A growing desire for continuous data collection, real time information and connectivity has resulted in increased demand for electronic functionalities that are fully integrated in everyday objects. Consumer electronics, healthcare, wearable electronics, IoT and smart packaging are examples of market segments that follow this trend. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the state of the art to create electronic functions. PCBs are processed on (non-recyclable), copper plated fibre reinforced epoxy (FR4). On these substrates, the electronic circuitry is created through chemical etching techniques, and electronic components (chips, SMDs, LEDs) are soldered at high temperature. Recycling and/or dismantling of the PCB is hardly done or occurs at very well-defined conditions and is mainly limited by metal recovery. As simultaneously the lifetime of such electronic products is decreasing (or are even becoming completely disposable), the environmental pressure rises exponentially, which requires dedicated climate actions to allow sustainable and responsible production and consumption of electronics. Flexible, organic & printed electronics (FOPE) is the preferred option to create sustainable electronics through low-energy, chemical-free and additive- manufacturing process and organic (recyclable) materials use.
In ECOTRON, flexible, organic & printed electronics are advanced through a multidisciplinary approach involving biobased materials, innovative (print) processes, and device and module dismantling technologies with the ultimate aim to improve the sustainability of products using printed electronics. Furthermore, recycling technologies and standards will be developed that are eventually integrated in a process design for a printed electronics recycling plant. Simultaneously, the lifetime of printed electronics is improved for larger implementation of printed electronics into everyday products. ECOTRON will create use-case demonstrators in existing state-of-the-art electronics products in consumer electronics, smart packaging, healthcare and wearable electronics market segments to demonstrate the potential environmental enhancements have been made in 3 generations showing highly improved environmental advantages.
