Dirk Stans (Managing Partner, Eurocircuits) is slated to participate in the World Ethical Electronics Forum (WEEF) on November 18, 2021. He recently shared some of his thoughts about ethical electronics and buying PCBs locally.  

Abate: The World Ethical Electronics Forum (WEEF) addresses a wide range of important topics, including green electronics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, the use and consequences of artificial intelligence, ethics in workplace culture, and more. Tell us which ethics-related topics are most important to you and why.

Stans: Basically, we are interested in all elements of ESG, Environmental, Social and Governance, the basis of sustainability. First and most important is growing consciousness within our own organization. No action without belief in the necessity of ESG for our future, business or personal. 

We started with smaller practical projects, like waste reduction, energy saving, etc., as these influence cost as well as environment, which makes them easier to appreciate by local plant management. Next, we took on the investments in solar energy, the renewing of our wastewater treatment installation and a new social building for our workforce.
 
Dirk Stans (Managing Partner, Eurocircuits)
Abate: Eurocircuits takes eco-friendly PCB production seriously, which is one of the reasons why Elektor community members enjoy your services. How do you ensure that your PCB production processes are eco-friendly and efficient?

Stans: One can never state that his or her products are eco-friendly and efficient because what is the reference? But what we can say is that for many years now we strive for making boards with as little waste material as possible. The order pooling system we have applied for more than 20 years is the main driver for this. Less waste is also less energy, less water consumption, etc. So efficiency drives eco-friendliness. On top of that, we invest in renewable energy as much as possible and update our wastewater treatment.

Abate: Electronics industry companies can make a difference in numerous areas. A good example is Eurocircuits’s involvement with Project MARCH, which is a non-profit challenges students and innovators to develop exoskeletons to help people with spinal cord injuries. When did Eurocircuits get involved? What have been the results? 

Stans: Eurocircuits is a long-time supporter of educational student projects. Students are our customers of tomorrow. Demand for Electronic design engineers is high and their numbers are limited. So we are motivated to help promote electronics education. These student projects like project MARCH bring enormous practical experience to the students making them business worthy at the time they graduate.

Project MARCH has an emotional attachment to the project as well. It strives to help people for whom there is otherwise little hope that they will walk again. It is inventive and makes people dream again, which by itself is an admiral goal. 

Abate: What sort of ethics-related message will you be delivering to the attendees at WEEF 2021? 

Stans: Convince first, then act and start small, so people have the time to adapt and be on board. Companies need the entire staff as participants in this process. Make sure that actions are more important than any paperwork to prove that you are the greatest. Doing is what makes a difference.

Abate: We recently asked some of Elektor's social media followers the following question: Do you think every electronics company should be encouraged to establish a corporate foundation or program for "doing good"? More than 65% said yes. How would you answer that question and why?

Stans: It is very encouraging that the Elektor community thinks this way. Let’s hope they also act that way when they think about who to purchase from. Theory and practice are very often different from each other. The other needs to do it, we feel. What about ourselves? For Eurocircuits I can only state that we are far from being where we want to be, but consciousness is growing every day and actions, however small, are being taken. It is doing that makes the difference.

Abate: Elektor has a global community of more than 120,000 electrical engineers, makers, technical students, and academics. Is there a positive program or initiative that you think our community members should know about? How can they contribute?

Stans: Buying PCBs in your local economic zone limits transport. Many small packages containing more air and cardboard than goods coming from the Far East by air freight may well be the worst environmental part in the value chain of making and supplying boards. Buying in your local economic zone limits down this transport part and keeps the added value that is created in this value chain in the economic zone where customer and supplier are part of. Hence taxes contribute to a joined economic, social and environmental eco-system.

Abate: Do you have any advice for an executive who thinks his or her electronics company should be doing more to improve the environment or society? Any tips or words of encouragement? For instance, let’s say an executive is thinking, “I’d really like to do more, but we don’t have a lot of extra cash on hand to throw at large social initiatives.” What would you say to that executive?

Stans: First be convinced, then convince the rest of the company. Next start by doing those actions that save you money. No budget needed for those. Then start with investments that have an interesting pay back. Once you are down those lanes for some time, opportunities will present themselves to spend some money where the return will not be in your balance sheet but on your sympathy score. Both are needed to be appreciated by your customers and thus to build a solid sustainable business for your company.