Life Cycle Assessment and Circularity Indicators for Printed Circuit Board Management in Brazil

• Grant number: 26/08518-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 17, 2026
• End date: December 16, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Production Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Virgínia Aparecida da Silva Moris
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Muguinda Kuniyoshi
• Supervisor: Ricardo Gabbay de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências em Gestão e Tecnologia (CCGT). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Denmark
• Associated to the scholarship: 25/20151-0 - Analysis of the applicability of circularity indicators in the end-of-life management of printed circuit board waste in Brazil, BP.IC

Abstract

This project aims to propose, analyze, and compare end-of-life strategies for printed circuit boards (PCBs) in Brazil, within the context of a research internship to be carried out in Denmark, through the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and circularity indicators. The study is based on the increase in the generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), driven by intensified consumption and the reduction in product lifespan, which expands management challenges. In Brazil, despite regulatory advances, structural limitations still persist, especially in the management of PCBs, which are often destined for export for recovery abroad. In this context, the project proposes the evaluation of alternative end-of-life scenarios based on previously developed LCA results (da Silva, 2025), integrating them with circularity indicators for a more comprehensive analysis. The execution of the internship at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), recognized as an academic environment of excellence in the fields of sustainability, LCA, and circular economy (CE), will enable the methodological strengthening of the study and the direct observation of best practices in the management of electronic waste, contributing to the proposal of scenarios considering end-of-life strategies for PCBs applicable to Brazil. The methodology involves a systematic literature review, the application of circularity indicators based on existing LCA inventories, and an integrated analysis of environmental results and resource use efficiency. As a result, it is expected to contribute to the advancement of sustainable WEEE management in Brazil, providing technical support for decision-making and for the transition to a more circular model. (AU)