In a wholesaler’s world, ‘resistance’ isn’t something you measure – it’s something you manage. Right now, it’s showing up everywhere: in supplier costs, in delayed shipments, and in customers pushing back at the trade counter. In 2026, running a wholesale operation has become a balancing act where timing, pricing and stock decisions can make or break your margins.

Let’s start with the biggest pressure point: cable pricing. Copper surged earlier this year, briefly topping $14,500 a tonne. When that single material makes up roughly 70% of cable costs, it’s not just a market headline – it’s a direct hit to stock valuation and purchasing strategy.

For wholesalers, this has turned into a constant game of risk management. Buy too early, and you’re sitting on expensive stock if prices drop. Wait too long, and you’re exposed to spikes and supply gaps, resulting in tighter margins, more frequent price updates, and difficult conversations with contractors who are struggling to keep their quotes down.

Despite the pressure, the opportunity is significant. Demand across the sector remains strong, driven by large-scale infrastructure upgrades and the UK’s push toward Net Zero. For wholesalers, this means consistent throughput – but only for those who can anticipate demand in areas like solar, EV charging and battery storage.

Price increases, such as the recent 3.95% uplift in JIB rates, may help contractors offset costs, but they also reinforce the need for wholesalers to remain competitive while protecting margin. The real growth lies in supporting the shift toward greener technologies, where product demand – and margins – are often higher.

For wholesalers, 2026 is defined by volatility. Between extended lead times, fluctuating material costs and evolving regulations, success depends on agility, strong supplier relationships and the ability to guide customers through constant change. It’s no longer just about having stock on the shelf – it’s about having the right stock, at the right time, with the right knowledge behind it.

In this month’s PEW we have special features on renewables and green technology, home automation and, rather timely, outdoor lighting for the warm summer evenings we can (hopefully) look forward to in the next couple of months, as well as some encouraging apprenticeship stories from Ventilux in our Soapbox column.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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Setting the benchmark for professional skills development in the UK’s electrotechnical sector, the EDA’s Product Knowledge Modules help businesses like yours create cross-selling and up-selling opportunities by building knowledge and confidence.

The EDA’s training module Renewables including EV Charging, is now in its 3rd edition, and covers:

• Promotion of uptake of renewables
• Solar photovoltaic
• Electrical energy storage systems
• Electric vehicles
• Heat Pumps
• Wind turbines
• Energy conservation

The more you know, the more you sell

Interest in renewables training is on the up: demand from EDA businesses for the Renewables including EV Charging module increased by 73% between 2022 and 2025, reflecting the electrotechnical sector’s shift towards green tech.

To meet this growing demand, the EDA also launched a new series of Mini Modules. The first, A Closer Look at Heat Pumps, is FREE to all who successfully complete the Renewables module – helping you turn customer questions into confident sales.

Unlock your free heat pump mini module

If you have already completed the Renewables module, but have not yet claimed your copy of A Closer Look at Heat Pumps, scan the QR code below.

Test your knowledge

Have a go at this quiz sampled from the Renewables including EV Charging module and check your answers below. If the results show that you need to boost your team’s know-how, talk to the EDA today.

Q1: What is the purpose of an inverter in a PV system?
Q2: What is the nominal capacity of a battery?
Q3: What does the acronym ‘ICE’ stand for when describing a motor vehicle?
Q4: Give three advantages of a hot water heat pump.
Q5: Name the two main types of wind turbine.
Q6: Name the two ways of achieving voltage optimisation.

Scroll down for answers

Answers

Q1: The inverter in a PV system is there to convert the DC input, produced by the PV cells,
into a 230 V AC 50 Hz output and synchronize it with the mains supply frequency.
Q2: How much energy a battery can nominally deliver from full charge.
Q3: Internal combustion engine.
Q4: Energy efficiency, reduced operating costs, space saving, integration with renewable
energy  sources.
Q5: HAWT (Horizontal axis wind turbines) and VAWT (Vertical axis wind turbine).
Q6: Adjusting the step-down transformer ‘taps’ or by fitting a voltage stabilization unit.

