The topic of sustainability in the electronics industry also dominated the second edition of the Green Electronics Technology Forum. In a series of presentations, sustainability specialists from science and industry highlighted the various facets of economic sustainability management.
The event was organized by the companies kolb Cleaning Technology, MTM Ruhrzinn, Stannol and STEGO. The official welcome and opening of the event in the building of the former Dr. Thompson's soap factory in Düsseldorf was given by moderator Sabrina Nickel, who is well-known from the media.
Sustainability as a normative-ethical concept
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger HahnThekeynote speech by Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hahn, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, entitled 'Success factor sustainability management - (when) is sustainability also worthwhile in microeconomic terms? In terms of the global economy as a whole, as various studies he cited show, the consequences are quite clear, such as
- 1,056 $ social cost per ton ofCO2
- GDP would be 37% higher today if there had been no global warming between 1960 and 2019 or 52% GDP loss in 2100 compared to 2024 with unabated climate change
- Decline in biodiversity and ecosystems will cost 2.3% of global GDP annually by 2030 ($2.7 billion)
- 19% drop in income from 2024 to 2050 compared to the situation without climate impact
- Damage already six times higher in the short term than the expenditure required to achieve the 2 °C target
In addition, there is ample empirical evidence of a positive correlation between sustainability and corporate performance. Sustainability risks can quickly become concrete business risks. Sustainability management can have a direct and indirect impact on sales and costs as well as employee satisfaction, as several meta-analyses of empirical studies have shown. There are more success factors in sustainability management than is often assumed. Not everything can be calculated. Comprehensive cost-benefit calculations are a major challenge. And this raises the question: how great must the benefits be for sustainability measures to be implemented in profit-maximizing companies? Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hahn concluded his contribution with the statement that sustainability is a normative-ethical concept and not per se a means of maximizing profits.
Johannes RöckHowSiemens is increasing sustainability with digitalization technology was explained by Johannes Röck, Siemens, based on the digital twin. One application that can save a lot of paper is the digital nameplate. Scanning the data matrix code on a product identifies it and opens the ID link, which can be used to call up the data relating to the product using a browser. With 'Simatic Energy Management', sustainability and energy efficiency can be evaluated from the machine or field level through to the entire company. This creates transparency and supports the analysis of data and planning of measures for machine and load optimization. For example, a 64% reduction in the standby energy consumption of a machine can be achieved. Johannes Röck concluded by inviting the audience to visit 'The Impulse & The Impact Digitalization Center' and the electronics production facility in Amberg to see this live.
It is important to take responsibility
Prof. Dr. Markus Glück, Aalen University, spoke about engineering for a world worth living in. We are currently experiencing a dramatic decline in the number of young engineers at universities. The number of first-semester students has fallen by 13% in a 10-year comparison. How can we motivate young people to become engineers? Environmental protection and climate change are only in fifth place in the current interest of the younger generation. Although 2024 was the warmest year since measurements began, there has been no outcry. And emissions continue to rise. IT and AI have an enormous influence. That's why design is needed. A world worth living in must be actively and sensibly shaped today. We need to take responsibility for material selection, recycling and the circular economy as well as for social balance in the world. Sustainable living is made possible through values and the responsible use of technology, i.e. through meaningful engineering. This is the mission of teaching and research. Prof. Dr. Markus Glück illustrated the practical implementation using the example of green robotics with circular system design.
Kilian Schweiger, Verband deutscher Metallhändler & Recycler (VDM), highlighted an interesting aspect in his presentation 'The great interest in controlling material flows due to their economic importance' on the circular economy as a power play for raw materials using three examples. In the past, the Sinti and Roma had a well-functioning collection network, with which scrap metal and textiles in particular were collected locally and delivered to recyclers. The local authorities generally responsible for waste collection nevertheless demanded the introduction of recycling garbage cans in order to gain access to these raw materials by law, which led to a distortion of competition. The industry also wants to keep the material flows under its control, using the narratives of valuable raw material, hazardous waste or criticality, depending on the situation. The patent 'Process for the production of scrap products with a high degree of purity from inhomogeneous input material' has led to many oppositions because it patents the entire treatment process. In addition, the patent could become the standard, which would further increase the pressure on the industry. Competitors would have to pay patent fees or deliver their material to the patent owner.
