-Centered Technology for a Better Tomorrow

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering ((LNME))

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is the industrial production name for 3D printing, which is one of the advanced technologies in the fourth industrial revolution. 3D printing involves the production of a 3D product using a layer by layer technique. Complex structures can be produced through AM which was no possible using conventional method as it has the potential to assemble parts, consequently minimizing the production process. In addition, through the AM process, less waste is generated during manufacturing and lightweight components can be produced which makes it beneficial in terms of materials and costs. Therefore, additive manufacturing is seen to have an impact on sustainability. This paper will review the implications of AM on sustainability, which includes the environmental, economic and social aspects. Clear understanding of sustainability impacts of AM is crucial in order to assist companies and researchers to make the best decisions before switching to AM.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Stock T, Seliger G (2016) Opportunities of sustainable manufacturing in Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP 40:536–541

    Google Scholar 

  2. US EPA 2017 Hompeage, https://www.epa.gov/sustainability/sustainable-manufacturing. Assessed on 18 Nov 2020

  3. Despeisse M, Yang M, Evans S, Ford S, Minshall T (2017) Sustainable value roadmapping framework for additive manufacturing. Procedia CIRP 61:594–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ribeiro I, Matos F, Jacinto C, Salman H, Cardeal G, Carvalho H, Godina R, Peças P (2020) Framework for life cycle sustainability assessment of additive manufacturing. Sustainability 12(3)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Guo N, Leu MC (2013) Additive manufacturing: technology, applications and research needs. Front Mech Eng 8(3):215–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gutowski T, Jiang S, Cooper D (2017) Note on the rate and energy efficiency limits for additive manufacturing. J Ind Ecol 21:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gibson I, Rosen D, Stucker B (2015) Additive manufacturing technologies, 2nd edn. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  8. Wohler T (2012) Wohler report. 3D printing and additive manufacturing state of the industry

    Google Scholar 

  9. Huang SH, Liu P, Mokasdar A (2013) Additive manufacturing and its societal impact: a literature review. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 1191–1203

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rejeski D, Zhao F, Huang Y (2018) Research needs and recommendations on environmental implications of additive manufacturing. Addit Manuf 19:21–28

    Google Scholar 

  11. Verhoef LA, Budde BW, Chockalingam C, García Nodar B, van Wijk AJM (2018) The effect of additive manufacturing on global energy demand: an assessment using a bottom-up approach. Energy Policy 112:349–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Garcia FL, Moris VA, da S, Nunes AO, Silva DAL (2018) Environmental performance of additive manufacturing process-an overview. Rapid Prototyping J 24(7):1166–1177

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kreiger M, Pearce JM (2013) Environmental life cycle analysis of distributed three-dimensional printing and conventional manufacturing of polymer products. ACS Sustain Chem Eng 1(12):1511–1519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kellens K, Renaldi R, Dewulf W, Kruth JP, Duflou JR (2014) Environmental impact modeling of selective laser sintering processes. Rapid Prototyping J 20(6):459–470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Baumers M, Tuck C, Hague R, Ashcroft I, Wildman R (2010) A comparative study of metallic additive manufacturing power consumption. In: 21st annual international solid freeform fabrication symposium—an additive manufacturing conference (SFF 2010), pp 278–288

    Google Scholar 

  16. Bekker ACM, Verlinden JC (2018) Life cycle assessment of wire + arc additive manufacturing compared to green sand casting and CNC milling in stainless steel. J Clean Prod 177:438–447

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bourhis FL, Kerbrat O, Dembinski L, Hascoet JY, Mognol P (2014) Predictive model for environmental assessment in additive manufacturing process. Procedia CIRP 15:26–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Huang R, Riddle M, Graziano D, Warren J, Das S, Nimbalkar S, Cresko J, Masanet E (2016) Energy and emissions saving potential of additive manufacturing: the case of lightweight aircraft components. J Clean Prod 135:1559–1570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ingarao G, Priarone PC, Deng Y, Paraskevas D (2018) Environmental modelling of aluminium based components manufacturing routes: additive manufacturing versus machining versus forming. J Clean Prod 176:261–275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Jin M, Tang R, Ji Y, Liu F, Gao L, Huisingh D (2017) Impact of advanced manufacturing on sustainability: an overview of the special volume on advanced manufacturing for sustainability and low fossil carbon emissions. J Clean Prod 161:69–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ma J, Harstvedt JD, Dunaway D, Bian L, Jaradat R (2018) An exploratory investigation of additively manufactured product life cycle sustainability assessment. J Clean Prod 192:55–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Malshe H, Nagarajan H, Pan Y, Haapala K (2015) Profile of sustainability in additive manufacturing and environmental assessment of a novel stereolithography process. In: ASME international manufacturing science and engineering conference, pp 1–11

    Google Scholar 

  23. Paris H, Mokhtarian H, Museau M, Coatane E, Ituarte IF (2016) Manufacturing technology comparative environmental impacts of additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies. CIRP Ann 65:29–32

