Prajakta P. Desai,
Vivek V. Kulkarni,
- Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology, Sanjay Ghodawat University, Kolhapur, Maharshtra, India
- Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Technology, Sanjay Ghodawat University, Kolhapur, Maharshtra, India
Abstract
Concerns over the effects of conventional polymer materials on the environment and human health have been highlighted by the growing use of additive manufacturing or 3D printing. Traditional synthetic composites are usually made of petroleum-based plastics that include a range of chemical agents, such as additives and plasticizers. The increasing use of 3D printing has sparked concerns about the environmental and health risks linked to traditional polymer materials. With an emphasis on the advantages for public health and environmental sustainability, this review study evaluates the potential of biocomposite polymers as sustainable substitutes for 3D printing applications. The study looks at the waste production, exposure concerns, and harmful emissions that are currently connected to traditional 3D printing materials from an environmental and public health perspective. The properties, uses, and benefits of several biocomposite polymers, such as PLA, starch-based, and cellulose-based polymers, are then covered. Bio composite polymers offer a potential solution to the sustainability issues associated with conventional 3D printing materials. The review emphasizes how biodegradability, lower emissions, and biocompatibility of biocomposites might mitigate pollution, resource depletion, and health hazards. It looks at the environmental and public health problems linked to traditional 3D printing materials, including waste creation, exposure risks, and the release of harmful substance.
Keywords: Biocomposite polymer, Environmental sustainability, public health, carbon footprint, 3D printing.
[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer and Composites ]
Prajakta P. Desai, Vivek V. Kulkarni. Need of Biocomposite Polymers In 3D Printing: Addressing Environmental and Public Health. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):135-142.
Prajakta P. Desai, Vivek V. Kulkarni. Need of Biocomposite Polymers In 3D Printing: Addressing Environmental and Public Health. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):135-142. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=210163
Browse Figures
References
1. Mikula, K., Skrzypczak, D., Izydorczyk, G.et al., “3D printing filament as a second life of waste plastics—a review”, Environ Sci Pollut Res28, 12321–12333 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10657-8
2. Rudnik, E., Milanov, N., Matuschek, G., & Kettrup, A., “Ecotoxicity of biocomposites based on renewable feedstock – Preliminary studies”, Chemosphere, Elsevier, Volume 70, Issue 2, December 2007, Pages 337-340, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.06.026
3. Allemann, M.N., Tessman, M., Reindel, J. et al, “Rapid biodegradation of microplastics generated from bio-based thermoplastic polyurethane”, Sci Rep 14, 6036 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56492-6
4. Swain, S. K., Pattanayak, A. J., & Sahoo, A. P., “Functional Biopolymer Composites”, Springer series on polymer and composite materials, 2017, p. 159. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66417-0_6
5. Borner, T., & Zinn, M. (2024). Key challenges in the advancement and industrialization of biobased and biodegradable plastics: a value chain overarching perspective. In Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Vol. 12). Frontiers Media. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1406278
6. Liu, J., Sun, L., Xu, W., Wang, Q., Yu, S., & Sun, J. (2018). Current advances and future perspectives of 3D printing natural-derived biopolymers [Review of Current advances and future perspectives of 3D printing natural-derived biopolymers]. Carbohydrate Polymers, 207, 297. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.11.077
7. Mazzanti, V., Malagutti, L., & Mollica, F. (2019). FDM 3D Printing of Polymers Containing Natural Fillers: A Review of their Mechanical Properties. Polymers, 11(7), 1094. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11071094
8. Mattew A. Olawumi, Bankole I. Oladapo, Temitope Olumide Olugbade, “Evaluating the impact of recycling on polymer of 3D printing for energy and material sustainability”, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Volume 209, 2024, 107769, ISSN 0921-3449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107769.
9. Peng Zhao, Chengchen Rao, Fu Gu, Nusrat Sharmin, Jianzhong Fu, Close- looped recycling of polylactic acid used in 3D printing: An experimental investigation and life cycle assessment, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 197, Part 1, 2018,pages 1046-1055, ISSN 0959-6526, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.275.
