Additive Manufacturing as an opportunity for supporting sustainability through the implementation of circular economies

As changes are automatic while progress is not, technology improvements in manufacture need to find their room within market requirements. Among the challenges manufacturers have to face with, there is the need to approach a multifaceted context. Additive Manufacturing is considered one of the most effective technology with the potential to give proper industry-side responses to markets, fulfilling a long-term sustainable perspective. Layered fabrication may lead to structural changes both in economics and societies and may fill the missing tie to foster the spread of circular systems towards the realization of effective circular economies. There is a widespread interest for manufacturing to shift from linear to circular systems, where biological and technical saves are possible. This paper thus aims to frame Additive Manufacturing, one of the most game-changing technology of nowadays societies, into the need and characteristics of Circular Economy concept, one of the most challenging change in human progress.