LIGHTING
LEDVANCE HEAD OF PROJECTS DAVID GODDARD EXPLORES HOW LIGHTING IS PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY…
Embedding the circular economy into luminaires
David Goddard, Head of Projects, LEDVANCE.
Luminaires are no longer seen as part of the disposable society, thanks to a recognition that they can be upgraded and refurbished to extend their lifetime. Responsible manufacturers are integrating this approach into the design of luminaires from the outset, providing greater convenience to sustainability. For many years, the lighting industry
faced the challenge of reducing electronic waste. The barrier to
achieving this was the limited lifespan that traditional light sources, and even early-generation LEDs, offered. To address this, responsible manufacturers have adopted manufacturing practices that enable luminaires to be part of the circular economy. At its heart, the circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves reusing, repairing and refurbishing existing products for as long as possible. The lifecycle of products is subsequently extended and is a move away from the linear economic model that society had become reliant on. The unsustainable linear model is one which involves large quantities of cheap, and therefore rapidly disposable, products. These are never recycled or upgraded and ultimately end up being sent to landfill on an all-too-frequent basis. One example of the circular economy in practice is LEDVANCE’s EVERLOOP approach. This principle enables the replacement of individual light sources and drivers in a convenient way, rather than having to replace luminaires in their entirety. The purpose behind EVERLOOP is that it is integrated into the LED from the offset, allowing for the straightforward upgrade with new drivers and new LED light sources at any time. This means the luminaires have an almost unlimited lifespan. The ease of replacement is key to the success of this sustainability practice. Having the ability to change the driver and light source embedded into the
“The EVERLOOP approach is one way that LEDVANCE is contributing to the EU’s plan to reduce electronic waste.”
luminaire offers a convenient choice for many across the industry. This includes installers, planners and facilities managers, among others wanting to secure sustainable efficiency of industrial and office applications, as well as public buildings. The EVERLOOP approach is one way that LEDVANCE is contributing to the EU’s plan to reduce electronic waste. As well as meeting legislative requirements and targets, it also represents how lighting manufacturers are demonstrating efforts and measures that go above and beyond to address sustainability matters. There are many reasons why focusing on the reduction of electronic waste
is crucial. Firstly, the re-use of existing products slows down the use of natural resources and raw materials. This means a reduction in landscape and habitat disruption as materials do not need to be mined. The role of lighting in the circular economy is clear to see, especially when there is an easy solution to challenging the outdated and detrimental linear model. The move to refurbishing and upgrading luminaires is becoming increasingly commonplace, and LEDVANCE is proud to be part of this movement.
T: +353 (0)87 777 1617 E: csc.uk@ledvance.com www.ledvance.com
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