Electronics goes green

The international conference 'Electronics goes green' (e.g.g.) only takes place every four years. In 2024, it was time again: the exceptional event in Berlin discussed how the shift to green electronics can actually succeed.

A glance around the auditorium showed a striking number of young faces'green electronics' - almost no conference, trade fair or technology day goes by these days without the improved eco-balance of electronic production being celebrated or called for. This trope of green electronics meanders back and forth between the serious efforts of the industry (often as a result of stricter regulations) and warnings of 'greenwashing'. What is often forgotten, however, is that concepts have been conceived, developed, discussed and implemented in conjunction with science and industry for many years. This is where the 'electronics goes green' event, affectionately abbreviated to e.g.g., stands out from the crowd as a beacon. The international congress took place for the first time in 2000 - every four years in Berlin and organized by the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM). The PLUS wrote on the occasion of the first e.g.g. (issue 8/2000, p.1178): "Rapid global economic growth is making environmental protection an ever greater problem. In this context, the electronics industry is both a cause and a problem solver. In any case, environmental protection must be given priority in the development of future electronic products and process technologies."

These were the findings before the first e.g.g. in 2000. Little has changed in terms of the problem situation and urgency. However, at the e.g.g. 2024, it was possible to find out what people think about it today, what current concepts, scientific approaches and technological developments exist. This exceptional conference was held once again in Berlin (June 18-30), this time at the H4 Hotel on Alexanderplatz. It was once again organized at a high level by Fraunhofer IZM, with the VDI Institute and the American association IPC acting as sponsors. The e.g.g. was opened by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Schneider-Ramelow, who heads the Fraunhofer Institute IZM together with Prof. Ulrike Ganesh. He referred to the long tradition of the e.g.g., which only takes place every four years and maintains its position as a beacon for 'green electronics' (despite all the imitations). Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Schneider-Ramelow quickly handed over the floor to the actual 'mastermind' of the e.g.g.: Dr. Nils F. Nissen, Fraunhofer IZM. With his opening speech, Nils Nissen set the tone of the conference from the very first second: the high scientific level of the hand-picked presentations - appropriate to the important topic - met with a certain mischievousness, which should not be missing in all seriousness. Instead of negativity in view of the precarious ecological situation, there was no lack of cheerfulness, as this should inspire research and industry not to let up in their efforts. This was to prove true during the much-anticipated 'Provoquium' on the last day of the conference ... but more on that later.

First, two keynotes were scheduled. Todd Brady, Chief Sustainability Officer at Intel Corporation from Intel, made it clear in his speech that Moore's law is still valid: "Moore's Law is alive and well." The production of chips will continue to increase and is even becoming more important. However, this also means that the industry must continue to change. For Brady, one thing is certain: "We need to eliminate PFAS" - it must be eliminated from electronics production.[*] Todd Brady left only one thing open: How can the elimination of PFAS be achieved? Which substances could be used to replace PFAS? And wouldn't substances with similar properties then be just as problematic for the environment? Without answers to these questions, even the most dazzling keynote speech is of little use.

Something similar could be said about the second keynote speech by Mads Kogsgaard Hansen, Director and Head of Product Circularity & Portfolio Planning at Bang & Olufsen. In his speech, he called for closed raw material cycles (cradle-to-cradle), repairability, modularity, serviceability and obsolescence management for the production of electronic devices. Mads Kogsgaard Hansen's 'mission', so to speak, was: "Erasing the divide between new and old." (Eliminating the divide between new and old, i.e. between new and used products, the shift towards recycling and reprocessing raw materials). Bang & Olufsen is making good progress here with its consumer electronics. But here, too, there was no real signpost as to how to follow the path that has been taken too hesitantly (since the first e.g.g. in 2000!). Of course, one can argue that keynotes should offer just such glowing appeals. But what effect do they have on the young people who recently voiced their concerns about the future in 'Fridays for Future' fever? Even if often exalted, as Prof. Armin Rahn ridiculed in his column 'Anders gesehen' ... [**]

