New lighting conference zeroes in on carbon emissions reduction

The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and Recolight have jointly announced a one-day event coming this May — the Net Zero Lighting Conference. To be held in London on May 2, the conference will focus on strategies, materials, packaging, energy consumption, and best practices for reducing the carbon emissions of lighting manufacturers. Speakers will address concerns and practical steps for the lighting industry to reduce their carbon footprint in both luminaire production and operations.

Recolight has long been known for its initiative in establishing a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Compliance Scheme for the U.K. lighting industry. In the ten-year period from 2008–2018, U.K. lamp recycling rates increased from 19% to 48%, according to the organization’s website.

Expanding on its recycling mission, Recolight has been active in promoting circular economy principles for the lighting industry by launching its online publication, Circular Lighting Report; the Circular Lighting Live conference; training resources including online webinars and hands-on workshops; and a Re-Use Service to help expand awareness of remanufacturing and refurbishment opportunities that extend the life of lighting equipment.

Established by the merging of two prior lighting-service organizations, the LIA has also extended its core laboratory testing and professional development services to bring lighting stakeholders together in developing technical guidance, standards and best practices, and industry response to inform regulatory policy.

In the joint announcement, Recolight CEO Nigel Harvey said, “2023 was the hottest year ever recorded — we all know that the climate crisis is the defining issue of our generation. Every organisation needs to be working towards net zero. But the challenge is significant.”

LIA CEO Ayça Donaghy stated, “The move to a net zero economy is no longer an option, it is an imperative. Specifiers and customers are increasingly demanding substantiated proof of green claims, be they embodied carbon, circular economy capability or wider life cycle assessment.”

Donaghy further pointed out that where questions regarding environmental and sustainability claims arise, government oversight typically follows. “Now is the time to move from speeches to action, where auditing carbon becomes second nature and as comparable as our audited financial accounts. What you can measure you can manage,” she concluded.

The conference program will incorporate presentations and discussions from experts both within the lighting community and outside it who have experience in working toward a net-zero business. Topics will include how to measure and consider the carbon footprint in designing, manufacturing, and delivering luminaires; assessing critical priorities while identifying quicker wins and long-term strategies; and how to deliver on sustainability claims without compromising product quality or customer service.

The partners also seem to have made a statement in locating the climate-driven event at 15Hatfields Conference Center in London, which claims to be one of the city’s “most sustainable venues.” The Platinum ECOsmart accredited venue is conveniently located in London’s South Bank close to transportation stations and multiple hotels.

Early Bird registration for the Net Zero Lighting Conference is open until February 29. Interested parties can learn more and register at the LIA website.

CARRIE MEADOWS is editor-in-chief of LEDs Magazine, with 20-plus years’ experience in business-to-business publishing across technology markets including solid-state technology manufacturing, fiberoptic communications, machine vision, lasers and photonics, and LEDs and lighting.

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