Sustainability of Power Devices: A Perspective on Design for Recycling

This paper discusses the challenges of recycling and disposal posed by the growing use of power devices to achieve net-zero carbon goals. It introduces the R-strategies and circular economy concepts, emphasizing their importance in sustainable power devices design. Existing recycling methods for electronic components are reviewed, but due to the unique characteristics of power devices, these methods are not adequately suited. Therefore, a "design for recycling" strategy is proposed, along with a recyclable design example and its potential recycling process. Finally, an evaluation framework incorporating environmental impact indicators is developed to support sustainable design decisions.