Framework for implementing material alternatives assessment

For the electronics and semiconductor industries, as well as for suppliers in the chemical industry where new, complex material development has a key role in advancing the next technology innovations, a proactive approach to addressing Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) issues is a critical necessity, given lengthy development times. There are many tools currently available to industry that can assist in the evaluation of alternative materials and lead to more informed and better decisions with respect to the materials used to make products. At this time, there is no uniform methodology within governments, NGOs, academia or industry for examining new or alternative materials for environmental, safety or human health impacts. As a result, chemical restrictions are inconsistent and can negatively impact the product roadmaps of electronics and semiconductor manufacturers, which often take years for development. Alternative materials assessment is a key factor in developing policies that are more holistic in nature and allow for better risk mitigation to be included in product choices at the source. A consistent method and framework of evaluation of existing methods will provide the opportunity for material selection that is safer, less hazardous and more sustainable than the more typical “banning” solution often specified in policy like RoHS today. The iNEMI (International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative) project on Alternative Materials Assessment examined key existing materials assessment strategies (frameworks, methodologies and tools), for the application and effectiveness in evaluating their environmental/toxicological properties for use. The team has taken a phased approach and conducted a focused benchmarking exercise, using several representative, industry-relevant chemical substances (Phthalates, NMP and TBBP-A), as a means of comparing a carefully selected list of assessment tools, which have potential for broad use in the near future. A gap analysis summary and comparison of key descriptors and key tool use criteria was evaluated for these representative substances, creating an important reference document that can serve to standardize and streamline the approach to alternative assessment. The intent of this study was to facilitate a more proactive, better informed decision making process, for more effective risk mitigation. A summary of the results of our evaluation and potential next steps were provided in the end-of-project report, now published on the iNEMI website.