In 2026, ESG compliance is no longer optional for touchscreen manufacturers. The EU’s CBAM requires companies to report the carbon footprint of every touch module exported to the bloc, while the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive mandates 65% recycling rates for display components. Corning now uses 30% recycled glass in its Gorilla Glass substrates, reducing carbon emissions by 22% per unit. Chinese suppliers like TCL Display are shifting ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film production to Southeast Asia to mitigate tariff risks, while investing in local recycling facilities for e-waste. These changes have increased production costs by 8–12%, but also created opportunities for sustainable tech startups specializing in recycled display materials.
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