I nterview


How do you think new manufacturing technologies like AI and 3D printing will affect circularity within lighting design? Both artificial intelligence and 3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) have significant potential to enhance the circular economy. For example, 3D printing can help reduce the amount of product manufactured for stock, and therefore reduce waste. AI can be used to speed up product design and reduce embodied carbon. It is quite clear that both technologies will have a transformative impact on the sustainable manufacture of lighting equipment.


What are your aims for Recolight in 2025 and beyond?


and wholesalers the information they need to be more sustainable. So on 29 April 2025, we will host the ‘Net Zero Lighting’ conference in London. This one-day event will help attendees to understand the practical steps they need to take to decarbonise their operations as they move towards net zero. As more and more customers demand information regarding the embodied carbon of the products they buy, this will become increasingly important for wholesalers. On 25 September 2025, the Circular Lighting Live conference, now in its fourth year, will showcase the amazing work the lighting industry is taking to adopt circular economy principles. Over 1000 delegates have now attended Recolight conferences and training workshops.


What are some of the challenges wholesalers and other industry stakeholders might face along their WEEE journey?


For wholesalers, staying compliant with environmental legislation and requirements is vital. For example, all wholesalers (other than the smallest) are now legally required to provide an in-branch takeback service for WEEE when selling new electricals of a type that might be used by a householder. That takeback service should at least operate on a one-for-one basis, so


for example, any individual or company buying new LED lamps has the right to drop off waste lamps free of charge. This need to store and then arrange for appropriate recycling brings with it various other applicable reporting and storage requirements for wholesalers. The Recolight team is on hand to help with advice and guidance.


Do you expect changes under a Labour government to affect your mission? The current administration has set up a cross- Government taskforce on implementing a circular economy in the UK. It will report to Defra, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Business and Trade, and vitally, the Treasury. That is a welcome indication that the government will give the circular economy and decarbonisation the attention it deserves. It is hoped that the taskforce will be focused on putting proposals in place that reduce unnecessary consumption, reduce waste arising, and encourage reuse, repair, remanufacture and product longevity. Implementing new policies and incentives that encourage these actions would be a great way to drive a circular economy. But they must avoid a focus on simply increasing collection and recycling of waste – that would miss an opportunity to transform the system for the better.


It has been fantastic to see the Recolight WEEE scheme grow in recent years. We now have over 220 lighting companies as members of our WEEE scheme. We expect to see that number increase again in 2025, as more lighting companies are choosing to switch their WEEE compliance to Recolight. For 2025, we also expect to see an expansion of the number of companies committing to issue LCAs and EPDs. We are also delighted by the newest addition to our partnership and service portfolio: the provision of carbon footprinting and net zero support services, working with Auditel. This vital service helps companies, including wholesalers, to assess their scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and then to put strategies in place to reduce those emissions. As with LCAs and EPDs, although not yet mandatory, it seems likely that legislation will be put in place to require more companies to report on and reduce their carbon emissions. The UK will not be able to meet its own statutory limits unless companies also play their part.


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December 2024 electrical wholesaler | 23


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