Sustainability Takes Center Stage in ‘On the Line With… Isola’ Podcast, Episode 3

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

I-Connect007 announces the release of Episode 3 of the podcast series On the Line With…Isola, titled “The Green Circuit—Sustainability in PCB Manufacturing.” In this installment of PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics, host Marcy LaRont speaks with Isola CTO Kirk Thompson about the growing role sustainability is playing in shaping the next generation of PCB materials and manufacturing processes.

As electronics manufacturing places greater emphasis on environmental responsibility and product circularity, the PCB’s base material is becoming central to the sustainability discussion. Thompson introduces the idea of the “green circuit,” exploring how advances in materials science and engineering can reduce environmental impact across the PCB lifecycle.

The conversation touches on key factors influencing sustainable PCB production, including the energy required to process different materials, copper waste during fabrication, and the demand for materials with lower VOC emissions. Thompson also discusses halogen-free materials, PFAS considerations, and design strategies, such as reducing unnecessary board layers to support cleaner, more sustainable electronics manufacturing.

LaRont says, “Our listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how sustainability initiatives are influencing PCB material development and what design and manufacturing teams should consider as they work toward greener electronics.”

PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics can be heard on Apple, Spotify or at I-Connect007.