Circular Economy

SECORA™ Pay Green is a game-changer for payment card sustainability. With this solution, a small module holds the security controller and all software components, along with an eco-friendly Coil on Module (ECoM) package that integrates the contactless antenna. In addition, SECORA™ Pay Green stands out as the industry’s first payment solution that allows for fully recycl­­able card bodies.

Infineon Technologies AG has taken over as head and coordinator of the broad-scope European research project EECONE (European ECOsystem for greeN Electronics), intended to make electronics in Europe more sustainable. The objective is to investigate the corresponding technologies along the entire value chain, from design, manufacturing and use all the way to recycling.

Infineon aims to lead the semiconductor industry's transition to a circular economy by implementing sustainable practices like wafer box reuse, chemical recycling, and refurbishment methods, thereby reducing waste, resource consumption, and scope 3 emissions. The following knowledge article will explore these initiatives and their impacts in detail.

Infineon's security solutions support the industry, the consumer, and the environment alike. The OPTIGA Authenticate product family allows authentication of devices, the verification of spare parts and of the genuineness of original products. This enables product safety for end users and helps manufacturing companies meet quality and performance standards for electronic devices.

STABL Energy uses Infineon's MOSFETs to create energy storage systems from retired electric car batteries. The first pilot systems are operational in Germany and Switzerland, reducing loss and emissions. This innovation gives car batteries a second life, contributing to the energy transition and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Infineon explored new ways of reusing semiconductors in a proof-of-concept DSL router project with Deutsche Telekom and other partners along the value chain. The projects focus was on reused components from old cellphones and telecom network routers. This innovation exploration aims to drive sustainable innovation and reduce waste in the electronics industry.

Our sustainable waste management focuses, in particular, on avoiding waste and preserving the value of the resources we use by adopting the principles of the circular economy. It is also based on the classification and separation of waste and the use of safe treatment methods in accordance with local legal regulations.

Infineon Technologies AG has partnered with UK start-up Jiva Materials to introduce Soluboard, a recyclable and biodegradable printed circuit board (PCB) substrate made from natural fibers and a halogen-free polymer. This innovative material reduces the carbon footprint of the electronics industry by 60% and eliminates PCB waste, allowing electronic components to be recovered and recycled.