Sustainable Development Goals Enabled by Additive Manufacturing: A Design Perspective

Abstract

The human exploitation of resources is currently exceeding the real possibilities of the planet. New sustainable models of consumption and production have been implemented in the last years to limit the impact of human activities, i.e., the definition of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Design and digital technology can potentially foster the achievement of these goals, although their real contribution to this transition has not been defined yet. This paper aims to investigate the link between additive manufacturing technologies and design for sustainability for the achievement of the 17 United Nations SDGs. After a preliminary review of the goals and the theoretical framework, the most relevant case studies from the practical context were selected to deepen the investigation. Three matrixes were then created to detect the possible interconnections with the SDGs and the key aspects of the theoretical framework. Potential links were found with 15 of the 17 SDGs. Accessible additive manufacturing technologies can foster sustainable models, especially within local scales and communities. Designers can be seen as facilitators or creators of this transition from a practical point of view, fostering behavioral change towards more sustainable models.