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Evaluation of the Viability of 3D Printing in Recycling Polymers
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This systematic review explores whether 3D printing technology can help recycle plastic waste, particularly from agriculture. Finding better ways to reuse plastics matters because unrecycled plastic breaks down into microplastics that contaminate soil, water, and eventually the food chain.
The increased use of plastics in industrial and agricultural applications has led to high levels of pollution worldwide and is a significant challenge. To address this plastic pollution, conventional methods such as landfills and incineration are used, leading to further challenges such as the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, increasing interest has been directed to identifying alternative methods to dispose of plastic waste from agriculture. The novelty of the current research arose from the lack of critical reviews on how 3-Dimensional (3D) printing was adopted for recycling plastics, its application in the production of agricultural plastics, and its specific benefits, disadvantages, and limitations in recycling plastics. The review paper offers novel insights regarding the application of 3D printing methods including Fused Particle Fabrication (FPF), Hot Melt Extrusion (HME), and Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) to make filaments from plastics. However, the methods were adopted in local recycling setups where only small quantities of the raw materials were considered. Data was collected using a systematic review involving 39 studies. Findings showed that the application of the 3D printing methods led to the generation of agricultural plastics such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), which were found to have properties comparable to those of virgin plastic, suggesting the viability of 3D printing in managing plastic pollution. However, limitations were also associated with the 3D printing methods; 3D-printed plastics deteriorated rapidly under Ultraviolet (UV) light and are non-biodegradable, posing further risks of plastic pollution. However, UV stabilization helps reduce plastic deterioration, thus increasing longevity and reducing disposal. Future directions emphasize identifying methods to reduce the deterioration of 3D-printed agricultural plastics and increasing their longevity in addition to UV stability.
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Advancing Plastic Recycling: Challenges and Opportunities in the Integration of 3D Printing and Distributed Recycling for a Circular Economy
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This review explores how combining 3D printing technology with distributed recycling could help communities process their own plastic waste locally rather than relying on centralized facilities. Researchers found that while this approach shows promise for creating a more circular economy, challenges remain around material quality, contamination, and economic viability. The study highlights community-based recycling as an important complement to traditional waste management systems.
Post-Consumer Recycling of Polymers for Sustainable 3D Printing Filament Material
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This study investigated using post-consumer recycled plastic to make 3D printing filaments as an alternative to virgin polymer materials. Recycling plastics into new products reduces the amount of plastic that enters the environment and eventually degrades into microplastics.
Sustainable 3D Printing Filament Production from Recycled Nonbiodegradable Waste: A Review
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This study examined how microplastic ingestion affects the thermal tolerance of marine invertebrates, testing whether plastic particle exposure alters heat stress resistance. The findings indicate that microplastic-exposed organisms exhibit reduced thermal tolerance, suggesting plastic pollution could compound climate change stress on marine biodiversity.
Upcycling plastic waste through empirical implementation of large-scale 3D printing
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This design research project explored large-scale 3D printing as a method for upcycling waste plastic into usable products, addressing the quality concerns that have limited plastic recycling adoption. While focused on waste reduction rather than microplastics specifically, reducing plastic waste helps prevent the breakdown of plastics into microplastics.
Fused deposition modelling approach using 3D printing and recycled industrial materials for a sustainable environment: a review
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Researchers reviewed the use of fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing as a strategy for repurposing industrial plastic waste, examining how recycled polymer materials can be processed into filaments and printed into new objects to reduce environmental plastic accumulation.
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