Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1517668
MARCH 2024 I PCB007 MAGAZINE 9 Marcy LaRont is the editor of PCB007 Magazine. Marcy started her career in PCBs in 1993 and brings a wide array of business experience and perspective to I-Connect007. To contact Marcy, click here. ity, we most oen think of environmental sus- tainability, or the ability to operate our busi- nesses in a way that does not hurt or deplete our natural resources and our global environ- ment. For most business owners, though, sus- tainability primarily means their ability to continue doing business. In this month's issue we look at sustainability in some of its flavors and forms and the impact this buzzword is having on our industry. As IPC's lead sustainability strategist, Dr. Kelly Scanlon, has said, the concept of sustainabil- ity applies to many other areas, including the economy, training, and education. To kick off this issue, we interviewed tech- nologist and entrepreneur Alex Stepinski. I am fortunate to have conversations with many intelligent, genuine contributors to the industry, but Alex is in a class by himself. Alex addresses zero liquid discharge and the tech- nology changes making it more affordable for even smaller-sized manufacturers. As I continued exploring the wide-ranging concept of sustainability, I was intrigued by the idea of recyclable PCBs and circularity. Is it a myth or possibility? In a fascinating inter- view, Jan Pedersen of NCAB Group explained the concepts as well as the groundwork being laid to make it an eventuality. For further clarity, Nolan Johnson spoke with Erik Pedersen of ICAPE Group, a global PCB supplier, about designing for sustainabil- ity, and the cost to achieve the ultimate value proposition for customers. We invited Charles Nehrig of TTM, the U.S.'s largest PCB manu- facturer, to detail the investment and technol- ogy that make up TTM's wastewater treatment system. And Marina Hornasek-Metzl of AT&S provides an accounting of the paradox of digi- talization and reaching environmental sustain- ability goals, acknowledging the enormous amount of waste created by electronics while there is a corollary need for more electronics to be made to create solutions that could help solve climate change. She also discusses how digitalization ultimately can provide the semi- conductor industry with the means to achiev- ing its ESG goals—something that affects all of us in the value chain. Among our talented columnists in this issue, I'm highlighting those who took on the topic of sustainability from their unique perspective. IPC President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell gives us a broad overview, while Don Ball of Chemcut talks about reducing etch water sys- tem usage, and Paige Fiet writes about attract- ing "generation green." If you have potential job openings (i.e., that means all of you), pay close attention to her advice, as the young gen- eration of workers and their values come in a package, and the environment is one of them. But be sure to also read the important topics from columnists Happy Holden, Travis Kelly, Steve Williams, and Preeya Kuray, who writes about the importance of standards in the chip packaging industry. Finally, the ever-talented Pete Starkey reviews a new webinar from SUSS that dis- cusses the use of inkjet solder mask, showing development in this area of additive manufac- turing. Also, look for my interview with two newer members of IPC's government relations team in Washington, D.C. So, whether your sustainable practices range from fewer Styrofoam coffee cups in the break room to switching out large systems in your factory, there's always something more to do and think about. I hope this issue brings to light some new ideas and/or helps to reinforce the path you are on. Grab a cup of coffee (in your reusable mug!), turn on your DND, and let's read and learn together. I'd love to hear your feedback on the topics addressed in this issue. PCB007