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48 PCB007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by D i a n a Ra d ova n , G l o b a l E l e ct ro n i c s As s o c i a t i o n Better Sustainability Policies for Electronics I joined the Global Electronics Association in Au- gust 2025 as the director of sustainability pol- icy. Since then, much has happened in terms of geo- politics and in the development and re-envisioning of sustainability policies in the industry. While the European Commission has released several legis- lative packages to simplify sustainability require- ments ("omnibus"), these developments haven't yet settled and are not in effect. Given the many recent and ongoing public con- sultations, with often conflicting input from a broad range of stakeholders, final negotiations remain rather polarized among policymakers. At the same time, we are seeing many changes in the U.S. The entire Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) framework is being legally challenged and this cre- ates business uncertainty. In other countries and regions, Asia and Latin America included, we notice a visible focus on emerging due diligence, corpo- rate sustainability, and REACH-like regulations. In this article, I'll discuss this year's EU high- lights and 2026 developments and reflect on how the electronics industry can take practical steps to inform smarter policies. Electronics and Sustainability Advancing a profitable business and sustainable solutions at the same time is challenging. Sustain- ability for electronics companies requires a con- certed effort, but it is within reach. This is due to: • Inherently complex supply chains and reliance on rare materials • Limited lifespans and planned obsolescence • Recycling is technically challenging and eco- nomically unattractive • Consumer behavior and infrastructure gaps • Regulatory reporting burden • Lack of coherence in regulatory definitions around the globe; a lack of mature circularity policies to date