Toss your electronics on the compost heap? It sounds incredible, but could become a reality – at least in part. Researchers from various disciplines are working together in a Fraunhofer Gesellschaft project to develop electronic components such as conductor tracks that are completely biodegradable. This helps to avoid waste and protect the environment, and also makes new applications possible, especially in medicine: e.g. for implants that are absorbed by the tissue after a certain period of time, sparing patients from having to undergo another surgical procedure. This reduces risk and costs – for the common good.