    Google Scholar 

  24. Zhang H, Nagel JK, Al-Qas A, Gibbons E, Lee JJY (2018) Additive manufacturing with bioinspired sustainable product design: a conceptual model. Procedia Manuf 26:880–891

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Balogun VA, Kirkwood ND, Mativenga PT (2014) Direct electrical energy demand in fused deposition modelling. Procedia CIRP 15:38–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Lyons R, Newell A, Ghadimi P, Papakostas N (2020) Environmental impacts of conventional and additive manufacturing for the production of Ti-6Al-4V knee implant: a life cycle approach. Int J Adv Manuf Technol

    Google Scholar 

  27. Hodonou C, Kerbrat O, Balazinski M, Brochu M (2020) Process selection charts based on economy and environment: subtractive or additive manufacturing to produce structural components of aircraft. Int J Interact Des Manuf 14(3):861–873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Tagliaferri V, Trovalusci F, Guarino S, Venettacci S (2019) Environmental and economic analysis of FDM, SLS and MJF additive manufacturing technologies. Materials 12(24)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Böckin D, Tillman AM (2019) Environmental assessment of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry. J Clean Prod 226:977–987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Yosofi M, Kerbrat O, Mognol P (2019) Additive manufacturing processes from an environmental point of view: a new methodology for combining technical, economic, and environmental predictive models. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 102(9–12):4073–4085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Faludi J, Van Sice CM, Shi Y, Bower J, Brooks OMK (2019) Novel materials can radically improve whole-system environmental impacts of additive manufacturing. J Clean Prod 212:1580–1590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Liu Z, Jiang Q, Ning F, Kim H, Cong W, Xu C, Zhang H (2018) Investigation of energy requirements and environmental performance for additive manufacturing processes. Sustainability 10(10):3606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Yang Y, Li L, Pan Y, Sun Z (2017) Energy consumption modeling of stereolithography-based additive manufacturing toward environmental sustainability. J Ind Ecol 21:S168–S178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Tang Y, Mak K, Zhao YF (2016) A framework to reduce product environmental impact through design optimization for additive manufacturing. J Clean Prod 137:1560–1572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Priarone PC, Pagone E, Martina F, Catalano AR, Settineri L (2020) Multi-criteria environmental and economic impact assessment of wire arc additive manufacturing. CIRP Ann 69(1):37–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Ron T, Levy GK, Dolev O, Leon A, Shirizly A, Aghion E (2019) Environmental behavior of low carbon steel produced by a wire arc additive manufacturing process. Metals 9(8)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Priarone PC, Ingarao G, Lunetto V, Di Lorenzo R, Settineri L (2018) The role of re-design for additive manufacturing on the process environmental performance. Procedia CIRP 69:124–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Faludi J, Bayley C, Bhogal S, Iribarne M (2015) Comparing environmental impacts of additive manufacturing vs traditional machining via life-cycle assessment. Rapid Prototyping J 21(1):14–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Senyana L, Cormier D (2014) An environmental impact comparison of distributed and centralized manufacturing scenarios. Adv Mater Res 875–877:1449–1453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Jiang R, Kleer R, Piller FT (2017) Predicting the future of additive manufacturing: a Delphi study on economic and societal implications of 3D printing for 2030. Technol Forecast Soc Chang 117:84–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Khorram Niaki M, Nonino F, Palombi G, Torabi SA (2019) Economic sustainability of additive manufacturing: contextual factors driving its performance in rapid prototyping. J Manuf Technol Manag 30(2):353–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Li Y, Linke BS, Voet H, Falk B, Schmitt R, Lam M (2017) Cost, sustainability and surface roughness quality—a comprehensive analysis of products made with personal 3D printers. CIRP J Manuf Sci Technol 16:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Rickenbacher L, Spierings A, Wegener K (2013) An integrated cost model for selective laser melting (SLM). Rapid Prototyping J 19(3):208–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Xu F, Wong YS, Loh HT (2001) Toward generic models for comparative evaluation and process selection in rapid prototyping and manufacturing. J Manuf Syst 19(5):283–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Šoškić Z, Monti GL, Montanari S, Monti M, Cardu M (2019) Production cost model of the multi-jet-fusion technology. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part C J Mech Eng Sci 1–13

    Google Scholar 

  46. Lindemann C, Reiher T, Jahnke U, Koch R (2015) Towards a sustainable and economic selection of part candidates for additive manufacturing. Rapid Prototyping J 21(2):216–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Westerweel B, Basten RJI, van Houtum GJ (2018) Traditional or additive manufacturing? Assessing component design options through lifecycle cost analysis. Eur J Oper Res 270(2):570–585

