Hampshire partnership aims to develop world’s first biodegradable PCB

Published by

Sam Pither

Jack Herring, co-founder and CPO of Jiva Materials

A partnership between two Hampshire organisations looking to develop the world’s first biodegradable printed circuit board (PCB) has been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership by Innovate UK.

The partnership sees the University of Portsmouth teaming up with Waterlooville-based sustainable materials pioneer Jiva Materials to further develop and commercialise the product, which aims to combat the increasing problem of electronic waste (e-waste).

Globally, electronics are a growing waste problem, with each person generating an average of 7.5kg of e-waste every year. As a country, the UK contributes more than 2 million tonnes of e-waste annually, with PCBs believed to account for 8 per cent of all e-waste.

Electronic circuit boards are mostly manufactured on a glass fibre epoxy laminate, usually with a persistent organic pollutant as the flame retardant – and have been for more than 70 years.

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At the end of life, less than 50 per cent of electronic waste is collected and recycled correctly and even then, if the gold, silver and platinum metal content is too low, they are shredded and landfilled or burnt.

Jiva has developed and is commercialising a new laminate called Soluboard to replace the glass fibre epoxy laminate which will lead to two benefits: firstly, a much-reduced CO2 burden and secondly, a way of reducing the £8 billion worth of critical minerals landfilled every year.

Jiva will work with Professor Hom Dhakal and his team from the School of Mechanical and Design Engineering in the University’s Faculty of Technology, who will test and characterise the properties of natural fibres, such as jute, flax and hemp, for their use as potential laminate materials.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership will help speed the development and commercialisation of new advanced versions of the Soluboard that can be used in advanced electronics.

Dr Jonathan Swanston, CEO of Jiva Materials, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of Portsmouth and especially Professor Dhakal and his team. This partnership aligns with our vision of reducing the environmental impact of electronic devices.

“Jiva Materials has been at the forefront of creating materials that are both sustainable and functional. The University’s expertise in developing natural fibre laminates make them the perfect partner for Jiva.”

Professor Hom Dhakal, Head of Advanced Polymers and Composites Research Group at the University of Portsmouth and academic lead for the project, said: “The University of Portsmouth delights in creating, sharing and applying knowledge to make a difference to individuals and society. We have a strong research and innovation focus on sustainability and the environment, as well as future and emerging technologies.

“This collaborative KTP project with Jiva Materials, wonderfully suits a mutually prioritised goal of working together towards achieving a sustainability agenda. We believe that the experience gained from this partnership will significantly contribute towards delivering more sustainable materials and increased circularity in the sector by combating the problem of e-waste.”

Stephen Woodhouse, Knowledge Transfer Advisor for the project, added: “The knowledge and skills embedded by this new KTP collaboration will enable Jiva Materials to scale up and grow their business at pace, whilst simultaneously achieving technical novelty and greater efficacy through access to world-class research expertise.

“I’m confident that the collaboration with the team at the University of Portsmouth will provide a firm foundation for a series of exciting future innovations by the business.

“I’m delighted Innovate UK KTN were able to help convene this partnership and to support the development of their successful grant application. I look forward to providing guidance throughout the life of the project and beyond.”

Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset. A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise. Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.