Why Double Materiality Assessments Matter: Insights from IPC’s New White Paper

Dec 12, 2024
| By Kelly Scanlon

by Kelly Scanlon, IPC lead sustainability strategist

The concept of double materiality may seem complex at first glance, but its significance for the electronics manufacturing industry is both tangible and far-reaching. It’s about understanding how sustainability impacts your business and how your business impacts the world and then leveraging that understanding for growth and compliance.

That’s why IPC, in collaboration with global sustainability consultancy, Anthesis Group, has released a white paper titled Why Double Materiality Assessments Matter: Compliance and Competitive Advantage. This guide is for anyone navigating the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

At its core, a double materiality assessment (DMA) requires companies to take a dual approach to sustainability. This means evaluating impact materiality (how your organization affects the environment and society) and financial materiality (how sustainability-related issues affect your organization’s financial performance). This dual perspective is at the heart of the CSRD, a landmark regulation that’s reshaping sustainability reporting requirements across the globe. 

IPC’s white paper breaks down the DMA process into four key areas:

  1. Understanding the concept: Why double materiality matters and how to approach it.
  2. Structured methodologies: A step-by-step guide to conducting a DMA, from defining sustainability priorities to engaging stakeholders and validating data.
  3. Navigating regulations: Insights into the CSRD and how it aligns with global frameworks like ISSB and GRI.
  4. Engaging stakeholders: Tips for effective communication with investors, suppliers, and internal teams.

What’s more, the white paper is packed with practical information, like a glossary, FAQs, and real-world case studies. For example, imagine a European semiconductor manufacturer using a DMA to uncover risks in its supply chain, everything from responsibly sourcing raw materials to reducing production waste. Or consider a multinational tech company aligning its sustainability reporting with CSRD and ISSB standards, achieving greater transparency and efficiency across its subsidiaries.

Yes, the CSRD sets a high bar for sustainability reporting. But as Kelly Scanlon, IPC’s lead sustainability strategist and co-author of the white paper, puts it, “DMAs offer organizations value beyond just regulatory compliance. By understanding how sustainability issues affect their business—and vice versa—electronics companies can gain operational efficiencies in a competitive global marketplace.”

Mari Desangles of Anthesis agrees, “Through a double materiality assessment, companies can understand their most significant sustainability-related impacts, risks, and opportunities, then make informed strategic decisions about how to address them.”

Whether you’re grappling with the CSRD for the first time or looking to refine your sustainability strategy, this white paper is an essential resource. It’s about more than ticking a regulatory box, it’s about setting your company up for long-term, sustainable success.

Download Why Double Materiality Assessments Matter: Compliance and Competitive Advantage.

IPC Hand Soldering Competition 2025 Regional Qualification - United Kingdom

HSC Registration Form
Date
- (3:30 - 9:30am CST)

Join the UK Regional Qualification for the IPC Hand Soldering Competition (HSC) at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre on 4-6 February 2025.

Skilled soldering experts (F/M) will compete for 60 minutes on a complex circuit board assembly to win the 2025 National title, earn a cash prize, and compete for a coveted spot at the IPC Hand Soldering World Championship later this year.

Competition for Professionals

The professional competitors will be judged by IPC Master Instructors (MIT) on soldering a complex printed circuit board with a maximum time of 60 minutes under IPC-A-610 Class 3 criteria. Additional criteria will include the quality of the results achieved and of the assembly process, the overall electrical functionality, and the speed at which the assembly was produced.

Prizes for Professionals

The professionals will receive cash prizes: the winner and two runners-up.

  • 1st place – 300€
  • 2nd place – 200€
  • 3rd place – 100€

IPC Hand Soldering World Championship: The winner at Instrutec will be invited by IPC (all expenses covered by IPC) to compete in the HSC World Final in November at productronica tradeshow in Munich, Germany.

Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award: This year again, nominate a team to win the Hand Soldering Best Company Team Award. For any company enlisting 2 or 3 competitors, the highest combined scores of competitors from the same company will determine which company will receive the HSC Best Company Team Award.

Registration is free of charge.

You do not need to be an IPC member to take part.

You do not need to be IPC-certified to take part.

How to register?

Fill in the registration form and book your competition slot.

You will receive a confirmation email specifying your date and time to compete.

For more information, please get in touch with Philippe Léonard, IPC Europe director (PhilippeLeonard@ipc.org).

