Paul Foulkes, Country Manager at Theben Automation, discusses the brand’s sustainability journey which started more than 100 years ago.

Sustainability in the electrical industry can sometimes feel like something that happens ‘somewhere else’ – in tender documents, environmental, social and governance (ESG) scorecards and corporate reports. Meanwhile, on site, the realities are far more basic: you want kit that works, turns up on time, lasts, and doesn’t create a mountain of waste to haul back to the van.

But the gap between those two worlds is closing. More projects now ask not only what a product does but how it’s made, what it’s made from, and what happens at end of life. That’s why it’s worth looking at sustainability through a lens that actually matches how the trade works: the product lifecycle.

At Theben, we’ve been thinking in those terms for a long time. Our story begins in 1921, when precision engineer Paul Schwenk started developing time switches. A time switch is a simple idea, but it carries a bigger message: buildings don’t need to run at full tilt all the time. They can be controlled, timed and made more efficient, long before ‘ESG’ was a common phrase.

Sustainability as a mindset, not a manifesto

There’s a temptation in corporate sustainability to drown people in technical detail.

Certifications, acronyms, scorecards. Those things have their place, but they don’t always land with the people who specify, stock and install electrical products.

What matters more is the simple principle we lean on: if we want to reduce impact, we can’t just tweak one thing. We have to look at the full story – where materials come from, how products are made and shipped, how they’re packaged and what happens at the end. That’s why we talk about the product lifecycle and everything that goes with it.

That ‘product lifecycle’ perspective can sound formal, but it’s really just common sense. If something is unreliable, hard to fit, over-packaged or replaced too soon, it creates waste, in materials and in man-hours. If it lasts, performs consistently and arrives without unnecessary rubbish, it reduces waste without anyone needing to make a big speech about it.

The long-term view

Looking back over 100 years, you can see that environmental thinking showed up decades ago in practical ways. For example, our history notes that in 1964 we installed a modern detoxification system to remove harmful substances from wastewater, alongside planted green spaces around the site. That isn’t a modern ESG campaign. It’s a snapshot of Theben making tangible operational choices – the kind that don’t get applause, but do change impact over time.

We’ve also linked comfort and efficiency for decades. In the 1960s, our heating controls were described as “comfort plus economy,” including night setback to help reduce fuel consumption. Different era, same aim: better control, less waste, better outcomes for the people using the building.

And when we talk about design, something we’ve invested in since working with

recognised designers in the 1970s, it’s not only about aesthetics. Good design supports usability and longevity. It helps create products people don’t want to replace simply because they feel dated or awkward.

Making it easier to do the right thing

Sustainability becomes real when it removes friction for the people doing the work. That’s why we focus on the unglamorous areas where decisions stack up: how products move through the supply chain, how they’re produced, how they’re packaged and how they can be handled responsibly at end-of-life.

On the packaging side, for example, our direction is to reduce unnecessary packaging and cut down plastic where we can, replacing it with cardboard or paper where it makes sense. It’s not the flashiest part of sustainability, but it’s one of the most visible to installers because it affects van waste, site housekeeping and disposal.

We also talk about the end of the lifecycle because it’s increasingly part of how products are judged. It’s not just “can it be recycled?” but “what happens next?”

That’s why our sustainability work includes how products can be returned into material cycles and how we look at more circular approaches over time.

One for all – all for one

Policies help, but culture decides whether anything changes. That’s why we’re open about the fact that sustainability only works if everyone owns it. Our “One for all – all for one” message puts it simply: sustainability, climate change and ecological diversity concern all of us – from apprentices to the board – and every contribution counts. We try to bring that to life in practical ways, whether that’s encouraging ideas that reduce day-to-day waste, supporting biodiversity initiatives, or looking for small changes that add up across a year.

What this means for the wholesale channel

The questions customers are asking are getting broader. It’s no longer only “does it meet the spec?” but also “does it meet the expectation?” That expectation now includes sustainability, not always in detail, but in credibility.

From a wholesale perspective, the value is in backing brands that can tell a consistent story: long-term thinking, practical improvements and a culture that treats sustainability as day-to-day responsibility, not a once-a-year announcement.

