The electronics industry is one of many sectors moving towards more circular, eco-friendly design by rethinking the way their products are made and what materials they use. From recyclable materials to simplified product assemblies, many businesses are taking steps towards adopting sustainable design principles. Creating sustainable electronics means using durable, recyclable materials from the offset, and designing products for easy repair, reuse or recycling.
As a sustainable spring manufacturer, we have implemented many environmentally friendly principles as part of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). European Springs and Pressings holds a commitment to circularity, resource conservation, and reduced waste, to ensure that your business can have a sustainable supply chain, from beginning to end.
Sustainability in Spring and Pressing Design
For businesses today, sustainability is not just about making your facility more environmentally friendly – it’s about ensuring that every aspect of your supply chain is also sustainable, even down to the smallest components of a product. For example, at European Springs we use high-quality alloys and protective coatings to help springs last longer against corrosion and wear, even in the most demanding environments.
Sustainable spring and pressing design also includes using only the necessary materials. This is helped by precision coiling machines and wire forms producing the required spring rate with minimal scrap. This approach, in addition to selecting the best material for each application and fine-tuning dimensions, not only cuts waste but also results in a more reliable spring. We consider the best material utilisation when designing our tooling, this is to minimise waste but also to ensure tooling integrity and performance. Additional services like heat treatments and coatings also help with improving the lifecycle of a spring or pressing.

Recyclability
Metal springs are inherently recyclable. A copper or steel spring, for example, can be melted and reused at the end of its lifetime. Tension springs (or extension springs) can be cut up and melted down as raw material, saving energy and resources, as implementing recycled metal uses less energy than mining for new metal. By ensuring all spring alloys are free of banned substances and by maximising alloy purity, it becomes easier to reuse the metal without contamination. In summary, designing springs for recyclability not only keeps your components working as they should for longer, but keeps materials in use rather than having to source new ones.
Efficient Material Use
Another design consideration for springs in the sustainable electronics sector, is the material efficiency at each stage of production. This typically involves minimising the amount of scrap metal created by optimising spring and pressing designs to the shape of the final part. Stamping tools, for instance, use nest cuts to reduce the amount of edge waste, and CNC equipment cuts wire lengths precisely to order in spring coiling, with any excess offcuts being recycled.
Efficient material use in spring design means:
- Selecting the thinnest viable wire or sheet.
- Designing simple shapes.
- Reusing offcuts.
- Using automated tooling to eliminate human error.

Longevity
Extending the working life of electronics is an important sustainability goal, and springs play a vital role in that. Durable, well-designed springs require fewer replacements and therefore reduce overall waste. Heat-treating springs and adding corrosion-resistant coatings (zinc plating, for example) helps them survive millions of cycles, even in harsh conditions.
In practice, this means that a spring in an electronic connector or switch will maintain tension and conductivity over many years, rather than loosening or breaking prematurely. This way, the electronic device stays functional longer, and the spring itself does not need to be remade, providing a cost-effective solution. With a focus on high-quality materials and refined manufacturing processes, we’re able to create springs that retain longevity and reduce the need for replacement.
A long-lived spring means a long-lived circuit board, sensor or motor. Fewer components fail, and fewer devices are discarded, proving beneficial for both businesses and the environment.

How Spring and Pressing Design Creates Long-Lasting Electronic Products
The right spring or metal pressing can have a great impact on the durability of an electronic product. Springs ensure consistent electrical contacts and mechanical functions over time. For example, a battery or fuse clips made as a spring clip will hold pressure on contacts even as parts settle or corrode, keeping the circuit closed. Flat stampings or formed wire forms hold components rigidly in place (such as securing LEDs, or PCBs) so vibrations or handling do not cause failures. Well-designed metal parts distribute loads and avoid stress concentrations, so they do not deform or crack under repeated use.
By combining durable alloys with precision stamping or coiling, springs and pressings stay working excellently through thousands of cycles. This means that a power switch will click reliably over its lifetime, connectors won’t loosen, and devices resist failure, which all translates to fewer costly repairs and longer-lasting electronics.
Sustainable electronic design relies on careful material choice and precise component design. By using recyclable metals, minimising waste, and designing our products to be durable, we’re able to help extend product lifespans and support a circular economy.
We offer a wide range of springs and metal stampings for electrical applications. For bespoke solutions please contact us directly, or for stock options download our stock spring catalogue today.