Authors: Evgenia Fronimaki, Maria Mavri, Athanasia Kadrefi

Title: Could 3D Printing become a reliable production process aligned to the Goals of Sustainable Development?

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a new manufacturing technology that has many applications related to social, economic, and environmental activities. 3D printing is a process that turns digital files into solid objects using a desktop 3D printer. Once the digital files are created, either by using computer design software or a 3D scanner, they are sliced into sections and a 3D printer stacks the raw material into layers.

The role of industrial production is crucial as it strengthens the EU economic resilience, while contributing to the achievement of improved social well-being. 3D printing technology provides access and participation in the production process to both producers and end-consumers. 3D printing is gaining ground, as the environmental footprint of this production process is determined by the choice raw materials, the carbon emissions, the energy consumption, and the transportation process.

The goal of this paper is to measure the impact of additive manufacturing in the concept of sustainable development. The goal is to investigate whether 3D printing is already or could be a better and more reliable production procedure in the near future, in line with the 17 United Nation Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.