The next generation at the lectern

As far as the next generation is concerned, the e.g.g. was also informative. Looking at the auditorium and throughout the contributions to this extraordinary conference, it made you wonder: isn't the lack of young talent in the electronics industry and research often lamented? Even in this journal, which receives corresponding complaints and warnings from the PLUS Advisory Board? There was little sign of this at the e.g.g.. Many of the speakers were young, still at the beginning of their careers or even about to graduate. And where research teams presented their jointly developed results, the highly decorated research leaders often gave way to the young talents. One example was the paper 'Unlocking Consumer Adoption: Exploring Factors Influencing Preferences for Refurbished Smartphones across Japan, Germany, and Thailand', a collaboration between the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the University of Tokyo, Waseda University (all Japan), California State University in Sacramento (USA) and Chulalongkorn University Bangkok (Thailand). Here, research director Mitsutaka Matsumoto, Ph.D., AIST, left parts of his presentation to student Ai Chinen (Waseda University), who spoke about the data situation regarding the acceptance of refurbished smartphones (refurbished cell phones) and confidently compared the data situation in Japan, Germany and Thailand. At this point, the aforementioned hilarity came back into play when the moderating chairwoman Kirsten Remmen, Empa, boasted of owning a 'refurbished' phone. Especially as representatives of the 'Instagram generation', who think ecologically and price-consciously, are increasingly opting for refurbished smartphones (and even proudly showing them off).

Overall, the presentations were of a very high standard and covered all conceivable aspects of 'green' electronics. The topics of PFAS and 4RE (REuse, REpair, REcycling, REmanufacturing and REcovery) were omnipresent. I mainly attended presentations that revolved around printed circuit boards. But two sessions on bio-based materials also provided valuable food for thought. Zahra Fazlali, Centre for Microsystems Technology (CMST), imec and Ghent University, Belgium, spoke about environmentally friendly in-mold electronics based on polylactic acid (PLA). Jesper Edberg, ri.se Institute Sweden, provided what was missing from Todd Brady's keynote: he dealt with bio-based solutions for sustainable electronics in a post-PFAS era. Lignins, for example, which can be extracted from pine wood, could play a key role here. The incredibly strong biopolymers are stored in the plant cell wall and cause the lignification of this cell. They could also enable stable electronics - a glimmer of hope.

Provoquium was very popular

A lecture by Prof. Bong Sup Shim, Inha University (South Korea) was particularly exciting. He presented research results on multifunctional nanocomposites made from naturally derived materials, where he had investigated the functionalities of conductive melanin and crystalline nanocellulose - down to the molecular level of cuttlefish sepia ink. Prof. Bong Sup Shim also discussed clay composites and opened up the possibilities of biobased materials for future, more environmentally friendly electronics in tremendous detail. The above presentations are just a few examples of the wealth of suggestions and discussions at the e.g.g.. But we must not forget to mention the 'Provoquium' - moderated by Otmar Deubzer, Fraunhofer IZM. The format was not only eagerly awaited, but also very well attended - it consisted of short presentations that were held with the aim of provoking the audience, the industry and science itself. Not meant to be taken entirely seriously, but somehow they were - the jokingly raised 'moral index finger' often pointed at itself when joking about beewashing, flying pineapples and 'green claims' (i.e. green claims that on closer inspection turn out to be more of a hoax than a flying pineapple). The hilarity was great, as there was no shortage of self-criticism. For example, whether, as provocatively discussed, the industry's solar plants will have to be dismantled in just ten years' time, as more efficient ones have long been available, caused bitter smiles and nods. And as far as the 'green claims' were concerned, one couldn't help but think back to the two keynotes ...

The Provoquium was just the highlight of a well-attended and thoroughly exceptional conference. The e.g.g. 2024 proved just how important it is. Questions are actually being raised here that point to the future; and the research approaches and food for thought give hope that one day 'green electronics' will actually be feasible, economical and a matter of course. We will find out more in four years' time: the next e.g.g. will take place again in Berlin in 2028. PLUS will certainly be reporting again then.

https://electronicsgoesgreen.org, www.ipc.org, www.vdivde-it.de/de/institut-fuer-innovation-und-technik, www.izm.fraunhofer.de, www.tu.berlin

References

[*] See the technology article on PFAS on p. 1111.
[**] See the column 'Killing two birds with one stone' on p. 1141.