How did you do?

Full marks: Well done.

3 – 5 out of 6: Time to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and build confidence.

Less than 3: EDA Product Knowledge Training needed.

Watch the video and download the Course Directory

There’s plenty of information online at www.eda.org.uk, including a video and a downloadable Course Directory, giving you a summary of what’s covered in each of the 12 training modules.

The EDA team is ready to help. Call 020 3141 7350 or email training@eda.org.uk

For more information, click here

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A look at the latest display solutions to help your in-store purchases.

Live Electrical is giving wholesalers a simple, effective way to boost counter performance with its growing range of premium POS displays.

With the brand continuing to strengthen its position in the market, and coming off its busiest quarter yet, more branches are turning to Live Electrical stands to improve their counters, tidy their ranges and drive additional sales.

Live Electrical’s POS displays are designed around the needs of both the branch and the customer. Key products are presented in a clear, structured layout that is easy to navigate. Bold, consistent branding ensures the range is immediately recognisable, enhancing visibility on busy counters and reinforcing brand confidence. By placing consumer units, devices and accessories front and centre, branches make it easier for installers to identify the products they need, reducing the time spent searching and increasing overall counter efficiency.

POS displays also create an opportunity to encourage conversation and highlight additional products. With items neatly presented and easy to reach, staff can advise on alternative options, sizes or complementary devices, naturally supporting upselling and cross-selling without extra effort, supporting stronger customer loyalty and repeat visits.

Key benefits of Live Electrical POS displays:

Instant visibility: Eye-catching branding that grabs attention at a busy counter

Clear product layout: Easy-to-navigate stands that help customers find what they need in moments

More customer interaction: Displays that spark conversation, upselling and product recommendations

Stronger loyalty: A professional, consistent brand presence that encourages repeat visits

Trade counter uplift: A simple, effective way to refresh your counter and boost sales

Operational efficiency: Reduces stock search times and eases pressure on counter staff

As Live Electrical’s reach continues to grow across the UK, the company remains focused on giving wholesalers practical tools that make a measurable difference.  The firm’s POS stands remain one of the easiest, most effective ways to raise visibility, improve branch presentation and support customer engagement.

Wholesalers looking to maximise the potential of their trade counters and highlight a trusted, high-demand product range can contact Live Electrical to get their branch equipped with a POS display today.

For further details, click here

Find more ‘Point of Sale’ features here

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Ronald Moeskops, Trade Marketing Western Europe at LEDVANCE, discusses emergency lighting built for installation readiness.

Emergency lighting is a fundamental component of building safety, helping to ensure that occupants can safely exit a space in the event of a power failure or emergency. In commercial, industrial and public environments, the correct specification and installation of emergency luminaires is essential not only for safety but also for compliance with current regulations and standards.

When planning an emergency lighting system, specifiers and installers must consider a range of practical factors. Light output and coverage, emergency duration, environmental protection and long-term reliability all influence the effectiveness of the system. Installation efficiency is also a key consideration, particularly on projects with tight deadlines, complex access or high-traffic areas. Increasingly, flexibility and futureproofing are also valued, allowing systems to adapt as building use or requirements evolve. Modern emergency luminaires are therefore expected to combine robust performance with practical, user-friendly installation features.

Streamline installation

LEDVANCE has expanded its emergency lighting portfolio to address these needs, introducing solutions designed to deliver both dependable performance and installation readiness. The Emergency Twin Spot luminaire is tailored for applications where high-visibility, directional lighting is essential. Suitable for indoor and outdoor environments, its IP65-rated housing provides protection against dust and moisture, making it ideal for warehouses, car parks, plant rooms and external escape routes. The two adjustable spotlights enable installers to direct light precisely along defined escape paths, optimising coverage while minimising unnecessary illumination. Equipped with a LiFePO4 battery, the luminaire ensures a minimum of three hours of emergency operation and is supplied with mounting accessories to streamline on-site installation.

