Printed Circuit Boards and the Possibility of an Environmentally Friendly Substrate

Increase in the demand for consumer electrical and electronics equipment which is driven in part by the rate of technological advancements invariably gives rise to more products requiring the use of circuit boards. This paper analyses the manufacturing process of printed circuit board (PCB), disposal of waste PCBs at the end-of-life and how it affects the environments. Legislation on production and waste disposal was also be examined with specific interest in how these laws affect production and sustainable alternative ways to manufacture PCBs. Research into new types of environmentally friendly printed circuit boards, with particular interest in the recycle and re-use of the boards and components respectively and the life cycle assessments (LCA) which analyses the entire life phase of PCBs. In conclusion, the paper confirms the possibility of developing an environmentally friendly circuit board as an alternative to PCB.