{"id":765649,"date":"2021-10-15T14:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T21:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/?post_type=msr-project&p=765649"},"modified":"2025-02-05T12:44:16","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T20:44:16","slug":"project-zerix","status":"publish","type":"msr-project","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/project-zerix\/","title":{"rendered":"Project Zerix"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Project Zerix<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Zero environmental impact materials for a sustainable future<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n

With Project Zerix, we incorporate advances in biotechnology, chemistry, and materials science with computer science and engineering to develop more environmentally sustainable materials for the IT industry. We seek to integrate the drivers of technical innovation and environmental sustainability as mutually reinforcing targets for our planet, and to bring sustainability to the foreground in the design, planning, implementation and eventual disposal or recycling of materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By exploring new biological and chemical circularity pathways, Project Zerix aims to achieve net-zero embodied carbon and net-zero waste in our datacenters and beyond \u2014 eliminating environmental impacts that affect the health of our people, ecosystems, and planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"circular<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Our strategy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Measure and model environmental impacts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We identify and quantify sources of environmental impact in IT infrastructure to both understand the magnitude of the problems and make informed bets on new technologies. We leverage expertise in full life-cycle assessment across hardware manufacturing, use, and end-of-life, to analyze hotspots where new materials, fabrication methods, usage models, and policy could mitigate environmental impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identify more sustainable materials and components<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Biotechnology, green chemistry, and materials science have all experienced significant progress over the past decade. Recently, they are experiencing further acceleration driven by automation of screening processes and machine learning-guided optimization. We can draw from these advances to develop and select new materials and methods, fabricate novel materials, and engineer desired properties in materials to make our devices more environmentally friendly or biodegradable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop and deploy greener infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating physical prototypes of more environmentally friendly IT infrastructure allows early engagement and collaboration with product teams for experimentation and potential technology transfer. We use a gradual approach where we drive technologies to maturity and then work towards broader deployment when they are sufficiently capable. For each of the new materials and methods to be introduced, we investigate its feasibility, scalability, and potential impact through modeling, then innovate to fulfill gaps in meeting technical requirements, drawing from the scientific advances described above or other sources. Finally, we pilot it in a realistic Microsoft scenario before scaling and deployment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability ><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Project<\/figure>
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Sustainable PCBs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated circuits (ICs) are ubiquitous in the IT industry. Only a fraction of PCBs and ICs are recycled, with the majority ending up in landfill or incinerated at end-of-life. Strategies for reducing natural resource utilization intensity and elimination of unsustainable materials in PCBs are therefore vital in mitigating environmental impacts of PCBs. As a result, we are working to develop more sustainable PCB substrate materials from renewable materials. In addition, we are working with University of California Irvine WISDOM research group (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> to establish an interpretive framework for various end-of-life pathways for e-waste management with a focus on PCBs to inform best practices and decisions to invest in more environmentally sustainable PCBs.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Biodegradable plastics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Standard plastics are consumed at an unprecedented rate, which creates an enormous challenge to design materials suitable for high-volume applications that meet high performance and durability requirements while hitting sustainability targets. To mitigate the persistence of plastics in our environment while lowering embodied carbon, we are collaborating with the Roumeli research group (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> at the University of Washington to create biodegradable plastics matching performance requirements that are compatible with industrial processing techniques.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Project<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Project<\/figure>
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Bio-concrete building materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Concrete production accounts for 8% of annual global carbon emissions. With increasing urbanization and infrastructure demands, we need to develop alternative, low-embodied carbon solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of building materials. As part of our effort, we are collaborating with the Roumeli research group (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a> at the University of Washington to formulate next-generation bio-concrete.  Not only do these materials impart additional mechanical properties but they also lower the environmental impacts of production.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Transitioned | By exploring new biological and chemical circularity pathways, Project Zerix aims to achieve net-zero embodied carbon and net-zero waste in our datacenters and beyond — eliminating environmental impacts that pose threats to the health of our people, ecosystems, and planet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":770554,"template":"","meta":{"msr-url-field":"","msr-podcast-episode":"","msrModifiedDate":"","msrModifiedDateEnabled":false,"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","footnotes":""},"research-area":[198583,13552,13554,13568],"msr-locale":[268875],"msr-impact-theme":[261670],"msr-pillar":[],"class_list":["post-765649","msr-project","type-msr-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","msr-research-area-ecology-environment","msr-research-area-hardware-devices","msr-research-area-human-computer-interaction","msr-research-area-technology-for-emerging-markets","msr-locale-en_us","msr-archive-status-active"],"msr_project_start":"","related-publications":[833737,878916,926565,951627,953334,1021584,1033236,1033242],"related-downloads":[],"related-videos":[801598],"related-groups":[768895,901101],"related-events":[],"related-opportunities":[],"related-posts":[947874,994098],"related-articles":[],"tab-content":[{"id":0,"name":"Focus areas","content":"

Sustainable PCBs<\/h3>\r\n\"ProjectPrinted circuit boards (PCBs) and integrated circuits (ICs) are ubiquitous in the IT industry. Only a fraction of PCBs and ICs are properly disposed and recycled with the majority ending up in landfill or incinerated at end-of-life. Strategies for reducing natural resource utilization intensity and elimination of toxic materials in PCBs are therefore vital in mitigating environmental impacts of PCBs. As a result, we are developing more sustainable PCB substrate materials from renewable materials, containing 0% halogenated chemicals, with lower embodied carbon and toxicity at end-of-life. In addition, we are working with University of California WISDOM research group to establish an interpretive framework for various end-of-life pathways for e-waste management with a focus on PCBs to inform best practices and decisions to invest in environmentally sustainable PCBs.\r\n

Biodegradable plastics<\/h3>\r\n\"ProjectStandard plastics are consumed at an unprecedented rate which creates an enormous challenge to design materials suitable for high-volume applications that meet high performance and durability requirements while hitting sustainability targets. For example, development of bio-derived plastics from renewable sources have decreased the embodied carbon in production but has had no effect on the plastic waste crisis. To mitigate the persistence of plastics in our environment while lowering embodied carbon, we are collaborating with the Roumeli research group<\/a> at the University of Washington to create biodegradable plastics matching performance requirements that are compatible with industrial processing techniques.\r\n

Bio-concrete building materials<\/h3>\r\n\"ProjectConcrete production accounts for 8% of annual global carbon emissions. With increasing urbanization and infrastructure demands, we need to develop alternative, low-embodied carbon solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of building materials. As part of our effort, we are collaborating with the Roumeli research group<\/a> at the University of Washington to formulate next-generation bio-concrete.\u00a0 Not only do these materials impart additional mechanical properties but they also lower the environmental impacts of production."}],"slides":[],"related-researchers":[{"type":"user_nicename","display_name":"Bichlien Nguyen","user_id":35942,"people_section":"Core team","alias":"bnguy"},{"type":"user_nicename","display_name":"Jake Smith","user_id":40891,"people_section":"Core team","alias":"jakesmith"},{"type":"user_nicename","display_name":"Karin Strauss","user_id":32587,"people_section":"Core team","alias":"kstrauss"},{"type":"user_nicename","display_name":"Kali Frost","user_id":41284,"people_section":"Core team","alias":"kalifrost"},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Nicholas Keehn","user_id":803218,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Paul Kos","user_id":696249,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Kari Lio","user_id":803230,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Vaidehi Oruganti","user_id":803221,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Winston Saunders","user_id":611028,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Nicolas Schmitt","user_id":803224,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Lilin Zhang","user_id":803227,"people_section":"Microsoft team","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Vikram Iyer","user_id":586228,"people_section":"Academic collaborators","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Oladele Ogunseitan","user_id":803212,"people_section":"Academic collaborators","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Eleftheria Roumeli","user_id":803209,"people_section":"Academic collaborators","alias":""},{"type":"guest","display_name":"Julie Schoenung","user_id":803215,"people_section":"Academic collaborators","alias":""}],"msr_research_lab":[199565],"msr_impact_theme":["Resilience"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/765649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/msr-project"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/765649\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1127019,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-project\/765649\/revisions\/1127019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/770554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=765649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"msr-research-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-area?post=765649"},{"taxonomy":"msr-locale","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-locale?post=765649"},{"taxonomy":"msr-impact-theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-impact-theme?post=765649"},{"taxonomy":"msr-pillar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/msr-pillar?post=765649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}