Region
Europe
Farnborough International Exhibition Centre

ShowCentre, Etps Road
Farnborough
GU14 6TQ
United Kingdom

Farnborough International Exhibition Centre

Farnborough International Exhibition Centre
ShowCentre, Etps Road
Farnborough, GU14 6TQ
United Kingdom

HSC Registration Form

IPC Launches Comprehensive White Paper on Double Materiality Assessments

Today, IPC released its latest white paper, Why Double Materiality Assessments Matter: Compliance and Competitive Advantage. This publication offers a roadmap for companies in the electronics industry to navigate the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and leverage double materiality assessments (DMAs) for sustainable growth and competitive differentiation.

 

Developed in partnership with Anthesis Group, a leading global sustainability consultancy, the white paper provides actionable guidance to help companies address dual reporting obligations under the CSRD. DMAs require businesses to assess both their environmental and societal impacts (impact materiality) and the financial implications of sustainability-related issues (financial materiality). 

 

The 12-page white paper addresses areas critical to implementing DMAs successfully including understanding double materiality and its dual perspectives, following a structured approach to conducting DMAs, navigating relevant regulations such as the CSRD, and engaging stakeholders effectively throughout the process. Additionally, it highlights the strategic advantages DMAs offer and includes a glossary and FAQ section to address common questions. 

 

“The CSRD marks a landmark shift in sustainability reporting requirements for companies and the completion of a double materiality assessment represents an opportunity to deliver value beyond compliance,” said Mari Desangles, principal consultant, ESG advisory & mandatory reporting at Anthesis. “Through a double materiality assessment, industry members can understand their most significant sustainability-related impacts, risks, and opportunities, and then make informed strategic designs about how to address them.”

 

“More importantly, the white paper delves into the value proposition that DMAs offer organizations beyond just regulatory compliance. By understanding how sustainability issues affect their business and vice versa, electronics companies empowered by IPC resources can gain operational efficiencies in a competitive global marketplace,” said Kelly Scanlon, IPC lead sustainability strategist and white paper co-author.

 

The white paper highlights practical scenarios for businesses of varying size and location, including how a European semiconductor manufacturer would utilize a double materiality assessment to identify risks in its supply chain, from responsible sourcing of raw materials to production waste management. Another example features a multinational technology corporation aligning its reporting with both CSRD and ISSB standards, achieving greater transparency and operational efficiencies across its subsidiaries. The white paper also details the use of stakeholder mapping and tiered engagement strategies for effective communication with investors, suppliers, and internal teams.

 

Table of contents:

  • Introduction 

  • Double Materiality Assessments: Two Sides of the Sustainability Coin 

  • Conducting a Double Materiality Assessment: A Structured Approach 

  • Regulations and Frameworks: CSRD and Beyond 

  • CSRD Impact on Technology Companies: Three Examples 

  • Engaging Electronics Industry Stakeholders and SMEs for a Successful Process 

  • Electronics Industry Considerations — Complex Supply Chains 

  • From Compliance to Competitive Edge: How DMAs Drive Sustainability Leadership 

  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and Glossary of Terms 

  • About IPC International, Inc. and Anthesis Group 

 

Download the white paper at https://go.ipc.org/dma-whitepaper.

Designing for Success: How DFM, DFT, and DFA Impact PCB Production

WEBINAR REGISTRATION
Date
-

This one-hour webinar will teach you how to design printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are easy to manufacture, test, and assemble. You’ll learn about three important design principles: Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Test (DFT), and Design for Assembly (DFA). These principles help you create PCBs that save time, lower costs, and ensure the final product works as expected.

We’ll explain what DFM, DFT, and DFA mean and why they matter for your design. You’ll see how DFM makes simple PCBs by choosing the right materials, layer stack-ups, and trace sizes. Then, we’ll explore DFT, ensuring your board can be easily tested to catch any issues before production. Finally, we’ll cover DFA, which helps make assembly smoother by correctly placing components and avoiding errors.

Throughout the webinar, we’ll share real-world examples of what happens when these principles are followed—and when they’re not. You’ll also learn about necessary IPC standards, like IPC-2221 and IPC-A-610, that guide good PCB design practices. By the end of the session, you’ll know how to create reliable, cost-effective, and easy PCBs.

This webinar is perfect for anyone working on PCB designs, from beginners to experienced designers. Whether creating your first board or looking to improve your process, this session will give you the tools and tips to succeed. Join us to learn how to design PCBs that work perfectly from the start!

