If we embrace it, sustainability can be a powerful driver of change in the lighting industry, says Xisca Domenge, product Specialist and member of the product committee at LAMP, Barcelona
Sustainability is no longer a value-added concept in the lighting industry. It has become a defining business principle — one that shapes how we design, manufacture and maintain the built environment. Regulatory pressure, the urgency of reducing emissions, resource scarcity and growing demand for healthier, more efficient buildings are forcing the sector to rethink long-established practices.
For lighting manufacturers, this shift brings a clear responsibility: to create business models that deliver a positive impact not only through products, but across operations, supply chains and the wider communities they serve.
At LAMP, sustainability is positioned not as a parallel initiative but as a framework guiding every decision. From product development and sourcing to supplier relationships and internal operations, the company says it is embedding circularity, transparency and measurable impact into its strategy. That approach was recently recognised with the BIMobject Sustainability Leadership Award, highlighting the increasing importance of sustainability performance within the architectural and construction sectors.
The lighting industry’s sustainability challenge extends far beyond energy efficiency alone. LED technology and intelligent controls have dramatically reduced operational energy use over the past decade, but they have also contributed to a culture of premature replacement. Perfectly functional luminaires are often discarded in favour of newer systems, generating unnecessary waste and accelerating raw material consumption.
That model is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.
Instead, the industry must move towards genuine circularity and ecodesign — designing lighting solutions that are built to last, upgraded over time and adapted to changing spaces rather than replaced outright. Long-term thinking around maintenance, modularity and reuse can reduce environmental impact without compromising lighting quality, innovation or occupant wellbeing.
LAMP says this philosophy is already producing measurable results. According to its verified 2024 Sustainability Report, the company has reduced Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 37 per cent since 2022 and is targeting a 100 per cent reduction in those emissions, alongside a 50 per cent reduction in Scope 3 emissions, as part of its pathway towards Net Zero. It also reports that 61 per cent of sales now come from products manufactured with recycled materials, while more than half of its portfolio includes Environmental Product Declarations and Life Cycle Assessments.
Perhaps more importantly, the company argues that sustainability should also be viewed through the lens of adaptability. Lighting systems should evolve with buildings rather than becoming obsolete. Its CircuLight service, for example, upgrades existing luminaires using new technological modules, extending product lifespan and avoiding full replacement. Projects including INACAP in Chile and Barcelona’s Mercat dels Encants have reportedly achieved significant reductions in both energy consumption and CO₂ emissions while minimising waste and recovering materials.
Yet the industry’s sustainability transition cannot rely on products alone. It requires organisational change at every level — from governance and ethics to employee wellbeing and innovation culture.
At LAMP, this strategy is structured around three pillars: Worktitude for Life, Worktitude for Wellbeing and Worktitude for Innovation. Together, they underpin the company’s sustainability roadmap and broader vision for responsible growth. International recognition, including EcoVadis Platinum status and SGE21 certification for ethical and socially responsible management, suggests that environmental performance is increasingly being judged alongside social accountability and corporate transparency.
The lighting sector now faces a defining opportunity. By embracing upgradeable systems, ecodesign, recycled materials and circular business models, manufacturers can reduce environmental impact while delivering smarter, longer-lasting innovation that better reflects the real needs of people and cities.
The future of lighting should not be based on replacing products faster. It should be built around designing systems capable of evolving over time. Because true innovation is not simply about creating something new — it is about creating something better, with less impact and with a long-term vision.
• 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
