Printed electronics help reduce waste, use less energy, and support responsible supply chains.
Is sustainability just a trend – or real business value?
In recent years, customers, investors, and governments expect companies to follow ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards. This is not only about the product, but also about how the product is made – from design to materials and even what happens after use.
Printed electronics (PE) offer a better, more flexible, and more eco-friendly way to produce electronic parts. PE can lower emissions, shorten supply chains, and reduce how many resources are used. A report from OE-A says 42% of companies plan to invest more in PE in the next 2 years – mainly because it helps protect the environment.
Some companies already using PE have improved their carbon footprint and made production more flexible. For example, Quad Industries used PE to make parts for medical devices and sports shoes. This helped them make prototypes 60% faster and create less waste.
Technologia PE stanowi odpowiedź na potrzebę bardziej odpowiedzialnej, efektywnej i elastycznej produkcji. Jaki jest wpływ drukowanych komponentów na środowisko naturalne? Wdrożenie ich umożliwia redukcję emisji, skrócenie łańcuchów dostaw oraz zmniejszenie zużycia zasobów. Z raportu OE-A wynika, że już 42% firm z branży planuje zwiększenie inwestycji w PE w ciągu najbliższych 2 lat, właśnie ze względu na jej potencjał prośrodowiskowy (źródło: “OE-A Roadmap 2023”).
Firmy, które zintegrowały PE ze swoimi procesami, poprawiły nie tylko ślad węglowy, ale również zwiększyły odporność operacyjną. Dobrym przykładem jest Quad Industries, które wdrażając rozwiązania PE w produkcji interfejsów do urządzeń medycznych i obuwia sportowego, skróciło czas prototypowania o 60% i znacząco zredukowało ilość odpadów (źródło: Quad Industries Case Study – Printed Insoles, 2024). Zrównoważony rozwój w produkcji elektroniki to dziś realna przewaga konkurencyjna – nie tylko w branży eko.
1. No chemical baths – cleaner process, less waste
Traditional PCB production uses strong chemicals to clean and shape the boards. These chemicals are dangerous and make a lot of toxic waste. Making just 1 square meter of PCB can create 5–10 liters of dirty water.
In PE, we only print what is needed – like a conducting or protecting layer. There is no chemical cleaning. That means less material is used and less waste is created. Also, workers are safer.
PE also uses much less water – even 90% less than classic PCB production. PE can be printed on recycled materials like paper, recycled plastic, or flexible cloth.
Example: PragmatIC started using PE for RFID labels. They no longer use solvents and stopped making chemical waste. For 1000 components, this means 50–70 liters less of waste water.
2. Less energy – lower temperatures, shorter processes
PE doesn’t need hot ovens like standard electronics. The inks used in PE harden at low temperatures (120–150°C), while traditional methods need 240–260°C. This saves a lot of energy – up to 60%.
Printing methods like digital printing or screen printing are also faster. Some companies, like Tacterion, cut prototype time from 8 weeks to 3 weeks. Others, like Quad, saved 38% of energy in one production cycle.
3. Lighter and thinner parts – less material, cheaper transport
PE parts can be thinner than 0.5 mm and weigh less than 10 grams. This means cheaper shipping and less packaging. Lighter parts also make assembly easier.
Also, PE can be made locally – for example, in Europe – so companies don’t have to wait for deliveries from Asia. FlexEnable, a UK company, now makes flexible OLED displays and reduced delivery time from 12 weeks to 5 days.
Schreiner Group in Germany makes smart labels with printed NFC antennas. This reduced their electronic transport costs by 30%.
4. PE supports recycling and reuse
PE parts are easier to take apart. This helps recycle materials like silver, copper, or plastic. More projects now follow “Design for Disassembly” – a key idea in EU environmental rules.
Some PE parts can even be repaired. For example, Cambridge University showed that printed sensors can be reused by printing a new layer on top. This helps reduce electronic waste. In Europe, this kind of waste is already over 10 million tons each year.
5. PE helps with company ESG goals
For CEOs and managers, PE helps reach environmental and social targets. It also helps with reports and certifications like EPEAT, ISO 14001, or TCO. Using PE shows real numbers – lower energy, water, and materials use – which helps meet EU rules like CSRD.
Example: Prelonic Technologies reduced energy use by 43% per printed circuit by using special low-temperature inks.
Printed electronics are good for the planet and for business.
For CEOs, PE means combining innovation, green goals, and better finances. It helps companies become more flexible, save money, and build a strong brand.
More and more companies now see sustainability not as a cost, but as a smart business tool. PE is becoming a key part of both ESG strategy and future technology.
Four clear benefits:
- Follow EU rules more easily (CSRD, RoHS, REACH)
- Be more flexible in production – less waiting, more control
- Save money – less energy, water, materials, and shipping
- Build a better brand – innovative and responsible image
At LC Elektronik, we not only make printed components – we also help companies plan and explain the business and environmental value of this change.