Table 2.
Impact of 3D printing on total energy supply and CO2 emissions in the world expected till 2025 [10].
| Sustainability parameter | Overall reduction due to 3DP (over the entire life cycle) | Reduction in lifecycle phases | Involved markets | Highly influenced sectors (% reduction) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total primary energy supply (TPES) | 2.54–9.30 exajoule (EJ) | Production (33%) | Consumer products, aerospace industry, medical components, tooling | Aerospace fuels (9–35 %), aerospace manufacturing (8–19 %), medical equipment (5–19 %), tools (3–10 %) |
| Utilization (55–60 %) | Aerospace energy demands | |||
| Discharging (8%) | Aerospace production | |||
| CO2 emissions | 130.5–525.5 metric tons (Mt) | Production (25%) | Consumer products, medical equipment, Tooling | Aerospace fuels (9–35 %), aerospace manufacturing (8–19 %), medical equipment (5–19 %), tools (3–10 %) |
| Utilization (66%) | Aviation (owing to lightweight designs) | |||
| Discharging (8%) | Consumer goods, fuel burnt, food products |