If we can keep sustainability grounded – less waste, better durability and more transparency across the lifecycle – then we’re not just responding to ESG trends. We’re continuing what we started back in 1921: helping buildings behave more intelligently, and helping the people who build them deliver better outcomes with less waste along the way.

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In this month’s Face to Face we speak to Nigel Harvey, Chief Executive at Recolight, to hear his views on a more sustainable lighting industry and the implementation of the circular economy.

Q. Why should electrical wholesalers offer a free lamp and WEEE recycling service to customers?

There are many good reasons. First and foremost, because it is a legal requirement:  Any wholesaler selling electrical products that could be used by a consumer, must provide a free of charge take back on a one-for-one basis. So if, for example, an electrical contractor buys 50 GU10 LED lamps, they have the right to return around 50 similar lamps to the point of purchase, for recycling.

In addition, providing a WEEE take back service is a vital way in which wholesalers can act more sustainably. That also provides an additional service to their customers, and can increase footfall.

Q. What are Recolight and how can they help with this?

Recolight was set up by the lighting industry as a not-for-profit to provide collection and recycling of waste lighting to meet obligations under the WEEE regulations. That means Recolight offer wholesalers, and others, free collection and recycling of waste lamps, subject to minimum quantities. The company also provide low cost collection of waste luminaires and batteries.

Q. Why is the circular economy so important and what difference will the release of the Government’s ‘Circular Economy Growth Plan’ make?

The circular economy is a vital way in which sustainability can be embedded into commercial operations, and is an essential part of the effort to tackle climate change. A circular economy seeks to keep existing products in use for longer, to repair or upgrade them where possible, and to only replace and recycle them where that is not an option. The government set up a taskforce to make recommendations on how to implement a circular economy, and we expect to see a consultation on the proposals this Spring.

Q. How can wholesalers engage better with the circular economy?

The circular economy is about reuse, repair, remanufacture, and upgrade.  There is a material opportunity for any wholesalers that can start to provide such services, either themselves, or in partnership with other organisations.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about what Recolight does?

Beyond providing collection and recycling of lighting, Recolight is extremely active in supporting the transition to a circular economy.  So Recolight organise Circular Lighting Live, the UK’s only conference dedicated to the circular economy and the lighting industry. Recolight also sponsor Circular Lighting Report on LinkedIn, a news service celebrating all the sustainability achievements of the lighting industry. And the company also helps to ensure that unsold remaindered stock can be used in charities or other social enterprises rather than being recycled.

Q. What are EPDs and what EPD related services does Recolight offer to manufacturers?

Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) provide tangible ways in which manufacturers can accurately evidence the full sustainability of the products they sell.  They therefore allow specifiers and end-users to choose products based on an independent third party verified statement of the environmental impacts of products.

Recolight provide a “one-off EPD” service that helps manufacturers prepare an EPD. That includes support in gathering the data required, entering it into the OneClick LCA platform, preparing a draft EPD, finalising it, and then submitting it to EPD Hub for independent verification. The service is subject to a flat all-inclusive fee.

Q. What can we expect to see from Recolight and the wider lighting industry in 2026?

Circular Lighting Live will be back again on 8^th October 2026 in London, showcasing the latest developments and regulatory changes taking place in the circular economy.  Prior to that, the Government will have consulted on possible changes to implement its circular economy growth plan, and the outcome of that consultation should be available.  That will make Circular Lighting Live in 2026 the perfect opportunity to understand the planned changes, and consequences.

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Scolmore Group has announced that, following a formal review of its recent EcoVadis sustainability assessment, the company’s score has been successfully revised in line with the scoring principles and supporting evidence provided. This has resulted in an improved score within the Environmental theme and the prestigious award of an EcoVadis Gold medal, recognising Scolmore Group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Scolmore Group’s overall sustainability score has increased significantly – from 66/100 in 2024, to 79/100 for 2025  –  surpassing the threshold for Gold recognition under EcoVadis’ rating methodology. This achievement now places the organisation among the top 5% of over 150,000 companies globally assessed by EcoVadis.

EcoVadis evaluates companies across four core themes: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. Recognised across more than 250 industries and 200 countries, EcoVadis assessments help organisations measure and improve their sustainability practices throughout their value chains. The EcoVadis rating has become a trusted benchmark for corporate responsibility, used by thousands of companies worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable business.

