Sustainability Through Additive Manufacturing Operations: A Comparative Industrial Analysis with a Life Cycle Assessment Case Study of Türkiye

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is transforming global production systems with sustainability at its core. The global AM market growth underscores the urgency of evaluating its environmental implications. Methods: This study aims to (1) identify Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) factors influencing additively manufactured products across aerospace, automotive, medical devices, industrial equipment, energy, construction, and consumer electronics industries; (2) determine the relative importance of these factors using Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint (ACBC) analysis within a Türkiye case study; and (3) assign sustainability levels for each industry via the PrOPPAGA technique. Since LCA quantifies environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life, this research assesses the sustainability dimensions of AM operations by examining energy consumption, emissions, and waste generation. Results: The findings provide practical and managerial insights for industry stakeholders seeking to enhance sustainable practices in AM. Conclusions: The study introduces a novel sustainability evaluation framework integrating ACBC and PrOPPAGA methods, offering a significant theoretical contribution to the literature on sustainable manufacturing.