Short answer

Prioritize the design of products with end-of-life recycling in mind, and explore opportunities to integrate recycled materials into AM workflows, focusing on improving material recovery and preparation processes.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Journal of Cleaner Production (2020)
Method: Systematic Literature Review
Sample: 92 papers
Evidence: Strong effect

Leveraging additive manufacturing (AM) for distributed recycling of plastics can create a closed-loop system, reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Journal of Cleaner Production. Using Systematic literature review with 92 papers, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize the design of products with end-of-life recycling in mind, and explore opportunities to integrate recycled materials into AM workflows, focusing on improving material recovery and preparation processes.

Study

Resource ManagementHigh ImpactStrong effect

Distributed Recycling via Additive Manufacturing (DRAM) offers a viable pathway to a circular economy.

Leveraging additive manufacturing (AM) for distributed recycling of plastics can create a closed-loop system, reducing waste and promoting resource efficiency.

Journal of Cleaner Production · 2020

Key Findings

01Significant progress has been made in the compounding, feedstock, printing, and quality control stages of using recycled plastics in AM.
02The recovery and preparation stages of recycled materials require further development to fully realize the potential of Distributed Recycling via Additive Manufacturing (DRAM).
03An open-source approach to developing DRAM stages can facilitate scaling and integration into circular economy frameworks at various levels (micro, meso, macro).

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing a new product, research the availability of recycled plastic feedstocks for AM in your region and consider how the product's components could be designed for easy separation and reprocessing.

Project actions

01Investigate local plastic waste streams and their suitability for mechanical recycling into 3D printing filament.
02Explore open-source hardware and software solutions for small-scale plastic shredding and filament extrusion.
03Consider the design of products that can be easily disassembled for material recovery.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate the current state and future potential of using recycled thermoplastics in additive manufacturing processes to establish a circular economy model.

MethodSystematic Literature Review

ProcedureA comprehensive review of 92 academic papers published between 2009 and 2019 was conducted across multiple databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Springer) to analyze advancements in thermoplastic recycling for additive manufacturing.

Sample92 papers

ContextAdditive Manufacturing (3D Printing) and Circular Economy

Variables

IV["Stage of the DRAM process (recovery, preparation, compounding, feedstock, printing, quality)"]

DV["Technical feasibility of using recycled plastics in AM","Environmental impact of DRAM","Economic viability of DRAM"]

CV["Type of thermoplastic material","Specific AM technology used","Geographical scale of the DRAM system"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Comprehensive literature review covering a decade of research.
+Proposal of a structured DRAM chain for analysis.
+Identification of research gaps and future opportunities.

Limitations

The quality of recycled filament can vary significantly, impacting printability and the mechanical properties of the final product. The energy consumption of the recycling and printing processes needs careful consideration.

Reliability & validity

The systematic review methodology enhances reliability by using defined search strategies and inclusion criteria. Validity is supported by the synthesis of findings from a broad range of studies across multiple databases.

Think critically

To what extent can DRAM truly replace the need for virgin plastic production, considering the technical limitations and economic viability of current recycling processes?

Design Principles

"Design for Disassembly and Recyclability: Products should be designed to be easily disassembled, and materials should be chosen for their recyclability and suitability for additive manufacturing processes."

This approach allows for localized recycling and production, minimizing transportation costs and environmental impact. It presents an opportunity for designers and engineers to rethink product lifecycles and material sourcing within a more sustainable framework.

What This Means for Your Design

Using 3D printing to recycle plastic waste can help create a circular economy where old plastic becomes new products, but we need better ways to collect and prepare the plastic first.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the environmental benefits of using recycled materials in your design project.
2.Use the DRAM concept as a framework for analyzing the lifecycle of your designed product.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The concept of Distributed Recycling via Additive Manufacturing (DRAM) presents a promising avenue for integrating recycled plastics into a circular economy. Research indicates that while the printing stages are advancing, further innovation is needed in material recovery and preparation to create a robust closed-loop system. Designers and engineers can contribute by creating products designed for disassembly and by exploring localized recycling solutions.

Source

Journal of Cleaner Production

Plastic recycling in additive manufacturing: A systematic literature review and opportunities for the circular economy

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about distributed recycling via additive manufacturing (dram) offers a viable pathway to a circular economy?: Prioritize the design of products with end-of-life recycling in mind, and explore opportunities to integrate recycled materials into AM workflows, focusing on improving material recovery and preparation processes. Evidence: Journal of Cleaner Production (2020).
Why does "Distributed Recycling via Additive Manufacturing (DRAM) offers a viable pathway to a circular economy." matter for design?: This approach allows for localized recycling and production, minimizing transportation costs and environmental impact. It presents an opportunity for designers and engineers to rethink product lifecycles and material sourcing within a more sustainable framework.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize the design of products with end-of-life recycling in mind, and explore opportunities to integrate recycled materials into AM workflows, focusing on improving material recovery and preparation processes.
What were the main findings?: Significant progress has been made in the compounding, feedstock, printing, and quality control stages of using recycled plastics in AM.. The recovery and preparation stages of recycled materials require further development to fully realize the potential of Distributed Recycling via Additive Manufacturing (DRAM).. An open-source approach to developing DRAM stages can facilitate scaling and integration into circular economy frameworks at various levels (micro, meso, macro).
What research method was used?: Systematic Literature Review with 92 papers.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Journal of Cleaner Production.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing a new product, research the availability of recycled plastic feedstocks for AM in your region and consider how the product's components could be designed for easy separation and reprocessing.
What are the limitations?: The review covers literature up to 2019, and newer advancements may exist. The focus is primarily on thermoplastic materials.