With the growing amount of electronic waste generated by consumers, industry and other sectors, it is critical to address this specific environmental issue. Reducing the carbon footprint and promoting sustainability are therefore fundamental to achieving climate objectives and improving environmental protection.
That's why Infineon Technologies is taking another important step towards a greener future with the introduction of Soluboard, a recyclable and biodegradable PCB substrate based on natural fibers and a halogen-free polymer. The product was developed by British start-up Jiva Materials and helps reduce the carbon footprint of the electronics industry.
Soluboard's plant-based PCB material is made from natural fibers, which have a much lower carbon footprint than traditional glass-based fibers. The organic structure is surrounded by a non-toxic polymer that dissolves when immersed in hot water, leaving only compostable organic material. This not only eliminates PCB waste, but also allows electronic components soldered to the board to be recovered and recycled.
By utilizing Soluboard for its demonstration and evaluation boards, Infineon is making another important contribution to the testing of sustainable designs in the electronics industry.
“For the first time, a recyclable and biodegradable PCB material is being used in the design of electronics for industrial and consumer applications – a milestone towards a greener future,” said Andreas Kopp, head of discrete product management at the power division. green industrial from Infineon. “We are also actively researching the reuse of discrete power devices at the end of their useful life, which would be a significant additional step towards promoting a circular economy in the electronics industry.”
Infineon is currently using the biodegradable material to reduce the carbon footprint of demonstration and evaluation boards – but is also exploring the possibility of using the material in all boards to make the electronics industry more sustainable. In doing so, Infineon is following the European Commission's “Green Deal” agenda, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, making circularity mainstream in our lives and accelerating the greening of the EU economy.
Furthermore, the company is committed to the responsible collection and recycling of electronic products manufactured by Infineon in accordance with the EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Infineon has produced three different demo boards using Soluboard technology and plans to expand its offering in the coming years. More than 500 units are already in use to showcase the company's discrete power portfolio, including a board that features specific components for refrigerator applications. Based on the results of ongoing stress tests, the company plans to provide guidance on the reuse and recycling of power semiconductors removed from Soluboards, which could significantly extend the life of electronic components.
The research will also provide Infineon with a fundamental understanding of the design and reliability challenges customers face with the new material in their key applications. In particular, customers will benefit from the new knowledge as it will contribute to the development of sustainable designs.
“Adopting a water-based recycling process could lead to higher yields in recovering valuable metals,” said Jonathan Swanston, CEO and co-founder of Jiva Materials. “In addition, replacing FR-4 PCB materials with Soluboard would result in a 60% reduction in carbon emissions – more specifically, 10.5 kg of carbon and 620 g of plastic can be saved per square meter of PCB.”
