Imagine if the green boards inside your gadgets were made from plants instead of harsh plastics. When the device dies, instead of piling up in a landfill, the board could be broken down by specialized bacteria to recover valuable metals. It is like turning electronic waste into a compostable system that gives back the raw materials.
Current electronic boards use non-biodegradable materials and toxic chemicals, making metal recovery expensive and polluting. This creates a massive waste problem and dependency on non-European raw materials.
A proof of concept for bio-based multilayer PCBs and a bioleaching process for metal recovery.
If you are a hardware manufacturer dealing with electronic waste regulations — this project developed bio-based rigid boards that enable above 70wt% of PCB ultimate waste elimination. This allows you to produce devices that are easier to recycle and more environmentally friendly.
If you are an urban mining specialist dealing with toxic chemical leaching — this project developed a bioleaching process for fast and ecological copper recovery. This reduces the environmental footprint of extracting critical metals from old electronics.
If you are a PCB fabricator dealing with PFAS restrictions — this project developed PFAS-free, bio-based multilayer PCBs. This ensures your products remain compliant with strict European environmental laws while targeting a €436 million market.
The technology is intended for exploitation in the field of class 2 rigid boards, which has a potential market of €436 million.
The project expects to generate at least 3 patents to protect and exploit this disruptive technology.
The project aims to create an industrially credible proof of concept by 2030, focusing on technology-compliant bio-based multilayer PCBs.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on creating a cost-effective proof of concept and reducing CO2 emissions by 1-2% in the electronics sector.
The project period runs from 2024-09-01 to 2028-08-31, with the vision of a world-first industrial solution by 2030.
The consortium is well-balanced for technology transfer, featuring 11 partners with a 45% industry ratio (5 industrial partners, including 3 SMEs). The mix of 4 universities and 2 research centers ensures a strong scientific foundation, while the presence of a start-up suggests a clear intent for commercialization.
Contact Professor Pascal Xavier at Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for bio-based PCB materials.
