The growing need for continuous data collection, real-time information and connectivity has increased the demand for electronic functionality integrated into everyday objects. Industries such as consumer electronics, healthcare, wearable electronics, IoT and smart packaging are following this trend.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the current technology for creating electronic functionality, but they pose a significant environmental problem due to the difficulty of recycling and disposal. To radically improve sustainability, innovative electronics manufacturing with new processes, technologies and materials is needed. Printed electronics is more environmentally friendly than traditional printed circuit boards due to its additive nature (printing instead of etching), the absence of chemical etching materials, low energy process conditions and the possibility to recover or reuse substrates and metallic inks.

The ECOTRON project aims to develop flexible, organic and printed electronics through a multidisciplinary approach including bio-based materials, innovative printing processes and technologies for disassembling devices and modules. Recycling technologies and standards will also be developed and integrated into a process design for a printed electronics recycling facility. In parallel, the durability of printed electronics will be improved in order to increase their use in everyday products.

ECOTRON will demonstrate potential environmental improvements with use cases in cutting-edge products in consumer electronics, smart packaging, healthcare and wearable electronics.