What will be the effects of the new European environmental legislation on innovation in the electronics sector?

Abstract

The Europe-wide legislation on electronics and environment (WEEE, RoHs) is not only an indicator of a more environmentally friendly electronics industry. At the same time it presents a challenge to policy makers for the coordination of multilevel governance: Legislation on the EU level is directly affecting the national level, the regional level, and the local communities and vice versa. To this date, the effects WEEE, RoHs etc. have or will have on innovation (more precisely on innovation policy) are still widely unexplored. For example, the new environmental legislation measures call for a reduction of hazardous substances and the avoidance of waste at the point of design. This calls for a new organisation of the innovation process in the electronics industry. Since the electronics sector is an important pillar of the economy in many European countries, innovation policy on the national level will (have to) react to the new requirements in order to keep their economy competitive. To this date, however, it seems that most countries undertake very little efforts - aside from implementing EU regulations - in order to trigger innovation in the green electronics sector. © 2007 WIT Press.