A Critical Review on the Influence of Additive Manufacturing on Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability

Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, has a significant, largely beneficial influence on climate change by decreasing material waste and requiring less energy use.The application of AM in the construction and industrial sectors has the potential to reduce carbon emissions.This goal may be accomplished by using material and energy-saving measures, improving manufacturing processes, designing lightweight structures, and reducing transportation operations.While 3DP has the potential to help reduce environmental degradation, it is crucial to recognize the inherent setbacks associated with the technology.Certain AM processes have the potential to emit volatile organic compounds, which contribute to air pollution and hence need improved control.Industrial 3D printers can be excessively expensive, greatly increasing the initial expenditure required to begin a project.Despite these limitations, AM can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, generate better-built environments, and provide a means to reduce energy usage while supporting global carbon neutrality objectives.Governments should extend financial assistance in the form of subsidies to help reduce equipment purchase costs.Furthermore, AM's capacity to foster a circular economy and minimize overall environmental effects is dependent on the improvement of material recycling and scalability.