Lighting re-use points to green business opportunity

Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey explains how preserving used light fittings when installing new ones could boost contractors’ green business credentials.

A key area where clients, product manufacturers and service providers can help to reduce environmental impacts is to adopt ‘circular economy’ thinking in their operations.

Environmental impacts can be significantly reduced by keeping electrical products in use for as long as possible (with due regard to safety and performance) rather than simply throwing them away. In addition, extending product lifetimes (effectively ‘reusing’ the product) is almost always environmentally preferable to recycling.  

Extending product lifetimes reduces resource use and the carbon footprint (see panel) associated with the overall product lifecycle. One route to boosting the circular economy in the lighting sector is to make used light fittings available for remanufacture when they are replaced. 

Buyers are increasingly demanding reduced environment impacts from their supply chains

Re-use can, for example, be achieved by retaining the body of the fitting, then checking and (if need be) upgrading the light source and control gear. An example of the type of product that can be remanufactured is high-bay fluorescents, which may be upgradable to LED. 

However, for this innovative approach to work in the UK, we need to encourage behavioural changes across our industry:

• Customers and specifiers need to start specifying (or allowing) used fittings - we are slowly beginning to see interest in this. 
• Manufacturers need to develop the competencies to remanufacture fittings and to ensure the items remain compliant with relevant legislation. Several Recolight members, and other companies, are beginning to recognise remanufacture as a viable business opportunity.

As a leading WEEE recovery scheme, Recolight will collect information regarding the fittings that are being removed whenever one of our members is supplying LED luminaires to new projects. We will make that information available to companies that can remanufacture or upgrade the fittings, and on request, we will deliver the used fittings to the remanufacturer.

Key role for contractors

Recolight and ECA will be keen to publicise case studies involving contractors who can successfully enable luminaire re-use

In addition to the above, the role of the electrical contractor will be crucial. For a lighting product to be re-usable, it must first be removed by a contractor who will keep it in reasonable condition when removed. 

This requires careful handling, wrapping and stacking. While this will involve some operational changes, it’s also worth noting that used fittings, when destined for re-use, are not classified as waste (since they are not being discarded). Since they are not waste, this eliminates cost and red tape associated with waste management.

To help enable lighting re-use, Recolight will provide participating contractors with bales of “cardboard bubble wrap” so that removed lighting products can be wrapped, palletised, and shrink-wrapped. Recolight will then arrange for free collection, but rather than send the fitting to a recycler, they will be sent to a remanufacturer. 

For each lighting removal project that results in successful luminaire re-use, Recolight will also issue participating contractors with a ‘certificate of circular excellence’, which can be used to demonstrate innovative, environmentally friendly, activity. An estimate of carbon equivalent savings will also be shown on the certificate. 

Commercial and public sector buyers are increasingly demanding reduced environment impacts from their supply chains. Many electrical and other contractors are now displaying green credentials. For those looking for a new angle, enabling lighting re-use can help to set them apart from the competition.  

Recolight and ECA will be keen to publicise case studies involving contractors who can successfully enable luminaire re-use. Facilitating the re-use of used luminaires is a new way for contractors and the wider supply chain to help reduce carbon and other environmental impacts, and to show they are making a difference. 

Getting involved 

Any industry contractor who would like to know more about developments in this area can join an ECA circular economy interest group, designed to keep group members up to date. To express an interest, please contact paul.reeve@eca.co.uk.