Sustainability and Selective Soldering

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Sustainability is more than just a buzzword for the electronics industry; it’s a key goal for all manufacturing processes. This is more than a box-ticking exercise or simply doing a small part for environmentally friendly processes. Moving toward sustainable solutions drives innovation and operational efficiency.

Reducing wastage in manufacturing can make processes more cost-efficient, thereby increasing the manufacturer's profit. Safety also must be considered.

We all have trusted products for certain tasks, but it’s not news to anyone working in electronics that many chemicals are hazardous. As an industry, we’ve moved away from leaded solder and adapted well to alternatives. There’s no reason we can’t adapt to other elements of the manufacturing process.

This article will explore the initiatives driven by the Global Electronics Association, the inclusion of sustainability as a topic at IPC APEX EXPO (and the articles presented therein), and how selective soldering as a manufacturing process can contribute to sustainability.

A Growing Momentum
The Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC) recently launched Evolve, a program designed to help companies accelerate their move to sustainable processes. This platform brings together relevant articles, educational materials, industry standards, and event information. Evolve will grow with the increasing industry demand for collaboration and resources.

Momentum is growing for sustainability solutions. In a white paper, “Wired for Change: Electronics Industry Sentiment on Sustainability,” co-authored by the Global Electronics Association and the Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN), 59% of the companies in the survey report they will increase their focus on sustainability in 2025, and 78% report being optimistic about their ability to meet their sustainability goals.

The two highest drivers for increasing sustainability are regulatory compliance and company values or culture. Other drivers, such as cost savings and efficiency, technological advancement, competitive advantage, and consumer demands, were found to be influenced mostly by customers and regulatory bodies.

Continue reading this article in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine, a publication of the Global Electronics Industry and I-Connect007.