Seeking Sustainable Electronics for Use Within Portable Consumer Devices

The technology seeker is a global FMCG company that designs and manufactures a range of portable consumer devices. These devices contain electronic components and PCBA (printed circuit board assembly), using increasingly unsustainable rare metals. As part of its on-going sustainability programmes, the company wishes to reduce the environmental impact of these devices and identify technology solutions that would facilitate the creation of “sustainable electronics” for use within their consumer devices.

The company is therefore actively searching for technological innovations that would enable them to meet their “sustainable electronics” goal. They are a large and well established business with wide market reach so this represents an excellent opportunity for existing and new technology partners. The company is also interested in R&D collaborations, and engaging with small companies who have developed a technology platform that could benefit from additional resources (e.g. via the company’s corporate venturing arm) to support expediated scale up.

Potential technology solutions that are in-scope include (but are not limited to):-

• Novel approaches to eliminate the use of rare metals (this includes, but are not limited to, gold, tin, tungsten, tantalum) in PCBA and electronics while maintaining similar performances – i.e. reduce use or replace with alternative materials
• Technology solutions that enable the reuse and recovery of PCBA components
• Suppliers who are able to supply recycled metals or components for use in low-cost consumer electronic devices
• Sustainable alternatives to silicon chips
• Initiatives that enable more successful take-back programmes of low-cost electronic consumer devices

Any technology solutions that claim to offer sustainability benefits would ideally be able to demonstrate the savings it could provide with regards to CO2, energy and/or water.

• Technology solutions that provide sustainability benefits surrounding the manufacturing/assembly, distribution/logistics, and consumer use
• Other materials/parts within the consumer device (i.e. battery, casing, packaging)

• Licensing
• Others
• R&D Collaboration