Any new technology, however promising, must be assessed for its environmental sustainability. This applies to 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing (AM), which is being developed as an alternative manufacturing technology in many fields of production.

Clean technology is defined in terms of the lifecycle, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, toxic materials, and the use of non-renewable resources. Alex_Traksel/Shutterstock At present most 3D printing is carried out on a small scale. However, it is expanding quickly as tools and materials become more affordable, process quality improves, and innovative techniques emerge. Comparison of the Sustainability of Some 3D Printing Processes Thermoplastic extrusion This application uses a wide range of energy, but through proper designs it can produce self-supporting part designs with low waste. It uses easily recycled plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), poorly recycled plastics like acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polylactic acid (PLA), which is biodegradable but requires special […]

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