87% say sustainability will dominate in 5 years
What does that mean for product Roadmaps?
The electronics industry powers nearly every aspect of modern life, from medical devices and cars to smartphones and data centers. But it’s also one of the most resource- and energy-intensive industries on the planet.
To understand where it’s heading, ICAPE Group commissioned an exclusive survey conducted by Statista across three key markets — the USA, Germany, and China. The results send a clear signal: 87% of companies believe sustainability will be the top priority in electronics manufacturing within the next five years.
This isn’t a passing trend. It’s a global realignment that will reshape how products are designed, manufactured, and delivered. For product leaders, the question is: what does a sustainability-first roadmap look like
Regional Differences, Same Direction
USA
Already leading, with 65% calling sustainability “very important” today. Customer demand and ESG commitments are driving sourcing decisions.
GERMANY
Regulation is the catalyst. 52% prioritize sustainability in supplier selection, reflecting EU initiatives like the Green Deal and Ecodesign Regulation.
CHINA
Adoption is more cautious now (24% “very important” today), but 91% expect sustainability to dominate within 5 years, driven by national carbon goals and export requirements.
The message: while maturity differs, sustainability is converging into a global industry priority.
Designing for Longevity and Repairability
Electronics roadmaps used to prioritize speed-to-market and technical specs. In the coming years, durability and repairability will be mandatory.
Modular designs will allow consumers to swap components instead of discarding entire devices.
The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) bans planned obsolescence and mandates longer lifespans.
Brands like Fairphone already show the way, offering spare parts and repair-friendly smartphones.
📌 Roadmap implication: Design KPIs must now include repairability scores and compliance with new rul
Smarter Use of Materials
Electronics are material-intensive, especially PCBs. Sustainability-first design will demand doing more with less.
Thinner copper layers and selective placement instead of blanket copper fill.
Alternatives to adhesives that block recyclability.
Bio-based materials like Soluboard®, which cut PCB emissions by 60% compared to fiberglass boards.
📌 Roadmap implication: Material efficiency becomes as important as performance and cost.
Transparency and Traceability
By 2027, EU law will require Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for electronics. These will include material origins, repairability scores, carbon footprints, and recycling instructions.
The challenge? Today, fewer than 20% of companies have visibility into their tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers.
📌 Roadmap implication: Roadmaps must integrate traceability features as standard — not add-ons.
Low-Carbon, Smarter Manufacturing
Electronics manufacturing generates over 600 million tons of CO₂ annually, on par with aviation. PCBs alone represent 30% of the footprint.
Future roadmaps will align with greener production methods:
Industry 4.0 tools like AI-driven optimization, cutting energy use by 20–40%.
Additive processes like Elephantech’s Pure Additive™, reducing CO₂ by 77% and copper use by 70%.
Renewable-powered factories, already scaling at Intel, Samsung, and Siemens.
📌 Roadmap implication: Every new product must include a plan for low-carbon manufacturing.
Circular Economy as Standard
E-waste is projected to hit 74 million tons by 2030. Roadmaps must embrace circularity:
Take-back programs to collect devices.
Closed-loop recycling to reuse metals, plastics, and rare earths.
Partnerships with recyclers to extend product lifecycles.
Leaders like Apple, Dell, and HP are already recovering materials at scale — from gold to ocean-bound plastics.
📌 Roadmap implication: End-of-life planning must be embedded at the design stage.
Balancing Cost With Market Advantage
Cost remains a barrier: in the Statista survey, 53% of companies said they are unwilling to pay more for sustainable components.
But attitudes are shifting:
34% will pay up to 5% more.
Larger enterprises with public ESG targets are pushing suppliers hardest.
Consumers ; 62% globally willing to pay a premium ; are reinforcing the pressure.
📌 Roadmap implication: Product managers must position sustainability not as a cost, but as market access and competitive advantage.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The finding that 87% of companies across the USA, Germany, and China see sustainability dominating in 5 years is not just data ; it’s a global industry consensus.
For product roadmaps, it means:
🔄 Design for longevity and repairability
🌱 Smarter, lower-impact materials
🔍 Full traceability with Digital Product Passports
⚡ Low-carbon, efficient manufacturing
♻️ Circular economy as the norm
Electronics of the future will be faster and smarter; but also designed for sustainability. The companies that adapt their roadmaps now will lead; those that wait risk being left behind.
📥 Get the full ICAPE Group report; including all exclusive Statista survey findings across the USA, Germany, and China today!
