Menu Expand

From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing

  1. Journals
  2. Economics, Finance, Business & Management
  3. ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship
  4. Vol. 72, Issue 3–4
  5. pp. 177–197

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Cite JOURNAL ARTICLE

Style
Laudien, S., Lapidus, A. From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing. ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, 72(3–4), 177-197. https://doi.org/10.3790/ZfKE.2024.1465303
Laudien, Sven M. and Lapidus, Artur "From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing" ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship 72.3–4, 2024, 177-197. https://doi.org/10.3790/ZfKE.2024.1465303
Laudien, Sven M./Lapidus, Artur (2024): From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing, in: ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, vol. 72, iss. 3–4, 177-197, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/ZfKE.2024.1465303
Format
Download

From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing

Laudien, Sven M. | Lapidus, Artur

ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, Vol. 72(2024), Iss. 3–4 : pp. 177–197 | First published online: September 12, 2025

Preview Login to order (PDF)

Additional Information

Article Details

Publisher Name
Duncker & Humblot
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3790/ZfKE.2024.1465303
Language
German
Pages
21

Pricing

Individual
€ 24.00 (incl. local VAT if applicable)

Author Details

Prof. Dr. Sven M. Laudien is affiliated with the Chair of Strategic Management and Organization at the University of Bayreuth and Associate Professor of Business Models at the Faculty of Business, Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB), Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He serves as Associate Editor for Business Strategy and Organizational Theory at the European Management Journal and is a member of the Editorial Review Board of the R&D Management Journal and Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship. His research focuses on strategic change, business models and their innovation, circular and sharing economy, and digital transformation.

Dipl.-Kfm. Artur Lapidus is an entrepreneur, lecturer, and doctoral researcher at the Chair of Strategic Management and Organization at the University of Bayreuth. His research focuses on how internal and external success factors promote innovation and sustainability in startups and the broader field of entrepreneurship. In this context, he examines, among other aspects, the role of business incubators, New Work concepts, and methodological approaches such as the Flexible Pattern Matching Approach (FPMA). The aim of his work is to bridge theoretical insights with practical, application-oriented solutions.

