Circuit boards that are almost entirely biodegradable have been developed by researchers at the University of Glasgow, electroplating circuitry onto compostable substrates – including chocolate. Instead of conventional circuit boards that are sent to landfill, adding to the problem of electronic waste, the team has developed a method to print zinc-based electronic circuits on environmentally-friendly surfaces such as paper and ...
Circularity, once viewed as an end-of-life product concern, is emerging as a powerful lever for extending their useful life, writes Dr John W Mitchell. Smart rings that track your sleep and heart rate, advanced robotics enabling precision surgery, solid-state batteries set to transform how we store power – electronics are at the heart of innovation. Electronics are not just powering ...
Nordic Semiconductor is changing over to component reels made from recycled plastics, becoming one of the first chip companies to make the switch, it said, and reducing plastic waste by almost 15,000kg/year. The majority of the company’s component packaging reels are now made from re-ground high-impact polystyrene. Nordic tested the recycled plastic component reels against its traditional non-recycled reels to ...
ABB has opened a €20m injection molding manufacturing site at Evergem, near Ghent in Belgium, replacing an existing facility acquired with GE Industrial Solutions in 2018. The site will produce residential, commercial and industrial power distribution enclosures for circuit breakers, fuses, switches and meters. Evergem is part of ABB’s initiative towards reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, according to the company, ...
Belgian semiconductor research lab Imec has revealed an on-line tool that quantifies the environmental impact of IC manufacturing. Called imec.netzero, it is built on an in-house virtual model of a fab and its supply chain. “The tool provides valuable insights for academics, policy makers and designers,” according to Imec, which “aims to support industry in reducing its environmental impact, beyond ...
RS has had its environmental sensor development kit (ESDK) certified by the Open-Source Hardware Association (OSHWA), which means the kit can now carry the OSHW logo. “The aims of the OSHWA are to foster technological knowledge and encourage research that is accessible, collaborative and respects user freedom,” according to RS. “OSHWA certification recognises that the kit meets a uniform and ...
Carton packaging for small electrical goods has a lower carbon footprint than plastic alternatives, according to Pro Carton, the European association for carton and cartonboard manufacturers, which is highlighting a report written by the bio-economy unit of the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). Cartonboard is an industry name for non-corrugated cardboard or packaging card. The research compares the cradle-to-grave carbon ...
Dorset-based hydrophone and ultrasonic transducer maker Precision Acoustics has re-thought how to store and dispatch its products in a more environmentally mindful way. Compared to the old packaging, the new packs use 91% less plastic by weight and are 59% lighter while still ensuring the integrity of the instruments inside. “All businesses should be looking at their impact on the ...
Walking and cycling can produce more CO2 than driving or less. It all depends on what you eat. If you live on meat and dairy, car sharing could be your greenest transport option. Eating simply and walking or cycling is the best for you and the planet. These are conclusions that can be drawn from a study at the University ...
MPs have relaunched the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry into electronic waste and the circular economy, aiming to collect further evidence following last year’s inquiry. Contextualising the decision to relaunch the inquiry, the committee says “Around 50 million metric tonnes (Mt) of e-waste were generated globally in 2018 and this figure is projected to rise to as much as 120 million ...
