UpAM: UPCYCLING VIA ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING – HOW 3D PRINTING CAN ENHANCE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The University of Luxembourg developed the project upAM upcycling using Additive Manufacturing with the cooperation of FabLab Belval and Luxinnovation. This project was partially financed by Luxembourg National Research Fund Luxembourg (FNR).
An alternative to a linear economy: extracting raw materials, producing, consuming, and discarding of a product, there is another option: Circular Economy (CE): reusing products, repairing, recycling, and upcycling. A concept of a system/process (upAM) is developed to reuse unwanted or un-functional polymers issued from existing products/ systems. Waste prints can be re-printed into new products or systems with the same / higher quality or value than products created from raw materials. The upAM project is, therefore, concentrating on upcycling according to the definition given by author” Upcycling is a process in which used materials are converted into something of a higher value and/or quality in their second life”. This definition is simple and reflects fully the meaning of the upcycling process. This idea is not new; the concept of reused materials/products giving them a new life has been present for hundreds of years as a countermeasure against the lack of raw materials. At the moment, the situation in developed countries is evolving. Society is more aware that unlimited consumption leads to unlimited production of waste. Therefore, collective consciousness of a circular economy occurs, which supports greater resources of productivity aiming to reduce waste and avoid pollution by design, and purposeful reused waste materials and unwanted products. Upcycling via additive manufacturing could be an important part of the circular economy (CE). Obviously, the CE and especially the upcycling process lead to reducing the usage of new raw materials, and it results in a reduction of energy usage, air and water pollution and even greenhouse gas emissions. The development of maker movement and democratisation of FDM technology is also strongly influencing the needs and benefits of the upcycling process. The project upAM is developed to increase this idea so that any individual can produce their products with a higher added value using recycled raw materials via the open technology of FDM 3D Printer.