Speaker Bios

John Watson

John Watson brings over 44 years of experience in the electronics industry, with 24 of those dedicated to PCB design and engineering. Throughout his distinguished career, John has worked with leading companies such as Teledyne API, Emerson Computer Power, and Legrand Corporation. He also served honorably in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence field. John is a technical expert in using various PCB Design ECAD Software. 
A significant undertaking is honing the next generation of PCB Designers, enhancing proficiency in PCB Design, and improving the overall quality of PCB design workflows for industry-leading companies.

In addition to his industry role, John is a professor at Palomar College in San Marcos and the University of California San Diego, teaching foundational and advanced PCB design courses. He is also a highly regarded author, contributing regularly to blogs and white papers and as a monthly columnist for I-Connect007. John is the author of two books on Library and Data Management and is a sought-after international speaker, having delivered lectures across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

As a member of the IPC Designer Leadership Council, John is deeply committed to shaping the future of PCB design education and resources. Being part of an organization that has influenced the industry for decades remains one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.

 

 

The Engineering Webinar Series will provides FREE, live, monthly educational experiences and videos discussing key design issues surrounding aspects of quality, defect detection & remediation, and design finalization & fabrication. All sessions are recorded and registered attendees will receive a link to the video to watch on-demand. 
 

WEBINAR REGISTRATION

Introducing IPC's "Industry Intelligence Insights" Newsletter!

Dec 09, 2024
| By IPCBlogImport

We’re excited to launch Industry Intelligence Insights, your new go-to resource for the latest research, trends, and expert analysis shaping the global electronics manufacturing industry.
 
Each monthly issue delivers:
Economic Insights: Market analysis from IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac, with a focus on the global electronics industry.
Industry Data: Key takeaways from IPC’s Book-to-Bill and Global Sentiment reports.
New Reports: Summaries of IPC’s latest major industry intelligence releases.
Expert Perspectives: Access to podcasts, webinars, and thought leadership from industry experts.
 
Our goal is to provide you with a clear, concise, and comprehensive view of market dynamics, policy shifts, and industry challenges — all in one place.
 
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today (select industry intelligence opt-in) and share with your colleagues to stay informed and prepared for what’s ahead. https://www.ipc.org/opt-receive-ipc-emails

PEDC-Pan-European Electronics Design Conference

Register
Date
- (4:00 - 10:30am CST)

This conference is for global PCB designers interested in meeting, exchanging ideas and gaining state-of-the-art knowledge on the latest design trends. More than a conference it is your chance to gain cutting-edge insights, connect with industry leaders, and network with companies and researchers shaping tomorrow’s technology. 

Co-hosted by FED and IPC, the conference is held on two days, in English, highlighting the latest developments in electronics design, from “Silicon-to-Systems” to the role of AI in design. Topics include development, design for excellence, software and tools and the design process of electronic systems.

Highlights include:

  • 2 keynotes on AI and the silicon-to-systems approach
  • 24 presentations by renowned experts in the field of electronics design
  • 2 panels on AI in electronics and the product life cycle
  • Networking reception

 

Have a look at the programme here. 

 

 

 

Region
Europe
Register

CEN and CENELEC Host Workshops Starting in January on Digital Product Passports for PCBs

Dec 05, 2024
| By IPCBlogImport

Two of Europe’s top standard-setting bodies, CEN and CENELEC, are organising an extended stakeholder dialogue in 2025, through a series of workshops, on the Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). The DPP, introduced under the European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), will serve as a digital identity card for products, providing crucial details on sustainability, recyclability, and environmental impact. By enabling electronic access to this data, the DPP will help consumers, manufacturers, and authorities work together toward a more circular economy and eco-friendly practices across the EU.  

 

The fact that PCBs are being considered at this early stage in the development of DPPs is a positive signal and a not-to-be-missed opportunity to advocate for fit-for-purpose DPP requirements for PCBs, which, once set, will pave the way for DPP requirements for the electronics industry at large. CEN and CENELEC recognise that the European economy is even more semiconductor-dependent and electronic companies depend on out-of-EU suppliers. PCBs are finally accounted for in key EU discussions, in this case the DPP, a highly political part of the EU’s circular economy framework.

