Eco-Design for In-Mold Electronics
bookPart
In-Mold Electronics (IME) is an attractive technology platform for smart surfaces based on printed electronics. Electronic devices are manufactured on and fully embedded within thermoplastics to protect the electronic functionalities from external influences. IME devices for automotive and household applications are on the verge of mass production. Any early-stage considerations regarding the environmental impact of IME, potential improvements to its sustainability and possible circular strategies that may technologically be feasible may enable designers and producers to incorporate suitable eco-design measures that will save costs and reduce the overall environmental impact. Moreover, they may enable complying with existing and/or upcoming EU legislation targeting consumer rights and supply chain independence through efficient recycling and effective repairing. In this Chapter, we will discuss the IME technology and recent scientific results obtained in the EU CIRC-uits project on lifetime extension of IME. The introduction to IME will continue with a lifecycle assessment to pinpoint the major contributors to the environmental impact. In the framework of EU CIRC-uits, we extended the design-for-recycling principles explored in previous and existing EU projects Treasure and Unicorn to achieve repairability of IME. In addition to the technical feasibility of repairing, we determined that repairing is environmentally less impactful than replacing a defective device, even when using incineration. Recycling of plastics and metals would, however, greatly contribute to a further reduction of the environmental impact.
TNO Identifier
1023714
ISSN
2191530X
ISBN
978-3-032-04301-6
Publisher
Springer
Source title
Circular Approaches for the Ecodesign, Repair and Remanufacturing of Car and Mass Electronics
Pages
79-97