Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) with Recycled Materials A Digital Supply Chain Approach-The Indian Context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64882/ijrt.v14.iS1.1105Keywords:
Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing, Circular Economy, Digital Supply Chain, Recycled Materials, Plastic Waste, India, Kabadiwalla, Sustainable ManufacturingAbstract
This paper explores the intersection of Additive Manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, and the Circular Economy within the Indian context. India faces a dual challenge: managing over 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily and modernizing its manufacturing sector under the "Make in India" initiative. We propose a Digital Circular Supply Chain (DCSC) framework that integrates India’s vast informal waste management sector (Kabadiwallas) with distributed 3D printing hubs via digital platforms. By leveraging technologies such as AI-driven waste sorting and cloud-based manufacturing, this approach aims to reduce logistics costs, minimize carbon footprints, and formalize the livelihoods of waste pickers. The paper analyses current technological feasibility, regulatory landscapes (including BIS standards for recycled materials), and successful case studies such as Tvasta and Protoprint to validate the model. The study also discusses challenges related to material quality consistency, digital infrastructure gaps in rural India, and the role of policy incentives in scaling such sustainable models.
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