Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1467185
62 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2022 gives back to the planet more than it takes, advance[s] towards keeping its resource con- sumption within planetary boundaries, and therefore strive[s] to reduce its consumption footprint and double its circular material use rate in the coming decade." 1 Like most industries, the electronics manu- facturing industry utilizes processes that inher- ently contradict the goals of the Circular Econ- omy Action Plan. e fabrication and assembly of PCB devices is a power-consumptive pro- cess, and it cannot yet be guaranteed that this power comes from a green source (although efforts to reduce power use are ubiquitous and laudable on the part of tool vendors and facto- ries everywhere). e shipment of raw materi- als, electronic sub-assemblies, and components through a supply chain still (usually) relies on carbon-positive logistical networks such as trucks, especially in the "last mile" between an OEM and their customers or vendors. ere are other examples like these but suffice it to say that this enterprise-level waste and pollu- tion generation is not a topic considered when discussing sustainable products. e Circular Economy Action Plan provides a basic blueprint for "circular electronics," but the design of truly sustainable electronics requires concerted effort and focus to develop specific technologies, methodologies, and policies. Indeed, forward-thinking companies have since begun to nucleate around what is now commonly referred to as "eco-design for electronics" or just eco-design. Generally, eco-design is the design of products intended to have the greatest positive impact on society and a minimum impact on the environment and economy. In the electronics manufactur- ing industry, this can refer to the design of the whole product, especially for smaller con- sumer products such as ICT devices, but more usually refers to the electronics components themselves—the PCB assemblies, wire-har- nesses, components, housings, etc. Some of these forward-thinking companies have banded together to share expertise and resources to achieve shared eco-design goals. e International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) is a not-for-profit research and development consortium consisting of leading electronics manufacturers, suppliers, associations, government agencies, and uni- versities. 2 It leverages the collective experience of its member network to create and socialize roadmaps for future technology requirements. It should then be no surprise that one of iNE- MI's key areas of research is sustainable elec- tronics. IPC is a member of the iNEMI Eco- design Team and works with them to provide webinars detailing specific cases of eco-design by companies including Nokia, Samsung, Schneider Electric, Fairphone, ADVA Optical, Fronius, IBM, Framework, and Barco. ese webinars are available for free on YouTube (via iNEMI) and are valuable resources for designers who would like to know more about specific examples of eco-design in electronics products. Aer all, one of the key takeaways from these webinars was that eco-design can- not happen in a vacuum, and that it is essen- tial to share knowledge regarding specific advances in technology where possible (and not confidential, of course). is webinar series is a wonderful resource for teams who are doing product design, including electrical and PCB designers. And while a few of the strategies presented therein may affect the whole product, not only the electronics—human-centric design, general Like most industries, the electronics manufacturing industry utilizes processes that inherently contradict the goals of the Circular Economy Action Plan.