Irish lighting manufacturer Robus has reduced plastic in its packaging by 22 per cent year-on-year in the UK, removing 1.3 tonnes of plastic during 2024, the company has confirmed.
The reduction is part of an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiative launched in 2021 to improve the environmental performance of its packaging.
The project has focused on removing non-recyclable plastics, increasing recycled content, and reducing overall packaging size without compromising product protection.
Among the most significant changes is the redesign of packaging for the popular Spear linkable linear luminaire range.
Previously packaged in plastic-heavy blister packs, the products now use biodegradable cardboard with minimal plastic film, cutting plastic content by an average of 96.8 per cent.
The packaging of the brand’s best selling Golf bulkhead also underwent changes. Protective PE bags weighing 9.5g were replaced with lightweight films weighing just 0.5g, reducing plastic use by 94.7 per cent per unit.
In a counterintuitive move, the company also replaced paper-based packaging for the Vegas Express flexible LED tape range.
Though initially selected for its biodegradability, the paper-aluminium composite was found to be difficult to recycle in domestic settings. It was replaced by a 100 per cent recycled PE bag that is recyclable via household waste streams.
Robus confirmed all new packaging designs are subject to rigorous drop testing to ensure durability in transit.
The company says packaging sustainability will remain a long-term focus. ‘his is not a one-time fix,’ a spokesperson for the company told the Circular Lighting Report. ‘As materials and recycling capabilities evolve, so will our approach.’
The initiative underscores a broader shift within the lighting industry, where environmental compliance is increasingly shaping product and packaging design.
Last week, Signify announced that it had removed 99.9 per cent of plastic from the packing of its hugely successful Philips Hue smart lighting range.
• Learn more about sustainable lighting at Circular Lighting Live 2025, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, which takes place on Thursday 25 September 2025 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
