Dutch supermarket chain Plus is rolling out lighting made from recycled materials after a successful pilot demonstrated that circular design can deliver both environmental and commercial benefits.
The retailer has adopted a ‘circle ready’ lighting strategy centred on 3D-printed luminaires manufactured from 65 per cent recycled polycarbonate and heatsinks containing 85 per cent recycled aluminium. The luminaires are paired with connected LED lighting designed to operate for more than 50,000 hours, while providing real-time energy data to help optimise store performance.
The concept was first trialled at the company’s Eijsden supermarket before being selected for wider deployment across the Dutch grocery chain. According to the project partners, the intelligent lighting system could reduce annual electricity consumption by as much as 30 per cent, while extending product life and making future refurbishment easier.
The initiative builds on technology developed by Signify, whose 3D-printing process produces luminaires on demand using recycled polycarbonate feedstock.
Unlike conventional metal luminaires, the printed fittings are designed to be returned at the end of their service life, shredded and remanufactured into new products, supporting a closed material loop.
Because the luminaires are manufactured additively, only the material required for each fitting is used, reducing production waste.
Local manufacture also shortens supply chains and lowers transport emissions. Earlier lifecycle assessments by Signify found that its 3D-printed luminaires have a substantially lower carbon footprint than conventionally manufactured metal equivalents, while their lower weight further reduces emissions during transport.
The Plus project illustrates how circular lighting principles are moving beyond product design to encompass operation, maintenance and end-of-life recovery.
By combining recycled materials, long-life LED technology, connected controls and remanufacturing, the supermarket chain is demonstrating how lighting can contribute to both carbon reduction and resource efficiency without compromising retail performance.
The rollout also reflects the growing adoption of circular lighting models by major retailers seeking to reduce embodied carbon as well as operational energy use.
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