While reuse culture is being more widely adopted across the lighting sector, champions of this approach are still facing too many barriers. Martin Thompson, Technical Service Manager at Tridonic UK, explores the challenges in making reuse the first choice, and what can be done to overcome these.
Remanufacturing, or reuse, is a very viable option for many lighting OEMs. This has been demonstrated not only by the adoption of this practice in a growing number of projects, but also by the interest in learning more about this process. At the recent Recolight Remanufacturing Conference, Tridonic took a panellist role part in a discussion on overcoming the barriers to implementation of remanufacturing, and the event secured excellent attendance.
To explore the barriers – perceived or otherwise – that impact on the adoption of remanufacturing, it is important to understand what the approach entails. Essentially, it takes existing components of a lighting system, such as housing, or control gear, and upgrades it to give it a ‘second-life’. Not only does this have the potential to save carbon and contribute towards net-zero, it reduces pressure on landfill and can lower costs by reusing as many elements as possible.
In effect, this will mean that a luminaire can become infinitely useful, rather than just lasting for a maintenance or fit out cycle.
One of the main barriers to the reuse of light fittings and lighting technology is the same stigma that exists with previously owned or repurposed solutions in other sectors. There remains a perception that remanufactured means second-hand and therefore substandard or lower quality, as it has already been used.
Adding to this, a key part of remanufacturing is adoption of design that supports disassembly and remanufacture. This also ensures that future revenues can be achieved through technology updates, rather than fixture change. Until this becomes the norm rather than the exception, the opportunities for reuse will be limited by the capabilities of those involved in the process.
Lighting, like many industry segments, has to adapt and evolve current business models. The sector cannot keep making lots of new products to replace those that are just a few years old, without consideration of the environmental impact this practice has.
A further barrier that has become apparent is that recertification and compliance are a major consideration in a remanufactured product. This is particularly important in settings that are governed by legislative requirements.
Thankfully, responsible manufacturers and pioneers such at Tridonic are working to change these attitudes and outdated approaches to production.
If luminaires are designed and manufactured with disassembly and/or remanufacturing in mind, these can be made simply at a later stage in the product’s life. Brands that offer these solutions will flourish, especially as there is likely to be a shift towards remanufactured projects, and these will therefore be an important part of business operations moving forward.
It is also possible that we will see future carbon taxation and enforced rules for rework and reuse. This will naturally disadvantage any manufacturer that relies solely on selling new products and does not embed disassembly or reuse capabilities into its solutions.
And it’s not just the luminaire itself that plays a role in a more sustainable, lower carbon future. The luminaire is essentially the ‘wrapper’, providing an important function with regard to design and aesthetics. Yet once installed it plays little or no part in the important operational considerations.
Developments in the efficiency, material health and functions of the control gear and LED technology are the elements that offer the most benefits to the end-user. Tridonic is leading the way in this, most recently with the introduction of its Generation 4 drivers. LumDATA – DALI 2 memory banks – are a valuable, yet often underused, integral part of new driver range. The data banks provide meaningful data in 3 main areas, asset, energy and diagnostic. LumDATA (luminaire data) has been included in Tridonic’s premium drivers for some time.
Technology such as this is key to managing performance and function throughout a luminaire’s life. Harnessing this data enables intelligent maintenance and lifecycle analysis that can lead to reduced planned maintenance costs. It is also an important part of the reduction of operational carbon through reduced ‘on’ time, extended maintenance cycle and performance-based replacement.
Looking at Tridonic’s LumDATA as an example, these developments can even allow drivers to have a second life, as many are disposed of when luminaires are replaced or changed – often much shorter than their design life would actually allow for.
Although the lighting industry has contributed a great deal to energy savings through the switch to LED, Tridonic would argue this is not enough. The lighting sector needs to come together to act at thought-leaders across the built environment sphere, as lighting is prevalent in every room and space. This has a huge impact on the environment if it is not carefully planned and managed.
As a major part of every building, lighting needs to be able to reinforce its well-established innovation approach for the betterment of the environment. It is also for lighting stakeholders to educate and assist building operators to develop ways of extending product lifecycles, and offer ways of retaining the main elements of the fixture.
Each part of the lighting eco-system has a part to play in remanufacturing. While each single entity does not deliver a complete circular solution, by working in harmony with one another it is possible to close the circle almost entirely. An entire circular solution cannot currently be achieved given technology and material restrictions – but there is hope this will change in the future.
