What is driving the need to be Pb-Free and Green?
Due to environmental concerns, the need for environmentally-friendly solutions in electronic components and systems is receiving increasing attention within the semiconductor and electronics industries. The European Union (EU) has adopted the RoHS (Restrictions on the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances) and the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directives. Effective July 1, 2006, RoHS bans the use of certain materials, such as lead, mercury and cadmium, in electronics sold in Europe. WEEE requires any company that sells their electronics products in Europe to set up collection and recycling systems for these goods by August 13, 2005. Similar laws have been adopted in California, Maine and in China.
