Disruptive Technology as an Enabler of the Circular Economy: What Potential Does 3D Printing Hold?

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been widely identified as an emerging disruptive technology. This study examines how this technology could enable the circular economy by disrupting the existing materials value chain. Specifically, could this novel technology be used to locally manufacture new goods from local sources of recycled plastic waste, thereby offering benefits for the efficiency and effectiveness of materials cycling? This article uses the London metropolitan area-where system conditions already exist in the form of material flows, technology policy, and facilitiesin order to assess 3D printing's viability as an enabler of a circular economy at the local level. An analysis of stakeholder perceptions identifies economic, technological, social, organizational, and regulatory barriers to mainstream implementation, and their likelihood of being overcome.

A brave new world: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for transitioning to sustainable supply and production

“…Such circular economy solutions can further reinforce localization capabilities. Not only is additive manufacturing advantageous in expanding opportunities for repair, but materials from local supplies will also result (Garmulewicz et al, 2018). For instance, recovered plastics and metals can be used as feedstocks for 3D printing and these applications can provide opportunities for locally recycled materials and other byproducts derived from local waste exchanges or eco-industrial parks (Jensen, 2016;Julianelli et al, 2020;Dev et al, 2020).…”

Dematerialised and re-dematerialised economy – 3D printing as a key technological and environment-friendly innovation

“…After incurring the costs of producing 3D printers and the costs of creating the appropriate software, marginal costs of replicating the goods are at a low level. The increase in technological sophistication will allow using recycled plastics in additive manufacturing and improve waste recycling at local level (Garmulewicz et al 2016).…”

Development of Low Cost Recycled HDPE Filament Extruder for 3D Printing Filament

“…The 3D printing is defined as a process of pooling material to form objects based on 3D model data, commonly done layer by layer. This work is the opposite of traditional formation done by the method of material reduction or marriage (Garmulewicz et al, 2018). This technology provides an advantage in the ability to produce a very complex form, a form that is almost impossible to do with other manufacturing techniques.…”

“…Application of 3D printers is found in the fields of medical and dental, consumer products and electronics, aerospace fields (Garmulewicz et al, 2018) with the puIDRose as visualization, prototyping or as the end product. The socioeconomic impact of 3D printing technology is examined by research of Pîrjan & Petroşanu (Pîrjan and Petrosanu, 2013)and Feeley et al (Feeley, Wijnen and Pearce, 2014).…”

“…Barriers to the use of 3D printing technology in industry are the cost and availability of raw materials (Pîrjan and Petrosanu, 2013;Garmulewicz et al, 2018). Especially in Indonesia filament for 3D printing still have to be imported with price around IDR 200.000/kg until IDR 450.000/kg.…”