Jiva Materials is a UK-based company founded in 2017 by Jack Herring. The company was established with the mission to create the world's first fully recyclable printed circuit board (PCB) substrate, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of electronic waste. Jiva Materials' current mission focuses on commercializing Soluboard®, a patented, biodegradable PCB laminate made from natural fibers, water-soluble polymers, and halogen-free flame retardants. The core values of Jiva Materials include sustainability, innovation, and responsibility, with a purpose to transform the electronics industry by providing eco-friendly solutions.

Location

• Headquarters: Waterlooville, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

• Primary manufacturing/operations locations: Hampshire, United Kingdom.

• Note: Strategic location in the UK to foster innovation and collaboration with industry partners.

The Circular Vision

• Core circular economy principles: Designing out waste, using natural and biodegradable materials, and creating products that are fully recyclable.

• Key innovations: Development of Soluboard®, a fully recyclable PCB laminate that can be dissolved in hot water, enabling the recovery of natural fibers, copper, and electronic components for reuse or recycling.

• Prioritization of local sourcing and closed-loop supply chains: Emphasis on using locally sourced natural fibers and sustainable production methods to minimize environmental impact.

Pioneering Solutions

• Flagship product: Soluboard®, a fully recyclable PCB laminate with a 60% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional glass-fiber and epoxy laminates.

• Unique value propositions: High-quality, sustainable PCB substrate that prioritizes circularity, material reuse, and environmental responsibility. Soluboard® is compatible with industry-standard PCB fabrication processes and has electrical properties comparable to market incumbents.

The Regenerative Future

• R&D focus areas: Advancing sustainable materials, optimizing recycling processes, and developing new applications for Soluboard®.

• Ambitious goals: To lead the electronics industry in sustainable practices, create zero-waste products, and inspire a shift towards a regenerative approach to material design.

Fact Sheet

• Commercial Availability: Soluboard® is available for purchase and can be integrated into existing PCB fabrication processes.

• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Information not available.

• Circularity Rating: 5/5 (Designed for full circularity).

• Key Certifications: Soluboard® is tested to IPC standards and has a flame retardancy rating equivalent to UL94 V0.

• Cost Rating: 4/5 (Competitive with conventional alternatives, with significant cost savings in sustainable materials).

• Material Passport: Detailed material traceability and use of natural fibers, water-soluble polymers, and halogen-free flame retardants.

• Designed for Disassembly: Yes, Soluboard® can be dissolved in hot water for material recovery and recycling.

• Carbon Performance: Focus on reducing carbon footprint through sustainable materials and local production. Soluboard® has a 60% lower carbon footprint compared to traditional PCB laminates.

Key Takeaway

Jiva Materials transforms the electronics industry through Soluboard®, a pioneering, fully recyclable PCB laminate, setting a benchmark for circularity and environmental responsibility.

Explore Further

• Jiva Materials website: https://www.jivamaterials.com

• Sustainability overview: https://www.jivamaterials.com/technology

Layer is a thought-leading design studio founded in 2015 by British designer Benjamin Hubert. The studio embraces circular economy principles by prioritizing sustainable materials, renewable energy usage, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Layer's core mission is to create revolutionary product experiences through human-centered design thinking. Their work spans strategy, industrial design, branding, digital design, and spatial design for leading brands. Layer nurtures an innovative culture focused on pushing boundaries to drive positive environmental and social impact.

Location

• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.

• Primary studio location: 445 Hackney Road, London.

The Circular Vision

• Core circular economy principles: Designing for longevity, adaptability, disassembly, and material circularity.

• Key innovations: Extensive material research, designing for easy maintenance/repair/reuse, sustainable manufacturing processes.

• Prioritizing localized supply chains and responsible material sourcing.

Pioneering Solutions

• Flagship solutions: Reversible Building Design (RBD) protocol, disassembly-focused product design.

• Unique value propositions: Human-centered, future-proof design and holistic sustainability integration.

The Regenerative Future

• R&D focus: Advancing circular construction methods, biomaterial innovations, digital design tools.

• Ambitious goals: Becoming an industry leader in ethical, eco-positive design and business practices.

Fact Sheet

• Commercial Availability: Products through brand partners globally.

• Environmental Certifications: Cradle to Cradle, LEED, WELL Building Standard.

• Circularity Rating: 5/5.

• Key Accreditations: ISO Standards for Design for Disassembly/Adaptability.

• Cost Rating: 4/5 (Higher premium positioning).

• Material Traceability: Extensive data on material sources and lifecycles.

• Designed for Disassembly: Yes, a core design principle.

• Carbon Performance: Aim for net zero/negative through energy efficiency.

The Human Element

Layer places a strong emphasis on the human element in design, ensuring solutions are inclusive, culturally aware, and facilitate cross-collaboration. The studio adopts strategies like participatory design workshops to bridge cultural gaps and develop user-centric solutions.

Environmental Considerations

Stringent environmental regulations and third-party certifications guide Layer's design approach. The studio prioritizes localized material sourcing, renewable energy usage, waste reduction, and material health evaluations to minimize environmental impact.

Intellectual Property Protection

Layer safeguards its innovative designs through comprehensive IP protection strategies, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and legal agreements to prevent unauthorized use or replication of proprietary solutions.

Key Takeaway

Layer is pioneering a holistic approach to sustainable design that seamlessly integrates circular principles across its portfolio, positioning the studio as an industry leader in shaping the built environment for a regenerative future.

Explore Further

• Layer website: https://layerdesign.com

• Sustainability overview: https://layerdesign.com/about

Fairphone is a Dutch social enterprise founded in 2013 by Bas van Abel. The company was established with the mission to create a fairer electronics industry by designing and producing sustainable smartphones. Fairphone's current mission is to drive positive change across the value chain in mining, design, manufacturing, and lifecycle management, while expanding the market for ethically produced electronics. The core values of Fairphone include sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility, with a purpose to create long-lasting products that minimize environmental impact and improve working conditions in the electronics supply chain.

Location

• Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands.

• Primary manufacturing/operations locations: Various locations globally, with a focus on ethical sourcing and fair labor practices.

• Note: Strategic locations to optimize local sourcing, distribution, and collaboration with ethical suppliers.

The Circular Vision

• Core circular economy principles: Designing out waste, using sustainable and recycled materials, and creating products that are fully recyclable.

• Key innovations: Development of modular smartphones that are easy to repair and upgrade, use of Fairtrade gold, and integration of recycled materials.

• Prioritization of local sourcing and closed-loop supply chains: Emphasis on ethical sourcing and transparent supply chains to minimize environmental impact and support fair labor practices.

Pioneering Solutions

• Flagship products: Fairphone 3, Fairphone 4, and Fairphone 5 modular smartphones.

• Unique value propositions: High-quality, sustainable smartphones with easily replaceable components, innovative modular design, and a strong focus on ethical sourcing and circularity.

The Regenerative Future

• R&D focus areas: Advancing modular design technologies, developing new sustainable materials, and optimizing circular design processes.

• Ambitious goals: To lead the smartphone industry in sustainable practices, create zero-waste products, and inspire a shift towards more responsible consumption.

Fact Sheet

• Commercial Availability: Products available globally through the Fairphone website and select retailers.

• Circularity Rating: 5/5 (Strong focus on circular economy principles).

• Key Certifications: B Corp, Fairtrade Gold certification.

• Cost Rating: 4/5 (Competitive with conventional alternatives, with significant cost savings in sustainable materials).

• Material Passport: Detailed material traceability and use of recycled and sustainable materials.

• Designed for Disassembly: Yes, products are designed for easy disassembly and recycling.

• Carbon Performance: Focus on reducing carbon footprint through sustainable materials and local production.

Key Takeaway

Fairphone is a pioneering company that transforms the smartphone industry through innovative modular design and ethical sourcing, setting a benchmark for sustainability and circularity.

Explore Further

• Fairphone website: https://www.fairphone.com/nl

• Sustainability overview: https://www.fairphone.com/en/about/about-us/

• Example product: Fairphone 4 - https://shop.fairphone.com/en/fairphone-4

Formlabs is a 3D printing technology developer and manufacturer founded in September 2011 by three MIT Media Lab students: Maxim Lobovsky, Natan Linder, and David Cranor. The company was established with the mission to create desktop-sized, easy-to-use, and affordable stereolithography 3D printers. Formlabs' current mission focuses on providing high-resolution SLA and SLS 3D printers for professionals across various industries. Core values include innovation, accessibility, and quality, with a purpose to redefine 3D printing technology and make it more accessible to a wider range of users.

Location

• Headquarters: Somerville, Massachusetts, USA.

• Primary manufacturing/operations locations: USA, with offices in Berlin, Germany, and other global locations.

• Note: Strategic locations to optimize global distribution and collaboration with industry partners.

The Circular Vision

• Core circular economy principles: While not explicitly stated, Formlabs focuses on efficient material use and developing recyclable resins.

• Key innovations: Development of Low Force Stereolithography (LFS) technology, which reduces material waste and improves print quality. Creation of a wide range of specialized resins for various applications.

• Prioritization of local sourcing and closed-loop supply chains: Information not explicitly available, but the company emphasizes efficient material use and printer longevity.

Pioneering Solutions

• Flagship products: Form 3+, Form 3L, Form 3B+, Form 4, and Fuse 1+ 30W 3D printers.

• Unique value propositions: High-quality, professional-grade 3D printing solutions that prioritize accuracy, speed, and versatility. Formlabs' products are known for their ease of use, wide range of materials, and ability to produce detailed, functional parts.

The Regenerative Future

• R&D focus areas: Advancing 3D printing technologies, developing new materials, and optimizing production processes.

• Ambitious goals: To lead the 3D printing industry in innovation and accessibility, create more efficient and sustainable printing solutions, and inspire a shift towards additive manufacturing in various industries.

Fact Sheet

• Commercial Availability: Products available globally through direct sales and authorized resellers.

• Environmental Product Declaration (EPD): Information not available.

• Circularity Rating: 3/5 (Some focus on material efficiency and recyclable resins, but not explicitly centered on circular economy principles).

• Key Certifications: Information not available.

• Cost Rating: 4/5 (Competitive with professional-grade 3D printing solutions).

• Material Passport: Detailed material information available for Formlabs resins.

• Designed for Disassembly: Information not available.

• Carbon Performance: While not explicitly stated, the company focuses on efficient material use and printer longevity, which can contribute to reduced environmental impact.

Key Takeaway

Formlabs transforms the 3D printing industry through innovative, accessible solutions, setting a benchmark for quality and versatility in professional-grade additive manufacturing.

Explore Further

• Formlabs website: https://formlabs.com

• Product overview: https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/

• Materials library: https://formlabs.com/materials/