An innovative lighting rental initiative designed to move away from the ‘business as usual’ model has been unveiled by executives in the fit-out industry.
The idea of Circle Construct is to tackle waste from Cat A fit-outs, basic interiors designed to showcase a space to prospective tenants and often ripped out when the space is let.
Instead, landlords pay just half the cost of standard luminaires. The remaining 50 per cent is apportioned over a five-year period with no further payments once this time elapses. Therefore the landlord will never pay more than the actual cost of the fitting.
Circle Construct – which has already been nominated for a Build Back Better Award in the 2026 lighting category – has developed what it says is a fully transparent pricing calculator for developers to see exactly how much it would cost them to use its products for their projects, as well as forecast different tenant scenarios.
The company worked with its manufacturing partners Mount Lighting to develop an office luminaire designed for reuse.
Under the arrangment, Mount Lighting will re-warranty the lights based solely on the burn hours. This allows Circle Construct to move the fittings from project to project without the additional transport emissions and limitations of re-manufacturing.
The low-glare luminaire has been designed for maximum flexibility and performance. It delivers up to 182ll/cw with a colour rendering index of 90. It also features tuneable white to allow for multiple office settings.
It has built in Casambi wireless controls and is specifically designed to be adapted on site with a unique joining mechanism which does not require returning to the manufacturer.
Connection is via the popular Flex 7 plug to allow for quick and easy install and removal. It boasts full traceability from previous projects via a digital product passport.
Behind the company are three executives who hold leading roles in sustainability, technical services, and project management in the commercial office sector. They say that their experience in the construction and fit-out sector is what forced them to look for a solution to Cat A lighting waste.
- Matt Robinson of Circle Construct will explore the concept and its implementation at this year’s Circular Lighting Live 2026 event. This is Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, which takes place on Thursday 8 October 2026 at the Minster Building in the City of London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2026 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: Link in the comments.