References

  1. Abdulhameed, O., Al-Ahmari, A., Ameen, W., Mian, S. H. (2019): Additive manufacturing: Challenges, trends, and applications, in: Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 11(2), 1687814018822880.  Google Scholar
  2. Adams, R., Jeanrenaud, S., Bessant, J., Denyer, D., Overy, P. (2016): Sustainability‐oriented innovation: A systematic review, in: International Journal of Management Reviews, 18(2), 180–205.  Google Scholar
  3. Agrawal, R. (2019): State of art review on sustainable additive manufacturing, in: Rapid Prototyping Journal, 25(6), 1045–1060.  Google Scholar
  4. Aguinis, H., Glavas, A. (2012): What we know and don’t know about corporate social responsibility, in: Journal of Management, 38(4), 932–968.  Google Scholar
  5. Amores-Salvadó, J., Martín-de Castro, G., Navas-López, J. E. (2014): Green corporate image: Moderating the connection between environmental product innovation and firm performance, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 83, 356–365.  Google Scholar
  6. A. S. T. M. (2012): Standard terminology for additive manufacturing technologies. ASTM International F2792-12a, 1–9.  Google Scholar
  7. Baumers, M., Tuck, C., Wildman, R., Ashcroft, I., Hague, R. (2017): Environmental implications of industrial-scale additive manufacturing: Energy demand and production efficiency, in: Additive Manufacturing, 14, 57–66.  Google Scholar
  8. Bellandi, M., De Propris, L. (2021): Local productive systems’ transitions to industry 4.0+, in: Sustainability, 13, 13052.  Google Scholar
  9. Bocken, N. M., Short, S. W., Rana, P., Evans, S. (2014): A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, 42–56.  Google Scholar
  10. Böckin, D., Tillman, A. M. (2019): Environmental assessment of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 226, 977–987.  Google Scholar
  11. Bogers, M., Hadar, R., Bilberg, A. (2015): Business models for additive manufacturing: exploring digital technologies, consumer roles, and supply chains, in: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 102, 225–239.  Google Scholar
  12. Boiral, O. (2007): Corporate Greening Through ISO 14001: A Rational Myth?, in: Organization Science, 18(1), 127–146.  Google Scholar
  13. Boons, F., Montalvo, C., Quist, J., Wagner, M. (2013): Sustainable innovation, business models and economic performance: an overview, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 45, 1–8.  Google Scholar
  14. Bouncken, R. B., Czakon, W., Schmitt, F. (2025): Purposeful sampling and saturation in qualitative research methodologies: recommendations and review, in: Review of Managerial Science, 1–37 (online first).  Google Scholar
  15. Brougham, D., Haar, J. (2018): Smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, and algorithms (STARA): Employees’ perceptions of our future workplace, in: Journal of Management & Organization, 24(2), 239–257.  Google Scholar
  16. Brundtland, G. (1987): Our common future: The world commission on environment and development, Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.  Google Scholar
  17. Cai, W., Li, G. (2018): The drivers of eco-innovation and its impact on performance: Evidence from China, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 176, 110–118.  Google Scholar
  18. Calia, R. C., Guerrini, F. M., Moura, G. L. (2007): Innovation networks: From technological development to business model reconfiguration, in: Technovation, 27(8), 426–432.  Google Scholar
  19. Casadesus-Masanell, R., Ricart, J. E. (2010): From strategy to business models and onto tactics, in: Long Range Planning, 43(2–3), 195–215.  Google Scholar
  20. Chen, D., Heyer, S., Ibbotson, S., Salonitis, K., Steingrímsson, J. G., Thiede, S. (2015): Direct digital manufacturing: definition, evolution, and sustainability implications, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 107, 615–625.  Google Scholar
  21. Dangelico, R. M., Vocalelli, D. (2017): “Green Marketing”: An analysis of definitions, strategy steps, and tools through a systematic review of the literature, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 165, 1263–1279.  Google Scholar
  22. De Silva, M., Al-Tabbaa, O., Khan, Z. (2021): Business model innovation by international social purpose organizations: The role of dynamic capabilities, in: Journal of Business Research, 125, 733–749.  Google Scholar
  23. De Vries, G., Terwel, B. W., Ellemers, N., Daamen, D. D. (2015): Sustainability or profitability? How communicated motives for environmental policy affect public perceptions of corporate greenwashing, in: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 22(3), 142–154.  Google Scholar
  24. Di, L, Yang, Y. (2022): Towards closed-loop material flow in additive manufacturing: Recyclability analysis of thermoplastic waste, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 362, 132427.  Google Scholar
  25. Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989): Building theories from case study research, in: Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532–550.  Google Scholar
  26. Eizaguirre, A., Garcia-Feijoo, M., Laka, J. P. (2019): Defining sustainability core competencies in business and management studies based on multinational stakeholders’ perceptions, in: Sustainability, 11, 2303.  Google Scholar
  27. Elkington, J. (1994): Towards the Sustainable Corporation: Win-Win-Win Business Strategies for Sustainable Development, in: California Management Review, 36, 90–100.  Google Scholar
  28. Elkington, J. (1997): Cannibals with forks, Oxford (UK): Capstone.  Google Scholar
