From Green PCBs to a Circular Economy:How can Tech companies Make Electronics Greener?
Circuit board that dissolve when soaked in hot water and biodegradable materials that reduce global carbon emissions by 60% annually-these seemingly futuristic technologies are transforming the electronic industry’s ecosystem.
With 62 million tons of electronic waste generated annually globally,a revolution in the environmental protection of electronics is quietly underway.From the ESG strategies of semiconductor giants to the material innovations of startups,tech companies are addressing the growing challenge of electronic waste through design,material and recycling.
Among them,biodegradable printed circuit board(PCBs）have become a key breakthrough in promoting a circular economy in the electronics industry.
1.Industry Dilemma:The severe Challenge of Electronic waste
According to the 2024 Global E-waste Monitor,global electronic waste reached 62 million tons in 2022,but the recycling rate was only 22.3%
This figure is projected to climb to 82 million metric tons by 2030.E-waste not only represent a waste of resources,but if not properly managed ,it can also lead to illegal disposal and severe environment impacts.
The semiconductor industry,at the heart of electronic devices is a key industry in the global net-zero and sustainable transition due to its high energy consumption and carbon emissions.
2.Green PCB: Dissolvable Circuit Boards
German semiconductor giant infineon Technologies has launched a revolutionary PCB substrate Soluboard,a recyclable and biodegradable substrate base on natural fibers and halogen-free ploymers.
Developed by Bitish startup Jiva Materials,this plant-based PCB material is made from natural fibers and has a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional glass fiber,
Soluboard’s organic structure is encapsulated in a non -toxic polymer that dissolves when immersed in hot water,leaving only the decomposable organic material.This not only eliminates PCB waste but also allows the electronic components soldered onto the board to be recycled and reused.
Jonathan Swanston,CEO of jiva materials,stated,”Replacing FR-4 PCB material with Soluboard can reduce carbon emissions by 60%,saving 10.5kg of carbon and 620 g of plastic per square meter of PCB”
Andreas Kopp,Head of Product Management for Discrete Devices in Infineon’s Green Industrial Power Division,believes this marks the first time recyclable and biodegradable PCB materials have been used in the design of consumer and industrial electronic products,a milestone towards a greener future.
3.Industrial Chain Collaboration:
Comprehensive Innovation from materials to manufacturing
In the PCB material field,China’s Shengyi Technology also proactively addressed the industry’s pain point of electronic waste pollution as early as a decade ago,pioneering independent research and development of biodegradable copper clad laminate technology.
In2016-2017,the company launched Recycladl,a conceptual biodegradable copper clad laminate product,achieving a breakthrough from zero to one in this product category.
From 2021 to 2024,the company will further deepen its technology application and collaborate with renowned domestic and international companies to deploy its halogen-free,biodegradable copper-clad laminate(Recyclad1G)product in real-world application and collaborate with renowned domestic and international companies to deploy its halogen-free,biodegradable copper-clad laminate(Recyclad1G) product in real-world applications,
Companies like Changxin Industrial specialize in product manufactured using recycled materials and have obtained UL 2809 certification for green products,enabling them to further assist customers in meeting their carbon emission reduction needs.
Dr,chenyan heng,General manager of changxin industrial,stated that the company can tailor its products to the development progress and actual needs of customers establishing factories in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand,providing a service platform with varying degrees of specialized products and resource recycling and reuse.
4.Circular Economy:A Systematic Solution from Recycling to Reuse
ASUS’s Global Recycling Service” is a concrete example of implementing the concept of a circular economy.By providing convenient recycling services,it invites condumers to participate in resource recycling. ASUS’s global recycling market,including Greater China Europe,the Americas India,and Ocenia.By 2024,this service will be available in 30 countries and regions.
Recycling service include designated recycling stations,self-service return shipping ,home pickup,and product trade-ins.In 2024,ASUS recycled 12,159 tons of e-waste,representing 13%of the total weight of its global product sales.
To establish a comprehensive recycling system, ASUS invested in Xiangshuo Technology, dedicated to providing diverse and high-quality secondhand recycling solutions, including repairs, electronic parts recycling, laptop and mobile phone refurbishment, and enterprise-level leasing and recycling services.
05 Giant Strategies: An ESG Action Plan for the Semiconductor Industry
TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, the world’s three largest semiconductor companies, have all taken concrete actions in their ESG strategies.
TSMC leverages its technological leadership and advanced process advantages to promote the adoption of renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions in its supply chain.
Intel is leveraging the US CHIPS Act to strengthen domestic manufacturing and is committed to green manufacturing and transparent governance. It has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 and plans to improve product energy efficiency tenfold by 2030.
Samsung, combining its strengths in consumer electronics and semiconductors, is promoting scale and social inclusion through its net-zero goal and the circular economy.
06 Future Outlook: The Path to Green Electronics
ASUS believes the circular economy is the core driver for achieving sustainable product development. The company has integrated circular economy thinking into its products and services and joined the PREVENT Waste Alliance to promote global collaboration on waste management.
Infineon is committed to the EU’s “Green Deal,” which aims to promote mainstream circular living, accelerate the greening of the EU economy, and achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Infineon is also committed to implementing the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, collecting and recycling electronic products manufactured by Infineon.
As a leading innovation leader in the electronics industry, Huaqiu Electronics’ dual-driven development model of “intelligent manufacturing + ecosystem” provides an innovative model for industry transformation and upgrading. By introducing environmentally friendly technologies and equipment, the company effectively treats and recycles wastewater, waste gas, and waste residue generated during the production process.
Biodegradable PCB materials are only the starting point of the green revolution in the electronics industry. As the technology matures, environmentally friendly materials will move from demonstration boards to mainstream products, expanding from single-layer boards to complex multi-layer circuits.
In the future, when every electronic component is designed with the mission of “regeneration,” electronic products will no longer be a burden on the environment but will become a vital part of the circular economy.
Green technology is not only a corporate social responsibility but also a core competitive advantage for the next generation of industries.
