Putting 3D Printing to Good Use – Additive Manufacturing and the Sustainable Development Goals

Additive Manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, is a production technology that creates objects layer by layer and applies to a variety of materials. AM is expected to have a high impact on the industry as well as on society. The inherent characteristics of AM make it possible to solve not only particular problems but fundamental global challenges as well, which can be examined by reference to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. This is the first paper that examines the connection of AM and the 17 SDGs through a literature review. In this work, it is outlined which SDGs have a high or moderate potential to be fostered by AM. In each section, one of these SDGs with high or moderate potential will be introduced and corresponding studies relevant to the respective SDG are presented. At the end of each section, the potential of AM to contribute to the achievement of the SDG is evaluated, using the qualitative grades “high” or “moderate”. SDGs with low potential will be subsumed in the last subsection. It is found that six out of 17 SDGs have high potential to be fostered by AM. These are SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Furthermore, four SDGs have been identified that have moderate potential to be fostered by AM. These are: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).