AUSTRIAN DESIGNER FRANZISKA KERBER REVOLUTIONIZES E-WASTE WITH PAPER-BASED DEVICES

Franziska Kerber, an Austrian industrial designer, has developed PAPE, a groundbreaking paper-based alternative to plastic casings for electronic devices. This innovation significantly improves recyclability and supports a fully circular approach to product design, addressing the millions of tons of e-waste that currently end up in landfills annually. This rampant waste occurs largely because small electronic devices are made from materials that are incredibly difficult to efficiently separate and recycle.

At just 24 years old, Kerber is making waves. Her PAPE solution is designed as a sustainable alternative to the plastic and fiberglass typically used in small electronic device casings. Her pioneering work on PAPE has earned her recognition as one of the top ten visionary "Tomorrow Shapers" for the Young Inventors Prize 2025, awarded by the European Patent Office.

Transforming Electronics with Paper-Based Components

"E-waste represents the fastest-growing waste stream globally, and most electronic products aren't designed to be recycled," Kerber explains. "My aim was to create a product that not only improves recyclability but also establishes a complete circular system around it."

Unlike conventional plastics, which often trap valuable materials within a device, PAPE is engineered to dissolve in a controlled process. This allows manufacturers to recover electronic components without the need for shredding or chemical separation. Made from unused paper fibers, PAPE is both durable and biodegradable, conceived from the outset with material recovery in mind.

Blending Design and Sustainability for Enhanced Recyclability

Kerber's dedication to sustainable design was shaped by both her family and her education. Her father, an award-winning physicist and inventor, introduced her to soluble electronics at a young age. While studying industrial design at FH Joanneum, she increasingly focused on circular systems and material reuse, realizing that solving the e-waste problem requires more than just one recyclable component.

"Even if researchers manage to create soluble and recyclable printed circuit boards, it wouldn't change anything if the rest of the product is still destined for landfill. The entire design concept needs to evolve, otherwise, you're just shifting the problem instead of solving it," she asserted.

To develop PAPE, Kerber experimented with compressed paper fibers, refining the product through successive iterations to test its heat resistance, airflow, and durability. PAPE was specifically created for small consumer electronics like WiFi routers and smoke detectors—widely used devices that are rarely properly recycled.

"I hope this invention can reach a point where when people discuss which new router WiFi to buy, they will think of PAPE simply because it's the more sustainable choice and because its design is adorable," Kerber added.

She is now collaborating with startups and companies developing recyclable PCBs to bring PAPE to market, aiming to shift the consumer electronics industry towards truly circular solutions. Kerber's work also directly contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), highlighting how thoughtful design can reduce waste and help shape a more sustainable future.

How do you think this innovation could influence consumer behavior and the broader electronics industry's approach to sustainability?