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CORDIS

Sustainable and green electronics for circular economy

Project description

Renewing the electronics industry for a green Europe

The electronics industry has emerged as one of the primary focal points of the European Green Deal and other environmentally conscious initiatives. The industry’s concerning surge in waste production, along with the unsustainable demand for raw materials within its value chains, has raised alarm bells, particularly in light of the increasing impact of climate change. The EU-funded SUSTRONICS project seeks to revitalise the European electronics industry and facilitate its alignment with these objectives. The project’s primary objective is to redesign electronics with a focus on implementing circular value chains, enhancing reusability, incorporating eco-design principles, using bio-based materials and improving recyclability. Ultimately, the project aims to validate its feasibility through a pilot programme centred around the redesign of medical and industrial electronics.

Objective

The EU requires also electronics industry to achieve the ambitious goals of the EU Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan and Industrial Strategy for reduction of energy and material consumption, and utilization of circular value chains. Sustronics project is targeting to improve capabilities of European electronics industry to meet these goals and develop new business opportunities from sustainable and greener electronics combined with increase in productivity and new functionalities.

The current electronic industry poses significant environmental impacts, such as increasing amount of e-waste, great demand for critical raw materials, and high energy consumption during manufacturing. Electronics industry can specifically decrease its environmental burden by shifting from fossil-based materials to bio-based materials, decreasing use of metals, utilizing additive manufacturing processes, and developing miniaturized and integrated components, but also in broader scope by utilizing efficient circular economy business models that enable reuse, recycle and repair of critical materials and components.

Sustronics main goal is to support renewal of European electronics industry towards circular economy, eco-design, bio-based materials, and material- and energy-efficient manufacturing processes. Thereby, Sustronics will re-design electronics products into circular, compostable and reusable products, and demonstrate that there are business opportunities in sustainable electronics.

Quantification of environmental impact, definition of business models, involvement of external stakeholders, and means to guarantee compatibility with policies and standards will guide the project implementation. The pilots will focus on healthcare, diagnostics, and industrial sectors, including topics such as medical and personal health devices, single-use and wearable diagnostics, sustainable lighting solutions and embedded electronics for automotive.

Coordinator

PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NEDERLAND BV
Net EU contribution
€ 185 109,38
Address
HIGH TECH CAMPUS 52
5656 AG Eindhoven
Netherlands

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Region
Zuid-Nederland Noord-Brabant Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 740 437,50

Participants (43)

Partners (3)