Lighting
Lighting up the Circular Economy
Richard Kemp, head of innovation at Ansell Lighting, examines what measures manufacturers are taking to prioritise a circular economy at the heart of an industry which thrives on innovation.
T
he market for residential lighting products continues to rapidly evolve, with new smart products emerging each year. However, innovation and technology improvements in the lighting industry have had unintended consequences, including new waste streams caused by obsolete products.
In contrast, the aim of the circular economy is to get people to consider the impact of the product’s usage and investigate ways in which we can reduce, reuse and recycle and crucially, sustain the life of a product and its components. There’s lots of talk about the circular economy across all industries right now, as businesses seek to preserve Earth’s resources and become more sustainable in their operations.
From the efficient use of materials and energy, to uncovering ways in which we can reduce, reuse and recycle existing products, a circular economy aims to encourage businesses and consumers alike to consider the impact of their commodities so that materials are consumed much more effectively and without damaging the natural world. For lighting manufacturers, embedding the circular economy at the heart of operations is not without its challenges but it is something more of us are committed to as we look towards achieving our net zero ambitions.
At the very core of the circular economy are the concepts of ‘reuse’ and ‘recycle’, which on the face of it appear to be in complete contrast with the notion of innovation, upon which lighting businesses rely on for growth. The development of new technology and products do render existing
goods obsolete, but by taking proactive steps to embed components into the circular economy, they don’t have to contribute to waste.
Conscious design
In fact, reuse and its place within the circular economy is actually an important element of today’s luminaire design and production process and has a real influence over how products are now produced. Re-engineering teams are present in many manufacturing businesses, continually evaluating the possibility of using recycled parts alongside more sustainable materials and energy efficient production techniques.
Raw material choices considered, for example, manufacturers are focussed on making informed choices in the materials used so that products last longer and can be easily recycled. The use of single use plastics has been greatly reduced alongside the removal of unwanted materials and integration of recycled parts.
New, longer lasting technologies that prolong the useful life of products such as lithium batteries are also being incorporated, ensuring that they are used more fully within their life cycle before final disposal. This also results in the use of less raw materials and therefore resulting in a lower environmental impact.
Aside from materials, improved design methods are also aiding manufacturers and the end users to operate in a more circular and sustainable manner. Focussing on making luminaires more adaptable and reusable through good design methods and techniques is commonplace within the industry. A good example of this is our Adler emergency sign
“Manufacturers are focussed on making informed choices in the materials used so that products last longer and can be easily recycled.”
which has a rotating signage method, legends can be rotated within the luminaire which cuts down on unused sign wastage and means products can be used in varying locations if required. At the design stage real thought is also being given to how the product can be easily serviced and repaired so that its overall life cycle is extended. Making certain components circular - such as drivers, LED boards and controls, has ensured that products, which at one stage would have been disposed of if broken, are now repairable with replacement elements.
The circular economy is a continual and evolving process, and like businesses in many industries, manufacturers across the lighting industry are ultimately trying to engage with suppliers to be more energy conscious in the way things are produced. Through good planning and better planning, cutting waste, using recycled materials and renewable energy as well as deploying high level batch production as opposed to smaller runs businesses are beginning to achieve real breakthroughs in instilling a circular economy within their operations.
14 | electrical wholesaler November 2022
ewnews.co.uk
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