  29. Evans, S., Vladimirova, D., Holgado, M., Van Fossen, K., Yang, M., Silva, E. A., Barlow, C. Y. (2017): Business model innovation for sustainability: Towards a unified perspective for creation of sustainable business models, in: Business strategy and the Environment, 26(5), 597–608.  Google Scholar
  30. Faludi, J., Bayley, C., Bhogal, S., Iribarne, M. (2015): Comparing environmental impacts of additive manufacturing vs traditional machining via life-cycle assessment, in: Rapid Prototyping Journal, 21(1), 14–33.  Google Scholar
  31. Faludi, J., Van Sice, C. M., Shi, Y., Bower, J., Brooks, O. M. (2019): Novel materials can radically improve whole-system environmental impacts of additive manufacturing, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 212, 1580–1590.  Google Scholar
  32. Florén, H., Barth, H., Gullbrand, J., Holmén, M. (2021): Additive manufacturing technologies and business models – a systematic literature review, in: Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 32(1), 136–155.  Google Scholar
  33. Ford, S., Despeisse, M. (2016): Additive manufacturing and sustainability: an exploratory study of the advantages and challenges, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 137, 1573–1587.  Google Scholar
  34. Fraj, E., Matute, J., Melero, I. (2015): Environmental strategies and organizational competitiveness in the hotel industry: The role of learning and innovation as determinants of environmental success, in: Tourism Management, 46, 30–42.  Google Scholar
  35. Franco, A., Romoli, L. (2012): Characterization of laser energy consumption in sintering of polymer-based powders, in: Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 212(4), 917–926.  Google Scholar
  36. Gebler, M., Uiterkamp, A. J. S., Visser, C. (2014): A global sustainability perspective on 3D printing technologies, in: Energy Policy, 74, 158–167.  Google Scholar
  37. Geissdoerfer, M., Vladimirova, D., Evans, S. (2018): Sustainable business model innovation: A review, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 198, 401–416.  Google Scholar
  38. Geissdoerfer, M., Savaget, P., Bocken, N. M., Hultink, E. J. (2017): The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm?, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 757–768.  Google Scholar
  39. Gereffi, G., Humphrey, J., Sturgeon, T. (2005): The governance of global value chains, in: Review of International Political Economy, 12(1), 78–104.  Google Scholar
  40. Ghassim, B., Bogers, M. (2019): Linking stakeholder engagement to profitability through sustainability-oriented innovation: A quantitative study of the minerals industry, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 224, 905–919.  Google Scholar
  41. Gioia, D. A, Corley, K. G., Hamilton, A. L. (2013): Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive research: notes on the Gioia methodology, in: Organizational Research Methods, 16(1), 15–31.  Google Scholar
  42. Gürlek, M., Tuna, M. (2018): Reinforcing competitive advantage through green organizational culture and green innovation, in: Service Industries Journal, 38(7–8), 467–491.  Google Scholar
  43. Hellström, T. (2007): Dimensions of environmentally sustainable innovation: the structure of eco-innovation concepts, in: Sustainable Development, 15(3), 148–159.  Google Scholar
  44. Hermundsdottir, F., Aspelund, A. (2021): Sustainability innovations and firm competitiveness: A review, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 280, 124715.  Google Scholar
  45. Hermundsdottir, F., Aspelund, A. (2022): Competitive sustainable manufacturing-Sustainability strategies, environmental and social innovations, and their effects on firm performance, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 370, 133474.  Google Scholar
  46. Holmström, J., Partanen, J., Tuomi, J., Walter, M. (2010): Rapid manufacturing in the spare parts supply chain: Alternative approaches to capacity deployment, in: Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 21(6), 687–697.  Google Scholar
  47. Huang, Y., Leu, M. C., Mazumder, J., Donmez, A. (2015): Additive manufacturing: current state, future potential, gaps and needs, and recommendations, in: Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 137(1), 014001.  Google Scholar
  48. Iquebal, A. S., El Amri, S., Shrestha, S., Wang, Z., Manogharan, G. P., Bukkapatnam, S. (2017): Longitudinal milling and fine abrasive finishing operations to improve surface integrity of metal am components, in: Procedia Manufacturing, 10, 990–996.  Google Scholar
  49. Kapferer, J. N. (2012): Abundant rarity: The key to luxury growth, in: Business Horizons, 55(5), 453–462.  Google Scholar
  50. Khorram Niaki, M., Nonino, F., Palombi, G., Torabi, S. A. (2019): Economic sustainability of additive manufacturing: Contextual factors driving its performance in rapid prototyping, in: Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 30(2), 353–365.  Google Scholar
  51. Kiron, D., Unruh, G., Reeves, M., Kruschwitz, N., Rubel, H., Zum Felde, A. M. (2017): Corporate sustainability at a crossroads, in: MIT Sloan Management Review, 58(4).  Google Scholar
  52. Laudien, S. M., Daxböck, B. (2016): Path dependence as a barrier to business model change in manufacturing firms: insights from a multiple-case study, in: Journal of Business Economics, 86, 611–645.  Google Scholar
  53. Laudien, S. M., Guaita Martínez, J. M., Martín Martín, J. M. (2023): Business models based on sharing fashion and accessories: Qualitative-empirical insights into a new type of sharing economy business models, in: Journal of Business Research, 157, 113636.  Google Scholar