10. Kubowicz, S., & Booth, A. M. (2017). Biodegradability of Plastics: Challenges and Misconceptions. In Environmental Science & Technology (Vol. 51, Issue 21, p. 12058). American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.7b04051
11. Seong Je Park, Ji Eun Lee, Han Bit Lee, Jeanho Park, Nak-Kyu Lee, Yong Son, Suk-Hee Park, “3D printing of bio-based polycarbonate and its potential applications in ecofriendly indoor manufacturing”, Additive manufacturing, Volume 31, January 2020, 100974
12. R House, N Rajaram, S M Tarlo, “Case report of asthma associated with 3D printing”, Occupational Medicine, Volume 67, Issue 8, November 2017, Pages 652–654, https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqx129
13. Chan, F., Hon, C., Tarlo, S. M., Rajaram, N., & House, R., “Emissions and health risks from the use of 3D printers in an occupational setting. In Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health”, Taylor & Francis., Vol. 83, Issue 7, (2020), pg. 279.https://doi.org/10.1080/15287394.2020.1751758
14. Lithner, D., Larsson, Å., & Dave, G., “Environmental and health hazard ranking and assessment of plastic polymers based on chemical composition”, The Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier, Vol. 409, Issue 18, p. 3309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.04.038
15. Zontek, T. L., Ogle, B. R., Jankovic, J. T., & Hollenbeck, S. M. (2017). An exposure assessment of desktop 3D printing. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety, 24(2), 15-25.
16. Saha, A., Maraz, K. M., & Khan, R. A., “Physio-mechanical properties and applications of natural fiber reinforced bio-composites”, GSC Advanced Engineering and Technology, Vol. 3, .2022, Issue 1, p.1. https://doi.org/10.30574/gscaet.2022.3.1.0021
17. Chinga-Carrasco, G., Rosendahl, J., Catalán, J, “Nanocelluloses – Nanotoxicology, Safety Aspects and 3D Bioprinting”, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Springer, vol 1357, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88071-2_7
18. Shrivastava, A. K., & Dondapati, S, “Biodegradable composites based on biopolymers and natural bast fibres: A review”, Materials Today Proceedings, Elsevier BV 46, 1420.,2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.02.652
19. Hodson, L. ; Dunn, K. L. ; Glassford E, Hammond D, Roth G. Cincinnati, OH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Approaches to safe 3D printing: a guide for makerspace users, schools, libraries, and small businesses, NIOSH Numbered Publications,2024-103, https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHPUB2024103.
20. Arefin, A. M. E., Khatri, N. R., Kulkarni, N. N., & Egan, P., “Polymer 3D Printing Review: Materials, Process, and Design Strategies for Medical Applications”, Polymers, 13(9), (2021). pp.1499. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13091499
21. Nikit Deoray, Balasubramanian Kandasubramanian “Review on Three-Dimensionally Emulated Fiber-Embedded Lactic Acid Polymer composites: Opportunities in Engineering Sector”, Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, Pages 860-874,2017. https://doi.org/10.1080/03602559.2017.1354226
22. Partanen, A., & Carus, M., “Biocomposites, find the real alternative to plastic – An examination of biocomposites in the market. In Reinforced Plastics”, Elsevier, Vol. 63, Issue 6, 2019, p. 317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repl.2019.04.065
23. Derval dos Santos Rosa, Denise Maria, “Biocomposites: Influence of Matrix Nature and Additives on the Properties and Biodegradation Behavior”, Tech eBooks, 2013.
24. Formela, K., Kurańska, M., & Barczewski, M., “Recent Advances in Development of Waste-Based Polymer Materials: A Review”, Polymers, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 14(5), 1050, (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14051050
25. Rodríguez, L. J., Peças, P., Carvalho, H., & Orrego, C. E., “A literature review on life cycle tools fostering holistic sustainability assessment: An application in biocomposites materials”, Journal of Environmental Management, Elsevier, 262, 110308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110308
26. Wang, S., Chen, X., Han, X., Hong, X., Li, X., Zhang, H., Li, M., Wang, Z., & Zheng, A. (2023). “A Review of 3D Printing Technology in Pharmaceutics: Technology and Applications, Now and Future”, Pharmaceutics, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 15(2), 416. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15020416
27. Gaurav Kale a, Rafael Auras a, Sher Paul Singh a, Ramani Narayan, “ Biodegradability of polylactide bottles in real and simulated composting conditions”, Polymer Testing, Volume 26, Issue 8, December 2007, Pages 1049-1061, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2007.07.006
28. Appuhamillage, G. A., Ambagaspitiya, S. S., Dassanayake, R. S., & Wijenayake, A, “3D and 4D printing of biomedical materials: current trends, challenges, and future outlook”, Exploration of Medicine, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 2024, p. 17. https://doi.org/10.37349/emed.2024.00203
29. Assad, H., Assad, A., & Kumar, “A. Recent Developments in 3D Bio-Printing and Its Biomedical Applications [Review of Recent Developments in 3D Bio-Printing and Its Biomedical Applications”, Pharmaceutics, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15010255
30. Dey, M., & Ozbolat, I. T, “3D bioprinting of cells, tissues and organs. In Scientific Reports”, Nature Portfolio, Vol. 10, Issue 1, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70086-y
31. Ma, Y., Deng, B., He, R., & Huang, P, “Advancements of 3D bioprinting in regenerative medicine: Exploring cell sources for organ fabrication”, Heliyon, Elsevier, Volume 10, Issue 3,e24593, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24593
32. Fantuzzi, N., Bacciocchi, M., Benedetti, D., & Agnelli, J, “The use of sustainable composites for the manufacturing of electric cars”, Composites Part C, Elsevier, Vol. 4,2020, p. 100096). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomc.2020.100096
33. Purabi Bhagabati, “Chapter 9 – Biopolymers and biocomposites-mediated sustainable high-performance materials for automobile applications”, Sustainable Nanocellulose and anohydrogels from Natural Sources, Elsevier,2020, Pages 197-216, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816789-2.00009-2.
34. Khan, F., Hossain, N., Mim, J. J., Rahman, S., Iqbal, Md. J., Billah, M., & Chowdhury, M. A, “Advances of composite materials in automobile applications – A review”, Journal of Engineering Research, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jer.2024.02.017
35. Paatsch, W, “Recent trends in surface finishing for automobile industry in Germany”, Surface and Coatings Technology, Elsevier, 2003, p. 753. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0257-8972(03)00157-9
36. Ramaux, J., Ziegler‐Devin, I., Besserer, A., & Nouvel, C, “3D Printing of Wood Composites: State of the Art and Opportunities”, Polymers, 16(19), 2024, 2827. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192827
37. L. Sandanamsamy, J. P. Mogan, Norhana Abdul Halim, Wan Sharuzi Wan Harun, K. Kadirgama, D. Ramasamy, “A review on 3D printing bio-based polymer composite”, IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering, 2020. 10.1088/1757-899X/1078/1/012031
38. Abu Sadat Muhammad Sayem, Hasan Shahariar, Julfikar Haider, “An Overview on the Opportunities for 3D Printing with Biobased Materials”, Elsevier, 2019, UK. ISBN 978-0-12-803581-8 https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.10942-7
39. Chia, H.N., Wu, B.M. Recent advances in 3D printing of biomaterials. J Biol Eng 9, 4 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13036-015-0001-4
40. Deoray, N., & Kandasubramanian, B, “Review on Three-Dimensionally Emulated Fiber-Embedded Lactic Acid Polymer Composites: Opportunities in Engineering Sector”, Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering, 57(9), 2017, pp 860–874. https://doi.org/10.1080/03602559.2017.1354226

Journal of Polymer and Composites
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 03 |
| Received | 12/03/2025 |
| Accepted | 15/04/2025 |
| Published | 01/05/2025 |
| Publication Time | 50 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics
