Ian Thomas, managing director of Turquoise International, speaks to Jiva Materials’s founder Jack Herring about how his innovative new product could revolutionise how we deal with e-waste.
In a world increasingly dependent on electronics, the disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
I sat down with Jiva Materials to discuss the company’s innovative PCB substrate designed to tackle e-waste head on.
E-waste is among the fastest-growing solid waste streams globally. Approximately 62 million tonnes of e-waste is generated worldwide on an annual basis, projected to reach 82m tonnes by 2030. Of this, a mere 22.3% was formally documented as collected and recycled.
Informal e-waste recycling is also a significant global health issue. Lead, a toxic substance, is often released into the environment through informal e-waste recycling practices, such as open burning or improper storage.
Printed circuit boards (PCBs), a vital component in all electronic devices and the backbone of electronic systems, account for a significant portion of this waste.
The printed circuit boards (PCB) quandary
Every year, an estimated 18 billion square metres of PCBs are produced globally, causing significant recycling and disposal issues.
With the rising value of precious metals contained in PCBs and growing global concern for environmental sustainability, efficient recycling has become a critical necessity.
Jiva Materials has a compelling solution to this problem. Jack Herring, Jiva’s founder, began developing the product Soluboard®, a patented, cost-competitive and fully recyclable PCB substrate designed to challenge the industry standard, FR-4, during his postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Art, while pursuing a Masters in Design Products.
Herring went on to establish Jiva Materials in 2017 and has since played a pivotal role in the company’s success.
“While studying, I was given a brief by my tutor; to choose a waste stream and optimise it. I chose electronic waste – the fastest growing waste stream in the world. One common part of the products that contribute to the e-waste stream is the printed circuit board, or PCB.”
I decided to re-engineer the material that made PCBs so difficult to recycle – the printed circuit board substrate.
Alternative materials and innovative design approaches were the solution. Herring continues: “The primary ingredients in PCBs are fibreglass and epoxy resin. Currently, the most efficient method for recycling the material involves shredding and incinerating it.
“I decided to re-engineer the material that made PCBs so difficult to recycle – the printed circuit board substrate. I wanted to make my version recyclable, non-toxic, and fully biodegradable.”
The organic structure of Soluboard® enables its non-toxic components to delaminate when exposed to hot water. This innovation allows the plant-based fibres to be composted, the remaining solution to be safely disposed of through standard wastewater systems and the recovery of the electronic components for recycling. Moreover, users of Soluboard® can achieve an impressive 67% reduction in embodied carbon content.
Interest in Soluboard® has already been confirmed by a range of blue-chip electronics manufacturers, including EU domestic appliance and white goods producers, which face tightening regulations that place the responsibility for recycling squarely on manufacturers.
The investment opportunity
The total available market (TAM) for PCBs is projected to grow significantly. According to Jiva Materials, the global PCB market, including single-sided, double-sided and multilayer PCBs, was valued at $67.9B in 2023 and is expected to reach $92.4B by 2039, with a CAGR of 5.4%.
Low Carbon Innovation Fund 2 (LCIF2), managed by Turquoise International, is an investor in Jiva. Reducing the carbon footprint and improving the recyclability of printed circuit boards remains a key challenge for the electronics industry, and Jiva offers a unique solution.
Commenting on a recently-completed investment round, a spokesperson for the business, said: “All of us at Jiva are very thankful for the support from our shareholders and we look forward to bringing Soluboard® to market by working with key players in the world of electronics. It’s time for us to take responsibility for our products and the impacts that they have on the planet.”
It’s time for us to take responsibility for our products and the impacts that they have on the planet.
This year, the company has raised almost £250,000 through an oversubscribed online crowdfunding campaign to support Soluboard®’s development. In late 2024, Jiva officially secured UL Recognition, a prestigious certification awarded by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global leader in safety science.
This achievement underscores Soluboard®’s compliance with strict performance and environmental standards, providing industry stakeholders with confidence in its quality and reliability.
In addition, Jiva has recently earned ISO 9000:2015 accreditation following a rigorous audit. Jiva’s CEO Steve Driver attributes this achievement to “our team’s relentless commitment to quality, innovation, and operational excellence.”
To accelerate Soluboard®’s commercialisation further, Jiva is now collaborating with the University of Portsmouth, supported by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
A sustainable beginning
By replacing traditional, difficult-to-recycle PCB substrates with a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative, Jiva is setting a new industry standard that aligns with both environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance.
The company’s growing industry partnerships, investor confidence and recent accreditations highlight its momentum in transforming the way PCBs are designed, used, and disposed of.
With global e-waste projected to rise exponentially in the coming years, solutions like Soluboard® will play a critical role in reducing waste, recovering valuable materials and lowering the electronics industry’s carbon footprint.
As Jiva continues to expand its reach and drive innovation, its mission is clear: to make sustainable PCB recycling the norm rather than the exception. The success of Soluboard® could mark the beginning of a fundamental shift in electronic manufacturing, proving that performance and sustainability can go hand in hand.
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