ASSESSING THE SUSTAINABILITY IMPACTS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING: A REVIEW

This study provides a comprehensive review of the sustainability aspects of Additive Manufacturing (AM), examining its evolution from prototyping to mainstream production with a focus on material efficiency, energy consumption, and waste reduction. It highlights the adoption of recycled and bio-based materials in AM processes as a step towards environmental sustainability. The potential of AM to streamline supply chains, thereby reducing transportation emissions, and its economic impact, including the displacement and creation of jobs, are discussed. However, the review identifies significant challenges, including technical limitations, the energy-intensive nature of certain AM processes, and the need for broader market acceptance. It calls for future research to address these shortcomings, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of AM development. This analysis underlines the complexity of achieving sustainability in AM, suggesting a balanced approach that considers both technological advancements and their socio-economic impacts.