In order for a LCD screen to "crystallize" the contents for viewers, it has to be driven through many yield signs. Each yield signs thoroughly check the safety of each component. Components of electric and electronic devices are subjected to various regulations and policies worldwide. This is because they often use cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium (VI), polybrominated biphenyls, and diphenylethers. Some of these chemicals are even typically used as flame retardants in electronic devices.
Typical examples are the RoHS and REACH directives in Europe. Similar laws are in Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and other countries. In addition, voluntary industry initiatives affect displays and other electronic components like the 'Halogen-free policy' of the High Density Packaging User Group, an association of OEMs and components manufacturers from telecommunications and the computer industry.
As a company with tradition and innovation, Merck once again stepped up to become a pioneer of green policy. "We strongly support our customers in the display industry to comply with all laws and policies," said Dr. Werner Becker at the IMID 2010.
The Green3 concept of the LCD Division
Green Material
Dr. Werner Becker emphasized the importance of the Green3 concept of the Liquid Crystals Division. "We develop innovative, eco-friendly, resource-conserving materials for superior 'green' displays. Merck takes care of all legal issues in collaboration with its local subsidiaries. This guarantees that our customers will only receive materials that comply with all chemical laws, laws for electronics and voluntary measures," he said.
Examples of green materials are reactive mesogens for brightness enhancement films, printable organic semiconductors for flexible displays and solar cells, OLED materials for an exciting new display technology, and inorganic phosphors for mercury-free solid-state lighting.
Green Process
"We contribute to making production processes environment-friendly and easy to handle. Striking examples are the PS-VA (Polymer-stabilized Vertical Alignment) process that enables optimized displays at lower costs, the revolutionary Blue Phase principle enabling a sample LCD design with superior properties, and our structuring solutions for displays and solar cells allowing highly efficient, safe, resource-conserving and environmentally friendly structuring of surfaces by only a few process steps," Dr. Becker stated the second concept of Green then continued,
Green Device
"We help our customers to develop energy-efficient devices that enable environment-friendly end products complying with legal requirements such as the EuP Directive and have invented eco-efficient and WEEE conform recovery processes for waste LCDs that can run in already existing metallurgy and industrial waste incineration facilities."
Merck's global CO2 emissions are to be reduced by 20% by 2020 based upon the 2006 value. The increased usage of 'green energy sources such as solar and wind energy preserves natural energy sources such as fossil fule and reduces the CO2 emissions further. The sustainability policy of the Merck Corporate currently holds the company at the leading edge in regulated markets while being viewed as its clients and the society as a "transparent" and "responsible" company.
"We supply only safe, highly efficient, resource-conserving and legally compliant specialty chemicals, provide environmentally-friendly and easy-to-handle processes for energy-efficient devices and suggest law-conform recovery processes for waste LC displays," said Dr. Becker at IMID 2010.