Responsible for driving the EcoVadis sustainability initiative at Scolmore Group is Manuela Rubino Courtney, Group Legal and Compliance Manager. Commenting on the achievement, she said: “Achieving the EcoVadis Gold Medal is a major milestone for Scolmore Group and a clear recognition of the progress we have made across our environmental, social and ethical practices. This award reflects the sustained commitment, collaboration and hard work of our teams throughout the Group, all focused on embedding responsible business practices while continuing to deliver high-quality products and services.”

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Welcome to the March issue of PEW! I have been working from home for the last two weeks and am now in recovery mode having had my old bathroom ripped out and a new one put in. While at home I did manage to catch bits of the Winter Olympics and see what new and creative ways they had managed to come up with to hurl people down an icy slope as quickly as possible.

Out of curiosity I started delving into the history of the Winter Olympics. First held in Chamonix in 1924 and made up of five sports (bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, Nordic skiing and skating), it has evolved over the years with new subdisciplines introduced, categories dropped and others modernised – for example military patrol eventually became the biathlon event. There have also been some surprising sports that, while never introduced as an official event, were showcased as demonstrations at various Olympics, such as skijoring (being towed on skis behind a horse or dogs), acroski (ski ballet), and speed skiing – where athletes descended a steep, straight course in a tight aerodynamic tuck at speeds of up to 130mph! Unsurprisingly, concerns about safety prevented that from ever becoming an official event.

So yes, the Olympic Games, both summer and winter, have evolved but at their core remain the key values of excellence, respect and friendship which have helped the games to endure for so long.

“Where are you going with this?” you might ask. Well, Theben’s journey began just before the first Winter Olympics. The topic of ‘sustainability’ might be considered a very modern movement but the thought process behind it goes back a long way. At Theben, as explained in this month’s Soapbox column, it was precision engineer Paul Schwenk who started developing time switches in 1921, with the principle that buildings don’t need to run at full tilt all the time. Fast forward about 100 years, with a lot of innovation and progress in between, we are living in the age of smart buildings.

Evolution runs throughout the built environment, including the electrical wholesaler, ever since G. Binswanger and Company, later to become the General Electric Company, first started selling electrical components over the counter in London in the late 19th century. In the 21st century traditional distribution methods are being challenged by rapid changes in customer expectations (especially digital buyers), sustainability requirements, and broader shifts in the energy and construction sectors. To evolve and thrive, wholesalers are rethinking their business models across technology, operations, sustainability and customer experience. In fact it’s evolving faster than an average curling match seems to take.

Enjoy the issue!

– Tracey Rushton-Thorpe
Editor

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Sarah Hartland, Head of Marketing at Draper Tools, highlights some of the company’s commitments to long-term sustainability.

We know that simply by being here and going about our business we affect the environment. However, we work hard to minimise that impact and strive to make a positive difference where we can.

Sustainability at Draper is not about one single environmental initiative. It’s about all areas of the business coming together and being accountable. From reducing plastics and carbon emissions to recycling, right through to supporting communities locally and internationally – we’re committed to continuous progress in all these areas and more.

Powered by the sun

We have two sites in the UK and we’re proud to say that they are fitted out with a total of over 1,000 solar panels. The large solar installation at our warehouse site was one of the most ambitious private solar installations in the region, saving over 100 tonnes of equivalent CO2 each year. Together with our recently completed second solar installation at our head office building, we’ll be preventing more than 150 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year.

Heritage and green innovation

As a fourth-generation family business we’re committed to protecting tomorrow’s environment. We may be over 100 years old – but our continued investments into sustainability demonstrates how heritage and green innovation can go hand in hand. Our recently completed warehouse was built from the ground up with environmental efficiency in mind. Some of the key features include:

• 58% of our 2025 energy demand met by our solar panels
• Energy saving LED motion sensor lighting throughout the site
• A drainage strategy accounting for 100 years of expected rainfall
• Run-off water collection in a holding pond bringing environmental diversification

Driving change

We’re moving away from traditional fuels by increasing the percentage of electric/hybrid cars within our sales fleet and by transporting inter-site deliveries using a newly purchased electric van. We’re also working with freight forwarders delivering Draper consignments using electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

Responsible waste management

 Ongoing recycling efforts have seen the amount we dispose to landfill reduce significantly. In the last 15 years, we’ve reduced general waste by more than half. As a business, more than 80% of our waste is recycled.

