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; however, this technology creates an ever increasing strain on the environment because recycling and/or dismantling of the PCB can hardly be done. A radical sustainability improvement requires disruptive electronics manufacturing processes, technologies and materials. Printed electronics are more environmentally friendly than the traditional PCB, due to their additive character (printing instead of etching), the absence of chemical etching materials, low energy demanding process conditions and possibility for recovery or re-use of substrates and (metallic) inks. Thereto, in ECOTRON, flexible, organic & printed electronics are advanced through a multidisciplinary approach involving biobased materials, innovative (print) processes, and device and module dismantling technologies. 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.
The objective of the ECOTRON project is to holistically advance the development of these new substrates, including not only the advancement and improvement of the materials they comprise but also the integration of circular processes for their manufacture and recycling and the study of an ecodesign that facilitates them. With its final validation as components in common electronic devices, medical devices, wearables, and smart packaging, ECOTRON will contribute to the goal of moving towards consumer electronics with innovative functionalities and, at the same time, more sustainability.
The project is fully integrated into circular economy strategies, as its development will allow the utilization of all components of devices at the end of their life cycle through an ecodesign aimed at their recovery and more efficient recycling processes, thus reducing the use of natural resources, pollution, and waste, as well as CO2 emissions. Ultimately, it will contribute to the fight against climate change, through the reduction of emissions and carbon footprint, driven by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the European Green Deal.
Técnicas Reunidas will play a prominent role as a developer of new sustainable methodologies for the extraction of critical metals, recycling of plastics, and in the integration of processes for the design of a future circular manufacturing plant, as well as an industrial partner for the future provision to society of the advancements generated in the project.