Complementing the Twin Spot is the Wallpack Combo IP65 luminaire, which introduces LEDVANCE’s Plug & Upgrade concept to outdoor emergency lighting. This modular approach allows the Wallpack to be installed initially as a standard luminaire, with emergency functionality added later via an emergency kit if required. Such flexibility is particularly valuable for projects where emergency lighting requirements may change during the course of construction, or where budgets and programmes call for a phased installation. Options are also available with or without an integrated photocell, providing additional adaptability for exterior applications.

Smoother delivery

Both solutions highlight the growing importance of installation readiness in emergency lighting design. By combining robust construction, compliance with current standards and flexible installation options, these luminaires allow contractors to deliver reliable, safe and future-ready solutions without unnecessary complexity. They also reduce the potential for errors or delays on site, supporting smoother project delivery and long-term system performance.

In addition to safety and compliance, durability and low-maintenance operation are increasingly important considerations. The IP65-rated housings, high-quality materials and extended battery life of these luminaires help ensure reliable performance in demanding environments, whether exposed to moisture, dust or occasional impact. By addressing both operational and practical requirements, LEDVANCE’s new emergency lighting solutions demonstrate that safety, efficiency and flexibility can be successfully combined in modern external and internal applications.

For electrical wholesalers, this represents an opportunity to offer products that meet the evolving expectations of specifiers and installers. Modern emergency luminaires are no longer simply safety items; they are practical, adaptable solutions that help projects meet regulatory, operational, and on-site challenges while supporting long-term performance and reliability. By combining reliability, flexibility and ease of installation, modern emergency lighting can truly support both compliance and long-term operational efficiency.

Further details are available here

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Welcome to the October issue of Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

My column in September drew some amusing comments from colleagues, in particular the opening paragraph about my referencing seeing Fatboy Slim and Kaiser Chiefs at the Latitude Festival this summer. The inference from some was that I was only including this information to appear ‘cool’ to my readers. Nothing could be further from the truth of course, but to avoid such accusations I shall avoid any further mention of music festivals – a decision I reached while I sipped champagne at the Burghley Horse Trials.

The weather was warm enough to make us believe that summer was still going strong but a few days later I started seeing Christmas products in the shops and my heart sank just a little – we’ve not even had Hallowe’en yet! I do believe retailers are just trolling us now. We have Christmas adverts playing on the radio and television, so by 1st December you are already sick of the festive songs you used to love – and I’m not sure I can take any more hype about the new M&S, John Lewis or Boots seasonal commercials. It won’t be long before they’re being directed by Steven Spielberg and getting a Leicester Square premiere!

I would be curious to know how early electrical wholesalers decorate their stores, if at all. Sure, you’ll get the odd customer coming in looking for some new fairy lights, but I’m not convinced reindeer-themed workwear or tools wrapped in tinsel will be huge sellers…(famous last words). All this premature marketing must work though and, despite all my ranting above, the date and location for our office Christmas dinner have already been confirmed.

Moving on, October is also when we see the weather really begin to turn, and I start wondering how long I can survive before I give in and switch the heating on. From a personal and selfish point of view, yes I want to be warm and comfortable but I also want to keep my energy bills down. With my professional hat on, and as someone who has spent years writing about the built environment – I am also thinking about my environmental impact. Energy efficient heating systems are going to play a crucial role in the UK’s decarbonisation journey and we are likely to see the emergence of systems once considered niche, like electric radiant heating, into the mainstream. Schwank’s article on page 22 goes into more detail about the benefits radiant heating can bring to large premises like factories and warehouses.

Also this month, Knightsbridge highlights some current trends in wiring accessories on page 27, and we learn about Tridonic’s plans for sustainability and Net Zero in Soapbox on page 48.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe

Catch up on previous ‘Editor’s Viewpoint’ here

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AI is now impacting every industry and the electrical wholesaler sector is no different. Wayne Fraser, Chief Information & AI Officer at Klipboard, looks at how AI in electrical wholesale can power smarter trade decisions.

