Contemporary Approach of Additive Manufacturing for Sustainable Products in the Era of Circular Economy

Considering the need for mass customization in Industry 4.0, it is necessary to develop non-traditional production methods. Therefore, additive manufacturing can become a key technology for the production of customized products thanks to its ability to create irregular objects or shapes. In addition to enabling new design possibilities, the additive manufacturing method holds promise for increasing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. It also has the potential to reduce energy consumption and lower polymer material consumption. Additive manufacturing contrasts with conventional processes, as it consists in applying materials layer by layer. Conventional manufacturing operations produce polymer waste that is difficult to reintroduce into manufacturing processes. The aim of the contribution is the possibility of using additive manufacturing in the design and processing of new effective use of the product with regard to the environmental aspect.