 

The stakeholder dialogue convened by CEN and CENELEC will kick off with a first workshop on 20 January, followed by five workshop meetings and web conferences. Participants will develop a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA) to establish a common view on how a DPP for PCBs should be structured and which data are essential to facilitate circular approaches in electronics. The process is led by Paolo Rosa, a post-doctoral researcher in the Manufacturing Group of Politecnico di Milano. 

 

IPC’s Diana Radovan will attend the sessions on behalf of the electronics industry and everyone involved in PCB manufacturing is invited to participate. Other participants will include policy makers, OEMs, industry associations, consultancy experts, and standardization bodies. IPC welcomes the valuable input of its member companies and plans to support the consolidation of industry input. 

 

Stakeholders interested in participating can register using this form by 10 January and submit it directly to Sarah KÖHLER, workshop secretary, at Sarah.koehler@din.de. Each organisation that wants to engage in the workshops should complete and submit this form individually. 

 

IPC encourages comments on the draft Project Plan. Feedback can be submitted in two ways: 

  1. Fill in this template and email it to Sarah.koehler@din.de by 10 January; or

  2. Contact IPC’s Diana Radovan at dianaradovan@ipc.org to be part or IPC’s working group on consolidated industry input.

 

2024 IPC K-FEST: Shaping the Future of the Electronics Industry

IPC K-FEST 2024, the second annual IPC Korea Festival of Electronics Standards and Technology, was held in Seoul on October 29. The focus of this year’s event centered on the integration of Korea's technological leadership with international standards development.

          The conference attracted160 industry professionals from approximately 80 companies. This one-day event featured technical seminars, an IPC-A-610 regional task group meeting, and the IPC Korea Annual Awards as key highlights. IPC Asia President Sydney Xiao and IPC Board member, Jae-sang Min, LG Electronics, gave welcome speeches to open the event. 

Technical seminars focused on addressing challenges in the electronics manufacturing industry, demonstrating how IPC standards enhance manufacturing performance and quality. Participants engaged in active discussions across seven topics: Digitalization of Electronics Manufacturing – Towards Smart Factory enabling Industry 4.0; Mastering Challenges in Electronics for Electric Vehicles; Evaluation and Prediction of MLCC Ionic Migration in Electronics; Material Selection and Technical Solution of Conformal Coating; Improving Performance and Reliability at PCB Design Phase, Requirements and Acceptance Specifications for Organic Packaging Substrates, and the Relationship of  Sn Plating and IMC at PCBA. 

During the awards luncheon, IPC Korea staff awarded various individual volunteers. Rounding out the day, the IPC-A-610 regional task group meeting was held, which aimed to involve more Korean engineers into IPC’s global standardizations activities. 

          Jae-sang Min, IPC Board member, highly praised the achievements made by the IPC Korea team since 2021. “Although currently there are not many Korean people participating in IPC standardization compared with Korea's leading position in the electronics industry and the importance of IPC in the electronics industry, I believe that in the near future, the IPC Korea team, through platforms such as IPC K-FEST, will surely lead more and more Korean electronics manufacturing companies and experts to the world standardization stage,” he stated.

          The Korean Government project, “De-facto Standard Forum” sponsored this event and Jong-won Kwon, general project director of the De-facto Standard Forum said, “IPC K-FEST is exactly the kind of event that we are expecting to see. We, the Korean De-facto Standard Forum, would like to support IPC as much as we can.” MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions and K&P Co., Ltd. sponsored supplies for this event.

“My special thanks go to the IPC Korea team and IPC Korea Advisory Committee for their dedication in making this event possible. We are confident that it will continue to attract greater interest from Korea’s industry, potentially evolving into a global event, and thus promoting more industry experts to participate in the development of IPC standards,” said Sydney Xiao, IPC Asia president.

IPC Announces Two New Courses to Enhance Electronics Manufacturing Excellence

IPC is excited to announce the launch of two new courses designed to optimize electronics manufacturing processes: "Ensuring Excellence: IPC-J-STD-001 Process Optimization" and "Ensuring Excellence: IPC-A-610 Process Optimization." These courses equip technicians and engineers with the standards-based knowledge, troubleshooting skills, and process control expertise to meet the acceptability criteria outlined in the IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 standards.

 

Ensuring Excellence: IPC-A-610 Process Optimization provides practical guidance on integrating standard requirements into your assembly operations to ensure quality and compliance. Participants learn how to identify, troubleshoot, and remedy issues in the assembly process to ensure adherence to IPC-A-610 standards. 

