The Knowledge Base: My 2025 Industry Wish List
Global Sourcing Spotlight: The Surprising World of Offshore B2B Industrial Values
Nolan’s Notes: Emerging Trends in 2025
An Ultimate Goal in Sustainability: Recyclable PCBs
April 11, 2024 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Who doesn’t believe in recycling? “Re-use, repurpose, recycle” has been a drumbeat for more than two decades. Our children learn about it in primary school. Full university departments devoted to environmental science and sustainability in universities forward their discipline for the world's benefit. In theory, we all get behind the concept of recycling, even if the nuances of execution may fall short.
When I first heard of recyclable PCBs, I was skeptical. There are so many distinct elements of a printed circuit board: fiberglass, solder, metal finishes, and all manner of components. I have been far more apt to picture them being repurposed (unfortunate art deco PCB earrings come to mind) than recycled. But Jan Pedersen begs to differ with my lack of vision. As director of technology at NCAB, Jan is a true champion and visionary of the concept and is working to prove out the practice.
Marcy LaRont: Jan, can you explain the concept of circularity as it relates to recyclability? Honestly, I had not heard the term before your IPC Community article.
Jan Pedersen: Circularity, in the purest sense, is to reuse the scrapped PCB to produce a new PCB or another product. We use circularity to explain the lifecycle of materials, from nature and back to nature, or cradle to cradle, if you like. That can mean reusing the material in a new product or simply returning it back to nature.
Now, we all know that a PCB and its constituents are not good for nature, so we have to look at how we can circle the material back into a new product.
LaRont: That’s fascinating to me. I know that PCB particulates, like the fiberglass laminate, can sometimes be ground up and used in things like concrete. But it feels like true circularity with a printed circuit board would be impossible.
Pedersen: It is not easy to find a true solution. Having that said, promising projects are going on in China and the Western world.
To continue reading the entire conversation, which appeared in the March 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
The Pulse: Ultra Upgrade Unknowns—What’s Coming for UHDI?
01/21/2025 | Martyn Gaudion -- Column: The PulseAs we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, there appears to be a new chapter in PCB technology. Ultra high density interconnect (UHDI) has become a buzzword, but it’s actually not that new; many of the processes were already established in the high-volume production of Asian cell phones and tablets. What is new and challenging, however, is migrating the line widths and stackups—once the domain of handheld consumer products—into the lower volume specialized environment of the commercial world.
Technica USA and Renex Reach Agreement to Distibute REECO Brand of Products
01/21/2025 | Technica USATechnica is pleased to announce that we have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Renex for the REECO brand of ESD and cleanroom products. Technica will distribute the REECO products in the territories of California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming, as well as Washington and Utah (non-exclusively).
An Inspiring Journey From Animation to PCB Design
01/20/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007I recently spoke with Melissa Martinez, a PCB design student in John Watson’s class at Palomar College. In this interview, Melissa shares her inspiring journey from the world of animation to the realm of printed circuit board design. Introduced to the field by her father, an engineer at Northrop Grumman, she discovered her passion for PCB design through John’s curriculum at Palomar. Her story highlights the importance of mentorship and education in attracting new talent to the industry, encouraging young individuals to explore opportunities they may not yet know exist.
Imagineering, Accutrace Announce Strategic Merger to Enhance Service and Capabilities
01/17/2025 | Newswire.comImagineering Inc., a renowned PCB Fabricator and Assembler, is pleased to announce its merger with Accutrace Inc., a leader in providing time-critical, technologically advanced development and manufacturing services for the electronics industry.
PCB Market Expanding at 3.62% CAGR, To Reach $100 Billion by 2032
01/17/2025 | EINPresswire.comThe global Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Market was valued at US$72.63 billion in 2023 and is projected to exhibit steady growth over the coming years.