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  48. Kamps T, Lutter-Guenther M, Seidel C, Gutowski T, Reinhart G (2018) Cost and energy efficient manufacture of gears by laser beam melting. CIRP J Manuf Sci Technol 21:47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Laureijs RE, Roca JB, Narra SP, Montgomery C, Beuth JL, Fuchs ERH (2017) Metal additive manufacturing: cost competitive beyond low volumes. J Manuf Sci E T ASME 139:8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Huang R, Ulu E, Kara LB, Whitefoot KS (2017) Cost minimization in metal additive manufacturing using concurrent structure and process optimization. In: ASME 2017 international design engineering technical conference & computers and information in engineering conference computers and information in engineering conference, pp 1–10

    Google Scholar 

  51. Fera M, Macchiaroli R, Fruggiero F, Lambiase A (2018) A new perspective for production process analysis using additive manufacturing-complexity vs production volume. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 95(1–4):673–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Ott K, Pascher H, Sihn W (2019) Improving sustainability and cost efficiency for spare part allocation strategies by utilisation of additive manufacturing technologies. Procedia Manuf 33:123–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Rudolph JP, Emmelmann C (2017) A cloud-based platform for automated order processing in additive manufacturing. Procedia CIRP 63:412–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Mai J, Zhang L, Tao F, Ren L (2016) Customized production based on distributed 3D printing services in cloud manufacturing. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 84(1–4):71–83

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Atzeni E, Salmi A (2012) Economics of additive manufacturing for end-usable metal parts. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 62(9–12):1147–1155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Ruffo M, Tuck C, Hague R (2006) Cost estimation for rapid manufacturing—laser sintering production for low to medium volumes. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part B J Eng Manuf 220(9):1417–1427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Hopkinson N, Dickens P (2003) Analysis of rapid manufacturing—using layer manufacturing processes for production. Proc Inst Mech Eng C J Mech Eng Sci 217(1):31–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Emelogu A, Marufuzzaman M, Thompson SM, Shamsaei N, Bian L (2016) Additive manufacturing of biomedical implants: a feasibility assessment via supply-chain cost analysis. Addit Manuf 11:97–113

    Google Scholar 

  59. Lindemann C, Jahnke U, Moi M, Koch R (2012) Analyzing product lifecycle costs for a better understanding of cost drivers in additive manufacturing, pp 177–188

    Google Scholar 

  60. Scott A, Harrison TP (2015) Additive manufacturing in an end-to-end supply chain setting. 3D Printing Additive Manuf 2(2):65–77

    Google Scholar 

  61. Khajavi SH, Baumers M, Holmström J, Özcan E, Atkin J, Jackson W, Li W (2018) To kit or not to kit: analysing the value of model-based kitting for additive manufacturing. Comput Ind 98:100–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Urbanic RJ, Saqib SM (2019) A manufacturing cost analysis framework to evaluate machining and fused filament fabrication additive manufacturing approaches. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 102(9–12):3091–3108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Sutherland JW, Richter JS, Hutchins MJ, Dornfeld D, Dzombak R, Mangold J, Robinson S, Hauschild MZ, Bonou A, Schönsleben P, Friemann F (2016) The role of manufacturing in affecting the social dimension of sustainability. CIRP Ann Manuf Technol 65(2):689–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Benoît C, Mazijn B (2013) United Nations Environment Programme. CIRAIG, Interuniversity Research Centre for the Life Cycle of Products, P. and S., & Canadian Electronic Library. Guidelines for social life cycle assessment of products (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Chen D, Heyer S, Ibbotson S, Salonitis K, Steingrímsson JG, Thiede S (2015) Direct digital manufacturing: definition, evolution, and sustainability implications. J Clean Prod 107:615–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Kondoh S, Tateno T, Kishita Y, Komoto H (2017) The potential of additive manufacturing technology for realizing a sustainable society, pp 475–486

    Google Scholar 

  67. Matos F, Jacinto C (2018) Additive manufacturing technology: mapping social impacts. J Manuf Technol Manag 30(1):70–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by the Research Management Centre (RMC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) under the High Impact Research Grant (HIR), Vot No. Q.J130000.2409.04G61.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Nabila Afif Mohmd Arifin, Muhamad Zameri Mat Saman, Safian Sharif & Nor Hasrul Akhmal Ngadiman

Authors
  1. Nabila Afif Mohmd Arifin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhamad Zameri Mat Saman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Safian Sharif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nor Hasrul Akhmal Ngadiman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nabila Afif Mohmd Arifin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohd Hasnun Arif Hassan

  2. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Zulkifli Ahmad (a) Manap

  3. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohamad Zairi Baharom

  4. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Nasrul Hadi Johari

  5. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Ummu Kulthum Jamaludin

  6. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Muhammad Hilmi Jalil

  7. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Idris Mat Sahat

  8. Human Engineering Research Group (HUMEN), Faculty of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

    Mohd Nadzeri Omar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Arifin, N.A.M., Saman, M.Z.M., Sharif, S., Ngadiman, N.H.A. (2022). Sustainability Implications of Additive Manufacturing. In: Hassan, M.H.A., et al. Human-Centered Technology for a Better Tomorrow. Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4115-2_35

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4115-2_35

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-4114-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-4115-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation