A conceptual CAM-5 framework for circular additive manufacturing in engineering and textile applications
Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable manufacturing has accelerated the adoption of circular economy (CE) principles across engineering and industrial sectors. Among advanced manufacturing technologies, additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a key enabler of sustainable production due to its ability to minimize material waste, optimize resource utilization, support product customization, and facilitate decentralized manufacturing. Simultaneously, both engineering and textile industries are undergoing a transition toward circular production systems driven by increasing environmental concerns, resource efficiency requirements, and digital transformation. This paper presents a critical review of the role of circular economy principles in additive manufacturing, with particular emphasis on sustainable engineering and textile applications. The study analyzes the integration of circular economy strategies throughout the additive manufacturing lifecycle, including sustainable material selection, digital product design and simulation, resource-efficient manufacturing, circular product lifecycle management, and recycling within closed-loop manufacturing systems. Current opportunities, technological challenges, and future research directions are also discussed to provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in this rapidly evolving field. Based on the findings obtained from the literature review, the authors propose the CAM-5 (Circular Additive Manufacturing - Five Pillars) conceptual framework, which integrates five complementary pillars for implementing circular economy principles in additive manufacturing: Sustainable Materials, Digital Design & Simulation, Resource-Efficient Additive Manufacturing, Circular Product Lifecycle, and Recycling & Closed-Loop Manufacturing. The proposed framework provides a systematic perspective for integrating sustainability principles into additive manufacturing while demonstrating its potential contribution to engineering and textile applications. The proposed CAM-5 framework may serve as a conceptual foundation for future research focused on sustainability assessment, industrial case studies, and the practical implementation of circular manufacturing strategies within engineering and textile production systems.