  54. Lin, W. L., Cheah, J. H., Azali, M., Ho, J. A., Yip, N. (2019): Does firm size matter? Evidence on the impact of the green innovation strategy on corporate financial performance in the automotive sector, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 229, 974–988.  Google Scholar
  55. Magretta, J. (2002): Why business models matter, in: Harvard Business Review, 80(5), 86–92.  Google Scholar
  56. Mani, M., Lyons, K. W., Gupta, S. K. (2014): Sustainability characterization for additive manufacturing, in: Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 119, 419–428.  Google Scholar
  57. Mellor, S., Hao, L., Zhang, D. (2014): Additive manufacturing: A framework for implementation, in: International Journal of Production Economics, 149, 194–201.  Google Scholar
  58. Min, S., Zacharia, Z. G., Smith, C. D. (2019): Defining supply chain management: in the past, present, and future, in: Journal of Business Logistics, 40(1), 44–55.  Google Scholar
  59. Ngoc, N. M., Viet, D. T., Tien, N. H., Hiep, P. M., Anh, N. T., Anh, L. D. H., Truong, N. T. Anh, N. S. T., Trung, L. Q., Dung, V. T. P., Thaou, L. T. H. (2022): Russia-Ukraine war and risks to global supply chains, in: International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 7(6), 633–640.  Google Scholar
  60. Öberg, C., Shams, T., Asnafi, N. (2018): Additive manufacturing and business models: current knowledge and missing perspectives, in: Technology Innovation Management Review, 8(6), 15–33.  Google Scholar
  61. Porter, M. E., Kramer, M. R. (2011): The big idea: Creating shared value, in: Harvard Business Review, 89(1/2), 62–77.  Google Scholar
  62. Rejeski, D., Zhao, F., Huang, Y. (2018): Research needs and recommendations on environmental implications of additive manufacturing, in: Additive Manufacturing, 19, 21–28.  Google Scholar
  63. Reyes‐Rodríguez, J. F., Ulhøi, J. P., Madsen, H. (2016): Corporate environmental sustainability in Danish SMEs: A longitudinal study of motivators, initiatives, and strategic effects, in: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 23(4), 193–212.  Google Scholar
  64. Richardson, J. (2008): The business model: an integrative framework for strategy execution, in: Strategic Change, 17 (5–6), 133–144.  Google Scholar
  65. Savolainen, J., Collan, M. (2020): How additive manufacturing technology changes business models? – a review of literature, in: Additive Manufacturing, 32, 101070.  Google Scholar
  66. Schulz, S. A., Flanigan, R. L. (2016): Developing competitive advantage using the triple bottom line: A conceptual framework, in: Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 31(4), 449–458.  Google Scholar
  67. Senge, P. M., Carstedt, G. (2001): Innovating our way to the next industrial revolution, in: MIT Sloan Management Review, 42(2), 24–38.  Google Scholar
  68. Silvestre, B. S., Ţîrcă, D. M. (2019): Innovations for sustainable development: Moving toward a sustainable future, in: Journal of Cleaner Production, 208, 325–332.  Google Scholar
  69. Sjödin, D., Parida, V., Palmié, M., Wincent, J. (2021): How AI capabilities enable business model innovation: Scaling AI through co-evolutionary processes and feedback loops, in: Journal of Business Research, 134, 574–587.  Google Scholar
  70. Slaper, T. F., Hall, T. J. (2011): The triple bottom line: What is it and how does it work, in: Indiana Business Review, 86(1), 4–8.  Google Scholar
  71. Smith, A., Stirling, A., Berkhout, F. (2005): The governance of sustainable socio-technical transitions, in: Research Policy, 34(10), 1491–1510.  Google Scholar
  72. Spieth, P., Schneckenberg, D., Ricart, J. E. (2014): Business model innovation – state of the art and future challenges for the field, in: R&D Management, 44(3), 237–247.  Google Scholar
  73. Sreenivasan, R., Goel, A., Bourell, D. L. (2010): Sustainability issues in laser-based additive manufacturing, in: Physics Procedia, 5, 81–90.  Google Scholar
  74. Strauss, A., Corbin, J. (1990): Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedure and Techniques, SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks/CA.  Google Scholar
  75. Stubbs, W., Cocklin, C. (2008): Conceptualizing a “sustainability business model”, in: Organization & Environment, 21(2), 103–127.  Google Scholar
  76. Teece, D. J. (2010): Business models, business strategy and innovation, in: Long Range Planning, 43(2–3), 172–194.  Google Scholar
  77. Touri, M., Kabirian, F., Saadati, M., Ramakrishna, S., Mozafari, M. (2019): Additive manufacturing of biomaterials – the evolution of rapid prototyping, in: Advanced Engineering Materials, 21(2), 1800511.  Google Scholar
  78. Vaneker, T. H. J. (2017): The role of Design for Additive Manufacturing in the successful economical introduction of AM, in: Procedia Cirp, 60, 181–186.  Google Scholar
  79. Walley, N., Whitehead, B. (1994): It’s Not Easy Being Green, in: Harvard Business Review, 72(3), 46–52.  Google Scholar
  80. Wang, C., Fang, Y., Zhang, C. (2022): Mechanism and countermeasures of “The Innovator’s Dilemma” in business model, in: Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 7(2), 100169.  Google Scholar
  81. Wijethilake, C., Munir, R., Appuhami, R. (2018): Environmental innovation strategy and organizational performance: Enabling and controlling uses of management control systems, in: Journal of Business Ethics, 151, 1139–1160.  Google Scholar
  82. Yin, R. K. (2018): Case study research: design and methods. (6th ed.), SAGE Publications: Thousand Oaks/CA.  Google Scholar