Prof. Dr. Markus Glück
Kilian Schweiger
Dr. Mareike Haaß
More sustainable production processes
Dr. Mareike Haaß, in4ma, provided information on the state of sustainability in the EMS industry. Data from 672 EMS companies from the DACH region and 635 websites as well as feedback on the 2025 annual statistics were evaluated. The results of the evaluations were presented in the form of diagrams and can be summarized as follows:
- Around a third of EMS companies in the DACH region are visibly concerned with sustainability and environmental issues, although company size is not a decisive factor. It often depends on the attitude of the management or the owner.
- Environmental measures are primarily implemented when they make economic sense.
- Concrete figures are seldom quoted, usually remaining vague.
- In future, more comprehensive documentation and communication will be unavoidable, as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and stakeholders demand this. Sustainability is also a job factor.
- More sustainable production processes are needed, including energy efficiency, resource conservation through recyclable materials, waste reduction, miniaturization, durability and reparability as well as recycling/circular economy and sustainable supply chains.
Dr. Mareike Haaß also presented successful company websites and solutions for documentation.
Dr. Nils Nissen, Fraunhofer IZM, Berlin, provided information on greener electronics from Germany - the Green ICT @ FMD competence center. The latter supports companies in making their ICT products more resource-efficient and creates a solid database for quantifying and minimizing the ecological impact of future ICT developments. The increasing energy requirements of ICT remain a key driver of the environmental impact. The development of the carbon footprint of ICT in Germany in the period 2013 - 2033 was shown, using three scenarios for the energy mix. The example of printed circuit boards was used to illustrate that there is no such thing as a green printed circuit board due to its components and that environmental requirements are difficult to implement. Dr. Nils Nissen addressed the challenges, grouping them together (material, climate requirements, etc.) and presenting examples of eco and carbon footprints for some typical products. The responsibility lies in their upstream supply chains. Semiconductor production, for example, contributes significantly to the environmental impact.
Dr. Nils Nissen
Dr. Nils Nissen explained the objectives and offerings of the BMBF-funded Green ICT @ FMD competence center, which is an extension of the Research Fab Microelectronics Germany FMD for German industry and German ICT research. He then explained the advantages and disadvantages of electronics production in Germany, including:
- Control density, energy costs and labor costs remain high.
- Strengths are the trend in the energy mix, supply chain stability and the political will for technological sovereignty. They enable re-evaluations in the innovative product sector.
- Environmental aspects are not always a burden for the industry.
Focusing and prioritization take place with regard to
- Climate impact/climate neutrality
- Circular economy by means of repair, reuse, refurbish and material recycling
- Specific critical chemicals
- Company level e.g. CSR
- Resilience and location
With a view to printed circuit boards, components and production in Germany, he concluded that
- Data is collected in operations and with the supply chain due to reporting obligations as well as for the purpose of efficiency potential and future positioning.
- Substantially 'green' technologies tend to be niche applications that need to be further developed, offered and adapted.
- Detailed improvements to individual components and materials are important even if they make a small contribution to the overall assessment.
- Production relocation or new regional chains in which communication overheads, know-how protection and flexible, efficient production and environmental indicators come together.
In the last presentation, Michael Schmidt, German Mineral Resources Agency (DERA) at the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, gave an overview of raw materials for the energy transition with an outlook up to 2030. DERA is conducting raw materials monitoring to increase market transparency for a sustainable and secure supply of raw materials. The raw materials required for the energy transition (wind energy, photovoltaics) are also considered. Per capita metal requirements are growing, although the energy transition is currently only a weak driver. A high concentration of supply poses challenges for the procurement of raw materials. In addition, Germany and the EU are highly dependent on imports for many raw materials and components. Michael Schmidt provided information on the expected demand and supplier countries for critical raw materials as well as the situation in the PV industry (hardly any more in the EU) and in the wind industry (challenges due to long approval processes, among other things). The IEA's sustainability scenario up to 2030 seems feasible.
