Are We Innovating Fast Enough for a Sustainable Future?

Electronics Goes Green, a conference held in Berlin, brings together experts from across the globe to address the growing environmental challenges in electronics production, use and disposal. EGG 2024 offered a great platform for engaged discussions and collaborations aimed at creating a greener electronics industry.

The urgency of addressing e-waste is at an all-time high, making the innovations discussed at Electronics Goes Green 2024 more critical than ever. Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with over 50 million tons generated annually, and is expected to double by 2050. Despite its massive scale, only about 17% of e-waste is currently recycled, leaving toxic substances and valuable resources unaddressed. (Source): Seizing the Opportunity of E-Waste Recycling | BCG)

It's a huge challenge but breakthrough innovations presented at Electronics Goes Green 2024 in Berlin offer real hope. Among the leaders in the industry, RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) showcased a series of innovative solutions aimed at reshaping the future of electronics sustainability. The presentations touch upon several critical areas that could drastically reduce our environmental footprint:

1. Bio-Based Solutions for Sustainable Electronics: In a world where PFAS chemicals are being phased out, RISE introduced bio-based alternatives that provide the same functionality without the environmental harm.
2. A Revolution in Flex-PCB Manufacturing: RISE has been part of a new method that cuts CO2 emissions by 99%, while also reducing production costs. This innovation could make electronics manufacturing not only greener but more economical, accelerating industry adoption.
3. Wood-Based Electronics with Net Zero Carbon Emissions: By combining additive manufacturing with wood-based materials, RISE has demonstrated how electronics could one day achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Imagine a world where your gadgets are both powerful and environmentally neutral.
4. Green Possibilities in Printed Electronics: Through a life cycle assessment, RISE is helping to unveil bio-based materials that could revolutionize printed electronics, offering sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.
5. Circular Business and Technical Logics: RISE emphasizes the economic and technical viability of circular electronics. By rethinking product design and business models, manufacturers can extend product life, cut waste, and turn sustainability into a competitive advantage.
6. Energy Storage from Wood-Based Electronics: RISE's exploration into wood-based materials for energy storage could redefine how we power devices, reducing dependency on non-renewable resources.
7. Strategies for Improving Product Lifetime and Circularity: Extending the life of electronic products is essential in reducing waste. RISE presents actionable methods to enhance the durability and recyclability of devices, shifting us toward a truly circular economy.

Our presentations sparked conversations with many actors in different industries and led to many interesting and necessary discussions on where we are today and how to move forward.

These innovations from RISE, and the discussions that followed, illustrate that we are at the start of a sustainable revolution in electronics. By accelerating the adoption of bio-based materials, circular business models, and low-emission production techniques, we can reverse the e-waste crisis. The question isn’t just whether we’re innovating, but are we innovating fast enough to meet this urgent challenge? The future of e-waste demands nothing less than immediate and sustained action.

To truly address the e-waste crisis, collaboration across industries, governments, and research institutions will be essential, ensuring that these innovations reach the scale necessary to make a lasting impact on our planet.

Do you want to know How to get started? 

Join us in the Lab: Circular Business Lab for Electronics | RISE