A Chinese research team has recently invented a bio-recyclable material for electronics manufacturing, offering a new approach to enhancing the circularity of electronics and contributing to a more sustainable electronics industry.
The rapid accumulation of electronic waste is a growing global concern. While sustainable electronics development aims to address this problem, existing recycling methods often suffer from reduced performance of recycled materials, high energy consumption, or harsh recycling conditions. Led by Yu Shuhong from the University of Science and Technology of China, the team designed and produced a cellulose-based composite dielectric film—commonly used in electronics manufacturing—by integrating a bio-manufacturing strategy with an enzymatic degradation process. This approach creates a closed-loop cycle from raw material to product and waste without compromising material performance, providing an environmentally friendly recycling process.