Gathering info toward sustainably producing circuit boards – via biodegradability, less-toxic chemicals and processes, etc.
Bases/substrates
In current use/development
- Aluminum: In use now, especially for heat dissipation (e.g., for LEDs)
- Glass: In use now
- Ceramic: In use now
- Jiva Materials: Cellulose? Fully recyclable & biodegradable. Copied from the website (May 2026):
- Jiva’s Soluboard® copper clad laminate can be dissolved using hot water within a controlled environment.
- The laminate can be processed through industry standard aqueous fabrication whilst retaining the ability to break down at end-of-life when immersed in hot water for sustained periods.
- Soluboard® is manufactured by impregnating natural fibres with a water-soluble polymer and a halogen-free flame retardant. The composite material is then consolidated and supplied to PCB fabricators as panels of copper clad laminate (CCL) available in a range of sizes.
- Soluboard® contains a halogen-free, phosphorous based flame retardant which is significantly less harmful to the environment in comparison to brominated alternatives.
- It is fully compatible with processes including water-based etching, electroplating, drilling, routing and curing.
Research and possibilities
- Chitin from waste shrimp shells
- Cellulose
- PLA (polylactic acid – also used as 3D-printing filament)
- Not very temperature-stable (melts around 220ºC; softens at lower temps)
Processes