 

Ensuring Excellence: IPC-J-STD-001 Process Optimization delivers targeted insights to help you align your processes to meet the criteria in J-STD-001. Participants will learn how to establish process controls, materials handling protocols, and soldering techniques to reduce variability and boost product reliability and quality. 

 

Both courses are structured into detailed modules that cover various aspects of electronics manufacturing, from material selection and soldering to ESD control and mechanical assembly. The courses include interactive elements such as quizzes and videos, making learning engaging and effective.

 

Carlos Plaza, IPC’s senior director of Education, stated, "These new offerings exemplify IPC's commitment to continuously improving our industry's training and standards. Equipping professionals with necessary tools and knowledge ensures that quality and excellence remain at the forefront of electronics manufacturing."

 

The courses are available on the IPC EDGE Learning Management System, providing participants easy access to comprehensive resources and support. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion, demonstrating their proficiency and commitment to upholding industry standards.

Apprenticeships Can Power the Electronics Industry. Here’s How IPC is Helping.

Nov 25, 2024
| By John W Mitchell

by John W. Mitchell, IPC president and CEO

In a time that feels more politically divided than ever, there are still policies that Americans generally agree on —and expanding workplace apprenticeships is one of them. Last week’s commemoration of National Apprenticeship Week gave us the opportunity to take a deeper dive into why apprenticeships have such bipartisan appeal and the important role they can play in supporting the U.S. electronics manufacturing industry.

An October 2024 survey by national workforce nonprofit Jobs for the Future found that 84% of voters, including 88% of Democrats and 82% of Republicans, supported expanding registered apprenticeship programs. Additionally, 74% of voters said it will be important for a president to take action on this in the first 100 days.

The bipartisan appeal is understandable. It is a win-win for workers and employers:

  • As American workers seek stable economic footing, apprenticeships offer a tighter connection to good jobs than many other education and training pathways. Apprentices join the workforce as employees, earning a paycheck while participating in structured training that combines hands-on experience with classroom instruction. Apprenticeships don’t require a financial investment from the worker making them accessible to a wider range of would-be employees and opening pathways into industries that might otherwise be out of reach for many. In addition to immediate employment, apprenticeships also offer a nearly guaranteed job that can turn into a long-term career: 93% of apprentices stay on with their employer after their apprenticeship ends. 

  • Employers are able to use apprenticeships to improve their own talent pathways and ensure that the programs teach the skills that are needed for success. Unlike other preparation programs, there is no gap between what is taught and what is needed in the workplace. Additionally, Federal and state grants, as well as tax incentives in some states, can help defray some of the costs. 

The electronics industry, like so many other industries, struggles to hire and retain skilled workers. Facing a dual challenge of a growing sector and an aging talent pool-- which in combination threaten to leave 2.1 million jobs unfilled by 2031 – apprenticeship offers an important on-ramp to our dynamic industry.   

Onboarding and upskilling are two of the biggest hurdles electronics manufacturers encounter. Many rely on inefficient methods like shadowing or ad hoc internal training, which focus on immediate needs rather than building foundational skills. Apprenticeships address these gaps head-on. By offering a structured system, they provide workers with both foundational knowledge and advanced skills, equipping them to adapt to changing technologies. At the same time, they offer employers a reliable framework to develop talent and meet workforce demands.

That’s why IPC established the first registered apprenticeship programs for the U.S. electronics manufacturing sector, approved by the U.S. Department of Labor last fall. These programs target roles such as Electronics Assembly Operator and Printed Circuit Board Fabricator, combining industry-defined coursework with certification exams to ensure workers meet established proficiency standards. Beyond that, IPC is piloting pre-apprenticeship programs with high schools in Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts to prepare students for entry into the workforce and strengthen the talent pipeline.

We recently shared that IPC is on track to reach 100 enrolled apprentices across nine companies and eight states within the first year of the programs being active. This is incredibly exciting but it is only the beginning for us. As we move into our second year, we continue to look at ways to grow apprenticeship opportunities across our industry. 

Apprenticeships are one of the oldest forms of training, but they are underutilized in America — only 0.3% of the workforce has enrolled in an apprenticeship (compare this to 3.6% in Switzerland or 2.3% in Germany). With bipartisan support and an economic imperative, it’s time to change that. The electronics industry should lead the charge. 

Subscribe to