With the rapid acceleration of EV infrastructure, the growth of smart homes, and the increasing adoption of renewable technologies, the electrical wholesale sector is becoming more complex – and more central to the wider economy. Our industry is no longer just about supplying product; we’re enabling critical national infrastructure. And with that shift, the operational pressures have grown. Businesses now face tighter margins, higher customer expectations, and a growing demand for technical expertise. That’s where AI comes in. Not as a future promise, but as a present-day necessity.

From discussion to deployment 

Over the past 18 months, we’ve seen a fundamental shift in how wholesale distributors – particularly in the electrical space – are approaching AI. It’s moved beyond boardroom conversations and into real operational impact. Across the UK wholesale distribution market, nearly 50% of businesses now rank AI as a top investment priority. And for good reason: the challenges we face aren’t getting simpler. AI isn’t hype anymore, it’s how we start to solve long-standing problems at scale.

Tackling long-standing operational friction

Electrical wholesalers, more than most, have always had to deal with intense stock complexity. Whether it’s tracking reels of cable by the metre, handling variants of the same product line with minor but critical technical differences or managing customer-specific pricing agreements across thousands of SKUs, these are problems that don’t lend themselves to manual workarounds. Historically, many of these processes were either spreadsheet-based, or bolted onto ageing ERP systems. That’s not a sustainable approach for organisations that want to lead in today’s climate.

What we’re seeing now is the market turning to the next generation of software. Platforms where AI is built-in from the ground up. Take inventory management, for example. At Klipboard, the ERP One platform integrates natively with AI tools to support intelligent stock forecasting. By combining internal sales history with external data points – such as seasonal demand, project timelines, and even shifts in EV infrastructure investment – merchants are able to make smarter decisions about what to stock, when to reorder, and how much capital to commit. 

Rethinking logistics

The benefits don’t stop at the warehouse. Logistics and fleet operations are evolving too. In distribution, the cost of delivery has always been a delicate balance between efficiency and service. Kilpboard has integrated AI-led auto-routing into its Transport Management (VIGO) platform. By using live traffic data and historical delivery performance, Klipboard helps drivers complete more drops per shift, reduce fuel usage, and improve on-time performance, all while supporting the sustainability commitments that more of our customers now expect.

Supporting the frontline with smart tools

At the same time, we’re seeing AI enhance the customer experience, both online and at the trade counter. AI-powered assistants, like Klipboard Copilot, are helping branch staff and customer service teams to quickly answer common questions about stock availability, pricing, and delivery updates. These tools aren’t designed to replace people, they’re there to support them. By handling repetitive or routine requests, AI frees up teams to focus on what really matters: building customer relationships, solving more complex problems, and driving additional value through every interaction.

There’s a lot of noise about AI – but in many cases, it’s just old automation with a new label. What has changed is the processing power availability has grown year on year and also LLM’s capability and availability, thus enabling a much richer experience.

Scaling for the future

For electrical wholesalers, the stakes are high. The product catalogue is expanding. Customer demand is rising. And the old ways of working simply don’t scale. AI offers a clear path forward. It enables leaner operations, reduces overstock, improves fulfilment accuracy, and supports better service delivery – without the need to grow headcount.

Final thoughts

AI won’t transform the industry overnight. But the shift is already underway. It’s already transforming from what used to be just a buzzword, to now cementing itself as a business-critical function in the distribution sector across the board. The businesses that act now, and who invest not in buzzwords, but in capability, will be the ones that have the greatest chance of success in the future.

To uncover more, click here

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Mike Collins, Managing Director at Ovia, shines a light on some of the issues facing electrical wholesalers and how Ovia is helping to mitigate those challenges.

The lighting industry continues to evolve rapidly, driven by shifting technologies, regulatory updates and market pressures. At Ovia, we recognise that our wholesaler partners face daily challenges in maintaining competitiveness and delivering value to contractors, specifiers and end-users.

Product proliferation and complexity

The transition to LED, connected lighting and increasingly sophisticated control systems has expanded product offerings dramatically. Wholesalers now manage more SKUs, often with highly technical specifications, while customers expect instant product knowledge.

Prices for panels, battens, downlights and basic floodlights have dropped significantly over the past 5–7 years and the commoditisation of LED lighting has led to increased competition from brands on price with near-identical specifications, eroding differentiation.

Price competition

There is intense competition from online sellers and direct imports, and market saturation. Contractors and facilities managers now price-check online, putting pressure on wholesalers, requiring them to differentiate beyond pricing alone.

Supply chain pressures

Global supply chain volatility, fluctuating demand and long lead times can leave wholesalers struggling to maintain the right stock levels while controlling costs.

Digital expectations

Contractors increasingly expect online ordering, instant stock visibility and digital tools for quoting and submittals, pushing wholesalers to enhance their digital capabilities.

The value of a brand

In today’s competitive lighting industry, where technology rapidly evolves and prices fluctuate, a strong brand is one of the most valuable assets a lighting manufacturer can possess. Beyond logos and marketing slogans, a brand encapsulates trust, quality and a promise that customers rely on when choosing lighting solutions for their homes, businesses, or cities. A respected brand demonstrates consistent product quality, longer warranties and a proven track record.

Trust and reliability

Lighting is integral to safety, productivity and comfort. When customers select a lighting brand, they are not just purchasing a product; they are investing in reliability. A well-established brand assures architects, contractors and end-users that the luminaires will perform as promised, meet compliance standards and be supported with service throughout their lifecycle.

Ovia, a well-established brand following more than six successful years operating within the lighting industry, has the backing of Scolmore Group. As a family-run business for more than 36 years, the company is agile, able to make decisions quickly and react to market changes to continually deliver improved products and services. A sustained programme of reinvestment in the business infrastructure as well as its people, is what drives the business.

Differentiation in a crowded market

The lighting sector is saturated with manufacturers offering similar specifications and technology. A strong brand differentiates a manufacturer beyond technical data sheets, signalling design leadership, sustainability commitments and innovation.

A partnership with Ovia guarantees a range of high quality, value-for-money products backed up by excellent local stocks, next day delivery and outstanding customer service.   We are committed to helping our customers sell our products and this is demonstrated through our proactive marketing effort, attendance and support for trade events and helping them make the most of the training opportunities we offer to ensure the end user gets the best possible products and solutions for the job.

Driving customer loyalty

In a field where product life cycles can span years, a brand is what keeps customers returning. Positive experiences with product quality, responsive support and consistent performance build emotional loyalty, turning customers into long-term partners rather than one-time buyers.

Find out more here

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Kilpboard explain why now is the time for UK electrical wholesalers to digitise

​The UK electrical wholesale market, valued at £4.28 billion in 2024, is experiencing significant shifts driven by digital transformation and sustainability initiatives (AMA Research, 2024).

To remain competitive, electrical wholesalers are increasingly adopting digital technologies to enhance operations and customer service. By integrating advanced technologies, wholesalers can streamline operations, reduce errors, and enhance customer satisfaction, positioning themselves competitively in a rapidly evolving market.​ The timing has never been better for electrical wholesalers to embrace digital transformation.

What is digitisation?

Digitisation describes how companies can improve their processes and operations through digital technologies. For example, digitisation could involve implementing a new ERP system to streamline inventory management. Alternatively, it could provide real time stock visibility, helping electrical wholesalers in preventing costly overstocks.

In either case, such innovations are no longer just nice to have. These days, industry leaders see digitisation as essential to a successful, modern electrical wholesale business.

The evidence why speaks for itself. Early adopters routinely report that digitisation has helped them increase productivity, reduce operational costs, and quickly adapt to market changes ‘on the fly’ while having fully comprehensive control of their stock.

Should wholesalers invest in digital transformation today, or take a wait-and-see approach?

At klipboard, the new name for Kerridge Commercial Systems, we think the time to act is now, and for the following reasons:

Enhanced efficiency and productivity

Electrical wholesalers dealing with complex inventory and high-demand supply chains can replace inaccurate and labour-intensive paper-based systems with precise, real-time digital solutions. By adopting mobile technology on the shop floor and in the warehouse, businesses can eliminate paper duplication, streamline order processing, reduce costly errors, and improve stock management. This not only enhances overall efficiency but also cuts processing time, reduces waste, and helps wholesalers save thousands on administrative overheads.

