A Comparative Study on the Life Cycle Assessment of a 3D Printed Product with PLA, ABS & PETG Materials

Abstract

Sustainability aims to meet the demands of the present generation as well as improve the quality of life, develop the economy, conserve resources, and protect the environment for the future generations. Additive manufacturing is one of the techniques to achieve sustainability in manufacturing. Life cycle assessment is a useful tool to ensure viability and applicability of new technology and assess whether it offers tangible benefits compared to conventional methods. There is hardly any comparative study on the life cycle assessment of the widely used filament materials.

This research compares the environmental impacts of widely used filament materials (PLA, ABS, and PETG) for a 3D printed product from cradle to cradle that includes four phases: raw material extraction, production, use and recycling. Environmental impacts and hotspots in terms of both endpoint and midpoint categories have been estimated. The research provides decision support for stakeholders to compare the environmental impacts of different materials and accordingly select the most environmentally friendly material.