PCBs, as you’ll know from our cover feature this issue, are currently constructed from epoxy resin and fibreglass. To extract the metals used in their construction, they need to be shredded and incinerated, which is an inefficient, time-consuming, and energy-consuming process. Electronic waste is a growing problem, and with the current squeeze on semiconductor prices, it makes sense to have a PCB substrate that makes it easier to reuse components without chucking a load of waste in a landfill.

Enter Soluboard®, from Jiva Materials. This PCB substrate is based on natural materials, which delaminates when it’s soaked in warm water, allowing the natural parts to be composted and the metals to be recycled.
We like the thinking behind this product, and we also like the woody aesthetic. Here’s how it looks when incorporated into an Arduino Uno.