Identifying sustainable applications for printed electronics using the multi-perspective application selection approach. (10th January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sudheshwar, Akshat; Malinverno, Nadia; Hischier, Roland; Nowack, Bernd; Som, Claudia
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 383(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01-10
• Subjects: Printed electronics -- Novel electronics -- Application selection -- Sustainable electronics; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135532
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Printed electronics are manufactured using additive methods and are envisioned as "green", low-cost, energy-efficient, and sustainable alternatives to present-day electronics. The present Multi-perspective Application Selection (MPAS) assessment aims to assess the current state of technology and evaluate the products in which applications of printed electronics would be feasible. The MPAS is a multi-stage tool apt for decision-making and identifying technologically feasible and environmentally sustainable applications of novel technologies. The first step of the MPAS process involved the identification of all possible products in which printed electronics may replace conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs). For the same, 11 application categories of electrical and electronic equipment were considered. Then, by assessing the user acceptance criteria for each specific application category, unsuitable applications were filtered out from the study. Only those application categories with achievable user acceptance criteria were preselected as promising applications for printed electronics. The final evaluation step considered the technical and sustainability advantages of replacing PCBs with printed electronics in the specific products within the preselected application categories. Thus, the MPAS yielded conventional low-voltage and low-frequency electronics applications with medium-low lifetimes (specifically clocks, toys, personal medical tests, radios, keyboards, mice, and calculators) as technically feasible and sustainable product applications for printed electronics. Furthermore, novel printed electronic products (such as smart posters, pamphlets, packaging, etc.) were also found to be suitable applications; however, management of the large quantities of waste generated from such applications is recognized as a concern. Highlights: MPAS applied to identify sustainable applications of printed electronics. Clocks, toys, personal tests, radios, keyboards, mice, and calculators are suitable applications. Smart posters, pamphlets, packaging, and textiles are also suitable applications. Limitations in waste legislation may cause mismanagement of printed electronics waste.