Electronics Weekly
Each year, electronic waste accounts for $57 billion in losses including the disposal of iron, copper, and gold. The survey finds that sustainability is inspiring changes to every aspect of electronics manufacturing, said Dr John W Mitchell, the IPC’s president and CEO.
“Collective action garners greater results. Sustainability efforts can’t achieve their maximum impact if they exist in silos. The survey findings show the electronics industry needs alignment, knowledge-sharing, and a collective push to accelerate impact,” he said.
The survey found that more than half (59%) of respondents expect their companies to increase sustainability efforts in 2025. PCB and contract manufacturers anticipate the greatest growth. Two thirds of companies are motivated by the need for regulatory compliance but also by efficiency gains (58%), technological advancements (56%), and long-term competitive positioning (55%), the survey found.
The main challenges to implementation of sustainability measures are budget constraints, regulatory complexity, uncertainty around regulations and compliance with those regulations and limited expertise.
Most respondents reported having a formal sustainability strategy in place, with EMS and OEM companies most likely to have dedicated sustainability teams and formal sustainability strategies compared with other sub-industries. Only 3% of respondents indicated that their companies did not have a formal sustainability strategy in operation. More than half (59%) expected efforts to increase this year led by PCB and contract manufacturers, followed by OEMs. Over a third (38%) did not expect any change and 3% indicated a decrease in a focus on sustainability.
Following the January 2025 survey, IPC has launched Evolve, a programme for industry-wide knowledge about best practices, and to provide access to resources to navigate challenges.