Abstract

From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing

Kleine und mittlere produzierende Unternehmen sehen sich zunehmend mit Engpässen bei kritischen Ressourcen konfrontiert, da ihre Produktionsprozesse stark von einem Zugang zu raren, nicht-erneuerbaren Primärrohstoffen abhängen. Dieser Beitrag untersucht unter Rückgriff auf den Triple-Bottom-Line-Ansatz, inwieweit nachhaltige Lösungen in auf additiver Fertigung basierenden Geschäftsmodellen erfolgreich integriert werden. Basierend auf Literatur zu Nachhaltigkeit, additiver Fertigung und unter Verwendung des Geschäftsmodellansatzes von Teece (2010) präsentieren wir qualitative-empirische Befunde aus 21 kleinen und mittleren produzierenden Unternehmen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Nachhaltigkeit bislang nur begrenzt verankert ist; die Implementierung additiver Fertigungsverfahren erfolgt vorrangig aus Gründen der Individualisierung und Kostenreduktion. Veränderungen zeigen sich primär in den Bereichen Wertversprechen und Wertschöpfung, während die Wertabschöpfung weitgehend unberührt bleibt. Die Studie leistet einen Beitrag zur Diskussion nachhaltiger Geschäftsmodellinnovationen im Kontext additiver Fertigung, indem sie strukturelle Grenzen sowie zentrale Herausforderungen aufzeigt.

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Sven M. Laudien / Artur Lapidus: From Prototyping to Planet Saving? Investigating Sustainability Claims in Additive Manufacturing 177
Abstract 177
Zusammenfassung 178
I. Introduction 178
II. Theoretical Background 180
1. Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line-Approach 180
2. Sustainability and Additive Manufacturing 182
3. Business Model Understanding 183
III. Methodology 185
IV. Findings 187
V. Discussion 189
VI. Conclusion 191
References 192

Contact

Duncker & Humblot GmbH Carl-Heinrich-Becker-Weg 9 12165 Berlin, Deutschland T: +49 30 790006-0

Quick Navigation

2025 Duncker & Humblot GmbH

Publishing Platform by CloudPublish

We use cookies to ensure that you get the best experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies.