Advancements in Sustainable PCBs and ICs Drive Growth in Green Manufacturing

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The "The Global Market for Green and Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing 2024-2034" report has been added to  ResearchAndMarkets's offering. The electronics industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, becoming an integral part of modern life. However, this growth has come at a cost to the environment, with issues like high energy consumption, resource depletion, and electronic waste (e-waste) becoming major concerns.

Waste electronics, in particular, has emerged as the fastest-growing and most hazardous waste stream globally, according to the United Nations. In response to these environmental challenges, there's a growing need to make electronics manufacturing more sustainable and eco-friendly, leading to the concept of "green electronics."

One of the areas where sustainability efforts are being concentrated is in the development of sustainable printed circuit board (PCB) designs. Traditional PCB manufacturing processes are known for their energy-intensive and environmentally harmful characteristics, involving materials like copper, epoxy resin, glass fiber, and water. Recycling these materials has proven to be inefficient and labor-intensive.

To address these issues, new materials are being employed in PCB manufacturing that are easily recyclable, including biodegradable polymers and paper-based PCBs. Environmentally friendly etchants are also being utilized in both subtractive and additive manufacturing processes, such as inkjet and laser printing. Additive methods, in particular, have shown significant promise, as they can reduce energy consumption during manufacturing by up to five times compared to conventional methods. Sustainable substrate materials made from various cellulose and wood-based materials, bioplastics, and biocomposites have been developed as well.

"The Global Market for Green and Sustainable Electronics Manufacturing 2024-2034" offers a comprehensive analysis of the global green electronics manufacturing industry. The report covers industry trends, drivers, challenges, approaches, technologies, materials, processes, and leading companies in segments like printed circuit boards (PCBs), integrated circuits (ICs), batteries, assembly, and the electronics supply chain. It provides market revenues and forecasts for sustainable PCBs and ICs, segmented by substrate and process types, up to 2034.

The report profiles 40 innovative companies that offer greener materials, chemistries, equipment, and manufacturing services to facilitate the transition toward more circular and lower-carbon electronics. It includes tables summarizing key manufacturers, processes, materials, and sustainability strategies in the field of green electronics.

The analysis in the report covers trends in renewables, additive manufacturing processes, biobased and recycled materials, toxicity reduction, supply chain transparency, e-waste recovery, and life cycle optimization to minimize the environmental footprint of electronics. It serves as a valuable resource for electronics OEMs, PCB and IC manufacturers, EMS companies, and suppliers looking to benchmark their sustainability efforts and identify new opportunities in the industry.

Key report contents include:

• An overview of green electronics manufacturing and the drivers for sustainability, including e-waste reduction, lower emissions, and resource efficiency.
• Analysis of environmental impacts such as carbon emissions, water usage, and waste generation.
• An exploration of regulations and certifications promoting sustainable electronics.
• Insights into powering electronics through renewable batteries.
• The use of bioplastics for injection-molded parts.
• A comparison of conventional vs. sustainable manufacturing approaches.
• Analysis of sustainability strategies, including renewable energy, materials efficiency, sustainable chemistry, recycled materials, and supply chain management.
• Information on sustainable PCB manufacturing, covering materials, substrates, patterning, and component attachment.
• Insights into sustainable integrated circuits manufacturing.
• Considerations for end-of-life electronics.
• Global PCB market size and forecasts from 2018 to 2034.
• Revenue forecasts for sustainable PCBs and ICs segmented by technology type.
• Profiles of 40 companies that provide green materials, equipment, and manufacturing services. These include companies like DP Patterning, Elephantech, Infineon Technologies, Jiva Materials, Samsung, Syenta, and Tactotek. Additional information is provided on bio-based batteries, conductive ink, green and lead-free solder, and halogen-free FR4 companies.

Click here for more information about this report.