Zero-waste Electroplating: Transforming the Chemistry of Silver Coating for a Sustainable Watch Industry
The process of electroplating, used to coat watch dials, is causing major environmental challenges. Together with a major swiss watchmaking company we're seeking sustainable, eco-friendly approaches for non-toxic, longer-lasting silver electroplating solutions. Let's collaborate to build a greener watchmaking industry.
#SustainableChemistry #GreenWatchIndustry #EcoFriendlyCoatings
✅ Completed 🏁 Winner Congratulations to Macias Sensors for winning the challenge!
🏆 Prize EUR 3,000 prize pool + joint pilot project + versatile collaboration models
🌎 Scope Open to students, researchers, industry experts as well as startups & companies
❓ Q&A Call 🌱 Innovate 2030 All SDGs This challenge is part of the INNOVATE2030 2030 program
Goal and potential partnership after the Challenge
The desired goal is to jointly design a solution that can be introduced into the current industry processes. If a Proof-of-Concept is successfully developed during the challenge, there is the opportunity for a pilot project or different forms of cooperation or internalizing the innovation depending on the team and the solution, in addition to the prize money.
Participation is especially targeted to startups, companies, or researchers.
Criteria and guidelines
Silver electroplating: All approaches should be designed specifically for silver electroplating baths. This means that the process should be optimized for the extraction of silver and the removal of impurities that may affect the quality of the final product. The process should also consider the recovery of the other chemicals in the bath, such as potassium hydroxide, potassium cyanide, and potassium carbonate, for reuse or safe disposal.
Possible directions: Co-plating is allowed as well as new materials for deposition
Non-toxicity: Solutions must not contain toxic substances, to ensure the safety of the process and reduce environmental impact.
Durability: Solutions must prolong the service life of the bath without affecting the plating quality, to reduce the need for frequent replacements and minimize waste generation.
Recyclability: Solutions must be easily recyclable or preferably recycled with the addition of silver ions and reintroduced into the plating process after a cleaning/regeneration step, to improve resource efficiency and minimize waste generation.
Volumes: Volumes of baths around 100l must be taken to account.
Simple process: The upcycling process should be simple and local for upcycling and easy to implement in an industrial plant.
REACH compatible: The upcycling process should be compatible with the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. This means that the process should not use or produce substances that are harmful to human health or the environment. The process should also comply with any other relevant regulations or standards.