A new family of timber luminaires launched by French manufacturer Aubrilam is demonstrating how renewable materials can help reduce the environmental impact of outdoor lighting.
The company unveiled seven bollards and four linear luminaires, with sustainably sourced wood forming the primary structural element of each product.
At the heart of the range is Cradle to Cradle® Gold-certified Accoya® timber, sourced from FSC®-certified forests. The modified wood is widely recognised for its durability, dimensional stability and environmental credentials, making it suitable for demanding outdoor applications while offering a significantly lower embodied carbon footprint than many conventional construction materials.
While wood has long been used in street furniture, its application in exterior lighting remains relatively uncommon. Aubrilam says its expertise in timber engineering enables the material to achieve a service life of up to 50 years, significantly longer than many conventional lighting columns and housings.
The products combine the warmth and low embodied carbon of wood with modern LED lighting technology, creating luminaires designed to minimise environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
Using timber in place of more energy-intensive materials such as aluminium or steel can substantially reduce manufacturing emissions, while the renewable nature of wood allows carbon to remain stored within the product throughout its operational life. Long service life is also a key circular economy principle, reducing the need for replacement products and the associated consumption of raw materials. In addition, timber components can often be repaired or refurbished more easily than alternative materials, extending product longevity still further.
The launch comes amid growing interest in bio-based materials within the lighting industry as manufacturers seek alternatives to fossil-derived plastics and carbon-intensive metals. Although much of the sector’s sustainability focus has traditionally centred on energy efficiency, attention is increasingly turning to the embodied impacts of lighting products themselves.
Aubrilam developed the new luminaires in collaboration with lighting technology specialist BEGA, combining engineered timber structures with professional-grade optical and control systems.
As the lighting industry explores pathways towards greater circularity, the emergence of durable luminaires made from renewable materials suggests that the future of sustainable lighting may involve much more than simply reducing energy consumption.
• Learn more sustainable lighting at Circular Lighting Live 2026, 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 2025 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: www.circularlighting.live