Real-time data and analytics

Digital ERP systems provide instant insights and snapshots into a wholesaler’s daily operations. As a result, there’s no longer any need to spend days or hours running reports. All the data they need to make better decisions and improve performance is at their fingertips.

Also, using an ERP system makes identifying emerging trends much easier. When stock and balance sheets are input digitally, sophisticated algorithms make it much easier for users to successfully forecast demand.

Total inventory management

Keeping accurate stock records is crucial for electrical wholesalers, especially during busy periods. Digital ERP software gives wholesalers a suite of tools to manage every aspect of their inventory, helping them maintain optimal stock levels.

Additionally, by ensuring the right products are always available when customers need them, a fully digitised wholesale business is better able to maximise its sales all year round.

Enhanced customer service

In business, building trust through professional relationships is key, and today’s digitised electrical wholesalers can offer a seamless and personalised customer experience that their paper-based rivals can’t. For example, a digitalised wholesaler’s system will have customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities that help them see client preferences, purchase history, and overall engagement.

Accordingly, it’s easy for digitised wholesaler to offer customers tailored promotions. And, of course, faster and more accurate order processing is another example of how digitisation can help improve electrical wholesaler’s overall level of customer service.

Streamlined financial management

Wholesale businesses embracing digitisation can also optimise cash flow with integrated accounting and financial reporting features. It’s also possible to automate whole processing tasks, such as the administration of accounts payable, removing the need for paper administration, meaning wholesalers can now redeploy valuable resources where they’re needed most.

Enhanced supply chain management

Effective supply chain management is critical for electrical wholesalers’ reputations and cash flow. However, digitising this process through a cloud-based ERP system makes it easy to optimise procurement processes, manage supplier relationships, and ensure timely delivery of materials.

Compliance and risk management

One regularly overlooked but critical part of modern business is complying with industry regulations and standards. One of the easiest and most reliable ways of doing this is by digitising how your electrical wholesale business administers sensitive information. Users scan documents onto a secure, cloud-based ERP system, where they’re available for audits and inspections.

Integration with ecommerce

As the electrical industry increasingly moves online, ERP systems’ integration with ecommerce platforms means that wholesalers can tap into new revenue streams. By offering online ordering and customer self-service options, businesses can expand their reach and access new markets at any time.

Sustainability and waste reduction

Digitisation contributes to sustainability by optimising resource usage and reducing waste. Fully digital ERP systems encourage their users to send PDFs instead of printing and collating their user manuals online, again dramatically helping cut carbon usage. Further reductions occur in the full digitisation of paper-based processes and monitoring systems that help wholesalers eliminate unnecessary fuel waste with their deliveries.

Maximise sales

The Luckins online catalogue is an essential sales tool for electrical wholesalers, offering up to date product information, on over one million items from hundreds of manufacturers. With detailed specifications, images and related accessories, it helps wholesalers better meet customer needs.

By integrating Luckins enriched product data in to their ecommerce and in store experience through ERP software, electrical wholesalers can now see another benefit of digitisation and offer comprehensive product information, enhanced ecommerce capability and improved customer service.

Conclusion

Going digital is the only way electrical businesses can stay successful in an increasingly demanding and competitive marketplace. Those businesses that have yet to enjoy the benefits of digitalisation should act before they are left behind.

To learn more about how the ERP solutions and integrated apps from klipboard can help your business trade more profitably, click here

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Richard Bowler, Editor of Professional Electrician recently sat down with C-Tec’s Marketing Director Andy Green to discuss what installers need to know about the future of fire safety systems.

They also discuss the company’s evolution, the support and training offered to installers, as well as how its manufacturing expertise allows electricians to install with confidence.

Find out more: rdr.link/ctecfiresafetyvid

Watch the video:

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The circular economy is growing in importance – that is widely recognised. But how can electrical wholesalers get involved? Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive of Recolight, examines the practical steps that can be taken beyond featuring or highlighting low energy or sustainable products.

Probably the fastest growing area in lighting, albeit from a low base, is the remanufacture, or upgrading, of lighting. This typically happens when a customer wants to move from fluorescent fittings to LEDs. Rather than simply remove the fluorescent fittings (to be trashed or recycled) with brand new LED fittings supplied, an increasing number of customers ask for the existing fittings to be upgraded instead.

There are many good reasons for doing this. Firstly, reinstating the same fittings means no further work is needed on the ceiling, with fixing points unchanged. Secondly, there may be cost savings. And thirdly, perhaps most vitally, the embodied carbon emissions are far lower.

For an increasing number of customers, that last point will be the most important. More and more companies are setting Net Zero and carbon emissions reduction targets. And reducing the embodied carbon (the carbon emissions involved in making and distributing a product) is an important part of that meeting that target.

And an increasing number of luminaire manufacturers are now able to provide LED upgrade modules that make the job very straightforward.

Remanufacture code of practice

This growing sector received a significant boost at the very end of last year, when a new specification was published by BSI. BS8887:221 2024 is the newly released code of practice for luminaire remanufacture.

It gives confidence to customers that remanufacture and upgrades are undertaken in a consistent and compliant manner. It has been developed over the last two years by a dozen or so individuals drawn from across the lighting industry.

New environmental metrics

Alongside the growth in remanufacturing, there has also been an explosion in the range of environmental and sustainability certifications. It is helpful for wholesalers to understand what they mean – and their limitations.

TM66

The TM66 specification is a way in which lighting manufacturers can rapidly assess the extent to which they have adopted circular economy principles in new products. It was developed by a Society of Light and Lighting (SLL) team and produces an aggregate, weighted score on a 0-4 scale to indicate the extent of circularity of a product.

The TM66 specification has undoubtedly encouraged companies to change what they make, and how they make them, to improve their scores, which has resulted in more products incorporating sustainability and circularity.

But it has significant limitations. It is very largely restricted to the UK. And although there is a third third-party certification scheme run by the LIA, it can be self-certified.

What’s more, a single digit is limited, given that strengths and weaknesses in a product are averaged out. So, TM66 is probably best seen as an entry level approach to sustainability. It gets the issue on the drawing board, and helps manufacturers demonstrate product circularity. But on its own, it is not enough to provide informed customers with the information they need. It is also unlikely to ever be a legal requirement.

TM65.2

The TM65.2 specification provides lighting manufacturers with a quick way of determining the embodied carbon content of a new product. We can expect to see an increasing number of customers that will choose products, in part, based on embodied carbon. So, access to a simple assessment methodology helps suppliers respond to such requests. But as with TM66, there are some limitations. In particular, it is largely a UK-centred specification, can be self-certified, and is unlikely to ever be written into UK law.

LCAs

A Life Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a much more detailed analysis of the total environmental impact of a product. It extends beyond embodied carbon to include whole whole-life carbon (including the carbon emissions when a product is used), and also includes a number of other impacts, including water use, pollution and land use.

An LCA uses data to calculate the footprint of a product based on its intended life cycle. Unlike TM65, this includes a more comprehensive appraisal of end-of-life processes and their impacts. And vitally, the LCA methodology is internationally recognised.

EPDs

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a way to communicate the results of an LCA in a single document. EPDs are already very widely used internationally – not just in the built environment, but in many other sectors as well. They allow customers to compare the environmental performance of otherwise similar products. Vitally, they also present data in a standardised format allowing incorporation into a whole building LCA or whole project LCA.  It seems likely that EPDs will, at some stage, become a mandatory requirement for certain product groups: for the medium term, and in the short term for companies looking to future proof their ranges, EPDs are likely to be the preferred option.

Summary

Sustainability is here to stay and will become an increasingly important consideration when customers choose products. For wholesalers, keeping abreast of these developments – and vitally working with suppliers that do so as well, is a very tangible way to contribute to the circular economy.

Find out more here

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