1. Introduction
As opposed to subtractive engineering techniques, additive manufacturing is "a method of adding materials to make products from 3D CAD data, normally layer by layer," according to ASTM.” [
1]. Additive manufacturing is one of the anticipated industrial revolutions of industry 4.0, able to make the paradigm shift of the manufacturing process towards the design and acceptance of sustainability and circular economy [
2]. In the literature, AM's contribution to sustainability has been gaining traction recently [
3,
4]. AM is seen to be promising for long-term manufacturing because of its additive and digital properties, which allow for resource conservation. When compared to subtractive techniques like milling, the additive and digital nature enables on-demand fabrication of spare parts for repair or eliminates material losses [
5,
6]. These factors may also open new possibilities for circular economy product design.
The Circular Economy (CE) theory and its 3R characteristics, such as “reduce, reuse, recycle”, are entirely coherent to boosting the extension of product useful life in order to combine economic growth and environmental safety which have reached the end of their material substantial and practical usefulness and would otherwise be waste, thus optimizing their potential for consumption and preserving their value [
7,
8]. Designing a circular economy is a firsthand research subject of broader area of sustainable project that has lately gained attention. Product life extension and total product and material recovery are key components of this method, with a hierarchy of recovery techniques ensuring material reliability, or the degree to which a material stays similar to the initial products [
9]. In a novel approach, design for a circular economy emphasizes the relevance of high-value and high-quality material cycles [
10]. When a product reaches its usefulness and would otherwise be discarded, the recycling process commences. The size and location of manufacturing facilities have an impact on the performance of recycling systems, and additive manufacturing has the ability to regionalize them, resulting in more overall flexibility, reduced overall expenses and lead time, and reduced environmental consequences [
11,
12]. The recycling system can be investigated in two distinctive approaches: “distributed recycling system and closed loop supply system and recycling of materials” [
13]. The notion of distributed recycling for Additive Manufacturing in terms of Circular Economy is a new technical field with considerable prospective of developing the recycling solutions of plastic waste [
14]. Instead of being sent in bulk to the recycling facilities or landfills, AM allows unwanted plastics to be transformed into feedstock for 3D printing [
15]. Furthermore, in locations where material availability is low but waste generation and demand for specialized components are considerable [
16], distributed recycling has shown to be critical [
17]. Closed-loop manufacturing systems are increasingly being viewed as a potential solution for reducing industrial activity's environmental effect. CE, in reality, denotes a system in which resource flows are closed loops [
18]: One of the most effective ways for ecologically friendly production is to optimize it [
19].
The benefits and challenges of AM for designing CE have received little attention in earlier literature. One of the few studies that specifically addressed this problem was by Despeisse. He proposed a CE research scheme for additive manufacturing [
20]. The purpose of the study is to check the options that AM provides for viable design are also relevant to the design of a CE, and what extent to which AM can assist you with this. Desppeisse anticipated the research to be conducted on additional sustainable techniques of fabrication. The author offered six research sections to better comprehend in what way 3D printing helps to enable further sustainable fabrication and use of practices while yet providing benefits in the circular economy.
HA Colorado et al. conducted a bibliographic review on this aspect in September 2019. The search generated 32 papers linked to circular economy searching the keywords "circular economy" AND ("additive manufacturing" OR "3D printing"). There were fifteen research papers, 10 conference papers, and seven literature reviews, with three of them being accepted in publications and four being addressed at seminars. [
21]. Four of the studies discovered in this search were about the "Gigabot X," an available industrial additive manufacturing printer. These publications address topics such as evaluating the printer's financial prospective [
22], a pelletizing chopper [
23], a study of the possibilities for particle material extrusion [
24], and a vigorous open-source solution for printing of hefty formats [
25].
The study of Giurco et al. is one of the most original research connected to the CE established in this study [
26]. The creation of two parallel tendencies known as 3D manufacturing structures is investigated in this paper; one is liable for minerals distribution networks, while the other is for 3-d printing. In a circular economy paradigm, Angioletti et al. [
27] shown that product and operations-oriented production, using AM technologies, enhanced production effectiveness in respect of production costings. On the other hand, Leino et al. [
28] investigated the application of additive manufacturing in metal product repair, restoration, and remanufacturing procedures.
Angioletti et al. [
29] established an approach for quantifying a product's circularity using a simplified life cycle perspective that took into account resource flow between systems. Aimed at selective laser sintering (SLS), Reijonen et al. [
30] utilized the circular economy concept to AM. During the remanufacturing planning phase, Alghamdi et al. [
31] proposed a theoretical outline to lower the random and circulated type of engineering characteristics.
Voet et al. [
32] used a commercial 3D stereolithography printer system to effectively build complicated shape prototypes using nature founded acrylate photopolymer resins. Unruh [
33] extended a management framework, Biosphere Rules to the developing field of AM which was influenced by biomimetics for circular economy activities.
Garmulewicz et al. [
34], examined that by interrupting the value stream of traditional materials, 3D technology can contribute to a sustainable future. Out of linear economy model, Navarro et al. [
35], identified the major measures that fostered a circular economy and, within which, Co2 conversion targets. Clemon and Zodhi [
36], suggested a methodology for reducing product manufacturing time and expenses associated with material recycling and 3D filament reuse. In order to generate 3D printing filaments, Santander et al. [
37] performed literature research to assess the financial and ecological elements of the collecting process in a closed - loop system supply chain system of regional and localized plastics recycling operations. Sauerwein and Doubrovski [
38] investigated the improvement of a structure for connecting locally obtainable parts with additive manufacturing methods, as well as the usage of key purposes to benefit from the CE. Minetola and Eyers [
39], highlighted Make-To-Order options for 3D printing; some of which may be taken advantage of now and others which may become more important at some point. Lahrour and Brissaud [
40] offered a framework for AM and critical processes for product remanufacturing using 3D printing methods. Baiani and Altamura [
41] investigated a study review on the circular economy's function to the built environment, which employs two distinct but complimentary ideas: re-use (super-use) and recycling.
Saboori et al. [
42], published an overall explanation of the “directed energy deposition (DED)” technique and DED’s involvement in metal component restoration. Wu and Wu [
43] discussed 3D printing design and circular economies, which have a big impact on environmental aspects including waste control and material handling. Sauerwein et al. [
44] investigated on the potential provided by 3D printing for sustainable development which may also be applied to the design of methods for CE, and how AM can help with CE design. Nascimento et al. [
45] studied on how upcoming Industry 4.0 technology and CE techniques might be coupled to make a production standard which ensures reusability and recyclability of materials like scrap or electrical trash. Turner et al. [
46] investigate the potential of a redistributed production standard for industries who use technologies like additive manufacturing or 3D printing to complement sustainability and circular economy and consumption method.
Figure 1.
Circular economy model in comparison with linear economy model [
47].
Figure 1.
Circular economy model in comparison with linear economy model [
47].