In 2023 he joined the Recycling and Biotechnology cluster at AIMPLAS, where he is currently working on exploring novel biotechnology possibilities for the recovery of critical raw materials from electrical and electronic waste.

In REFORM, multiple recycling approaches are being validated to address the complex composition of PE systems. The selection of recycling strategies is informed by stakeholder insights and current waste collection policies and practices, ensuring system-compatible solutions. These include simulations of industry sorting scenarios using different technologies.

To complement physical separation methods, the feasibility of material recovery is explored. Bio-recovery of valuable metals is explored as a low environmental impact alternative for the extraction of metals (Ag) from electronic waste. In parallel, chemical recycling alternatives are also explored. Metal recovery from PE waste is key in ensuring resource efficiency and reduces the need for virgin metal extraction, aligning with circular economy objectives. Beyond REFORM, AIMPLAS leverages its expertise in electronics recycling to advance the recyclability of PE materials with pilot recycling infrastructure.

In 2020 she started her research experience on Printed Electronics at TEKNIKER (Spain).

Since 2022, she has been developing her PhD research in the development of sustainable inks for Printed Electronics, in both TEKNIKER and the University of the Basque Country.

For that reason, TEKNIKER has been working on the development of a new sustainable conductive carbon ink, using polylactic acid (PLA, a biodegradable polymer), as the binder. The obtained ink is suitable for digital printing, obtaining conductivities about 10³ S/m, which are suitable for specific applications. The obtained conductivity value of the ink is comparable to high conductive carbon inks available on the market.

Sol Gutiérrez is a Nanomaterial Specialist at the Danish Technological Institute, where she focuses on developing two-dimensional materials and nanomaterials for printed electronics applications. Her current work involves synthesis and characterisation of materials for wearable sensors, electrochemical sensors, and copper-based conductive inks, contributing to European Union projects including EECONE, SaP, and Diagonal as part of multidisciplinary teams working toward sustainable electronic solutions.

Dr. Gutiérrez completed her Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry at DTU (2018-2022), studying perovskite nanocrystal photophysics and morphological effects from nano to microscale. Her research background includes experience with various characterisation techniques, film deposition methods, and nanomaterials synthesis. With a particular interest in sustainability and green alternatives, she applies her technical expertise to explore how nanomaterials can contribute to more environmentally conscious approaches in printed electronics and materials development.

The practical implementation of these copper inks is demonstrated in membrane switch devices, a cornerstone of flexible electronics. Climate chamber studies reveal copper’s susceptibility to humidity and temperature varies significantly with ink formulation strategies, informing robust design approaches. Current challenges focus on improving adhesion to PET substrates, where the conductivity of copper tracks outperforms silver, but formulation optimisation is critical to enhance interfacial bonding. Ongoing efforts prioritise refining sintering protocols, testing additives to overcome PET’s low surface energy and non-polar nature. This work bridges green nanoparticle synthesis with industrial-scale conductive ink production, paving the way for sustainable alternatives in wearable electronics and beyond.

This research was funded by the European Union under the GA no 101070556- Sustain a Print.

In this study, a comprehensive examination of the capabilities of the AJP technique is conducted through the presentation of representative proof-of-concept demonstrations and active research initiatives. These illustrative cases serve as a foundation for an in-depth discussion on the technique’s potential for advancing applications across diverse technological domains.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to calculate the environmental impacts of the ecodesigned PE devices, identifying key environmental hotspots and comparing them with the original devices produced under a linear economy model. A cradle-to-cradle approach was adopted, meaning that the scope of the assessment covers the production of the new materials, novel manufacturing processes and the end of life (EoL) of the PE devices. Special focus was placed on the EoL solutions proposed for the various components.

The ecodesigned biosensor shows a significant reduction in weight, mainly due to lower use of substrate and ink. This results in decreased environmental impacts, as lower quantity of metals —responsible for most of the environmental burden— is required, and a substantial portion is assumed to be recovered at the EoL. In contrast, the ecodesigned membrane switch uses more material, as the new copper ink is less conductive than the silver ink in the original device. Nonetheless, the environmental impacts of the new devices are still notably lower than its baseline, due to the lower impacts of copper compared to silver and the potential for metal recovery at EoL.