Empa pioneers fully biodegradable wood-based circuit boards to drive sustainable electronics

Not only is the casing of this computer mouse made from biodegradable material, but so is its circuit board. Image: Empa

(IN BRIEF) Empa researchers have developed fully biodegradable printed circuit boards made from lignocellulose, a wood-based composite of cellulose and lignin. This sustainable alternative to petroleum-based epoxy resin boards can be composted after use, significantly reducing electronic waste. Created as part of the EU’s HyPELignum project, the innovation utilizes a hornification process to produce durable yet biodegradable substrates. In partnership with PROFACTOR GmbH, Empa has built functional prototypes like a compostable computer mouse and RFID card. The team now aims to improve moisture resistance and scale industrial production by 2026, marking a crucial step toward eco-friendly electronic design.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜBENDORF, 8-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Empa has introduced a groundbreaking innovation in sustainable electronics — a biodegradable printed circuit board (PCB) made entirely from wood-based materials. This pioneering development replaces the traditional petroleum-derived substrates used in modern electronics with a compostable biomaterial, marking a key step toward reducing electronic waste and fostering circular design in the tech industry.

Empa researcher Yuliia Dudnyk with the flaky lignocellulose, the starting material for the circuit board. Image: Empa

Printed circuit boards, the structural and electrical foundation of nearly every device from laptops to smart home gadgets, are typically made from fiber-reinforced epoxy resin — a material derived from petroleum that is difficult and costly to recycle. Disposal often requires specialized pyrolysis furnaces, adding to the growing environmental burden of e-waste. To address this, researchers led by Thomas Geiger from Empa’s Cellulose and Wood Materials laboratory have created a fully biodegradable PCB substrate derived from wood fibers that performs comparably to conventional epoxy resin boards.

The new substrate, based on lignocellulose, combines cellulose fibers with a small portion of lignin — a natural binder found in wood. The material is sourced as a byproduct from wood processing, developed in collaboration with TNO in the Netherlands. Through a refining process involving grinding, hydration, and high-pressure compression known as hornification, the researchers produced a dense and durable substrate. The natural lignin content provides strength and cohesion, making it a sustainable alternative to synthetic composites.

From raw material to finished product: The lignocellulose (left) is ground with water and pressed into hornified plates. The plates are cut to the desired shape and fitted with the conductor tracks and electronic components. Image: Empa

While the material retains some sensitivity to moisture — a feature essential for biodegradation — its durability already approaches that of standard PCBs. “If no water can penetrate, microorganisms cannot break down the material, which would make it non-biodegradable,” explains Geiger. Together with Austria’s PROFACTOR GmbH, Empa researchers successfully printed conductive traces on the wood-based substrate and integrated components to create working prototypes such as a computer mouse and an RFID card. Once discarded, these devices can be composted, allowing the substrate to decompose naturally while the metal and electronic components are recovered for recycling.

Looking forward, the Empa team aims to further enhance the material’s resistance without compromising its compostable nature. Under the EU’s HyPELignum project, funded by Horizon Europe and Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), researchers plan to develop additional demonstrators by 2026. Industrial collaborations are also on the horizon to bring this innovation closer to market. As Geiger points out, “We must rethink how we build our electronics. Many devices are only used for a few years — they don’t need to be made from materials that last for centuries.”

Empa reseracher Thomas Geiger removes a finished lignocellulose disc from the press. Image: Empa

HyPELignum

The EU research project HyPELignum aims to develop a holistic approach to functional, CO₂-neutral electronics. To this end, the international project partners from research and industry are combining wood-based raw materials and transition metals that are as non-critical as possible with additive manufacturing and advanced sustainability analyses. The project is funded under the Horizon Europe program and the State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI) and will run from October 2022 to September 2026. Researchers at Empa are involved in the development of sustainable printed circuit boards and in life cycle analysis.

Further information

Dr. Thomas Geiger
Cellulose & Wood Materials
Phone +41 58 765 47 23
thomas.geiger@empa.ch

Editor / Media Contact

Anna Ettlin
Communications
Phone +41 58 765 47 33
redaktion@empa.ch

SOURCE: EMPA

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