For the past 24 years, we’ve been certified under the rigorous ISO 14001 environmental management standard. We happily meet the UK’s regulatory requirements to minimise the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) to landfill and to achieve high levels of collection of WEEE for environmentally sound treatment.

Any materials we can recycle we do – including everything from green waste to cardboard, batteries to oil, aerosols to wood waste and more.

One initiative that makes a huge difference is shredding cardboard boxes to recycle and using this as protective packing material in our dispatch cartons.

Slashing single use plastic

We have a dedicated sustainable packaging taskforce, including a Sustainable Packaging Coordinator to oversee our ongoing mission to reduce plastic from the packaging of over 10,000 product lines in the Draper range. For us, packaging needs to be efficient, sustainable and competitive, without compromising product protection and customer safety – a particular concern considering the types of products in our range.

We’re continuously analysing packaging data and sales trends across our entire range, identifying opportunities to make an impact in plastic usage. Once these opportunities have been identified, we open the conversation to review the alternative packaging options available and seek to reduce plastic weight, with a preference for plastic-free packaging and FSC-certified card. Where plastic remains in packaging, we focus on using recyclable plastics, containing at least 30% recycled material.

By redesigning packaging to remove and reduce plastic, we’ve reduced our plastic packaging output by between 10% and 20% year on year since 2023, amounting to a real-terms total reduction of 21% over that time.

Our mission continues as we consider every aspect of sustainable packaging and shipping and working hard to reduce pack weight with better packaging design. As an example, we ship wheelbarrows as stacked components and build them when they arrive – meaning we aren’t shipping empty air around the world. This level of consideration is constantly being applied to our product lines.

Committed to the future

 We know that true sustainability demands continuous improvement of both policy and implementation, and that’s something we’re committed to across the business, from supply chain to employee engagement and the community partnerships we forge.

While we are proud of the strides we’ve made in reducing emissions and waste, we know there is more that we can do. We’re setting ambitious targets, investing in green innovation and sharing our progress. This is a long-term journey, and we are in it for the long haul.

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Martin Thompson, Technical Services Manager & Sustainability Lead from Tridonic UK, gives an insight into the manufacturer’s current focus on sustainability and plans for the future to keep driving towards Net Zero. He also shares the successful overhaul of Tridonic’s Spennymoor facility, using the sustainability principles that the company is renowned for.

At Tridonic, we’ve worked hard to establish a reputation across the global lighting sector for our sustainable lighting solutions that are manufactured responsibly. Our commitment to environmentally friendly lighting technology is based on a vision of realising the full potential of light and making a positive contribution to the planet and community through our solutions.

Of course, this has to be underpinned by a commitment to improving our own practices and policies. We formalised this back in 2021, when we created the ‘Sustainable Tridonic’ sustainability strategy and more recently our UK specific sustainability pillar in the Tridonic360 campaign. This strategy holds us to account on how we minimise the environmental impact of processes across our value chains. Organised into three pillars, the sustainability strategy gives us and our partners a clear focus on how we can work together to reduce our environmental footprint for a sustainable future.

The first pillar is sustainable products, which sets out how we minimise resource consumption, using materials more efficiently and increasing the proportion of recyclable raw materials. Circular design concepts are proven in our Cradle to Cradle (C2C) LED drivers and modules, products created for the long-term allowing them to be reused in a new cycle. Our goal is to align our premium product portfolio by 2030 with the Cradle to Cradle design concept.

Looking further at our own practices, we have continued to implement circular processes and optimise production for sustainability. The company’s packaging has been converted to 80-90% recycled cardboard, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

The second pillar is being a partner of choice. This is where we build responsible and sustainable cooperation with trust based collaboration – as an employer or technology partner, and with our suppliers.

The final pillar is environmental protection. Here we focus on reducing CO₂ emissions across our company’s value chain. We also concentrate on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in our manufacturing sites’ production and operation processes. It is through this pillar that we have undertaken a recent overhaul of our Spennymoor facility, using a range of Tridonic lighting solutions.

The Spennymoor site, which encompasses a Tridonic factory, test facilities and offices, is a prime example of how facilities managers can have a data-driven workplace strategy to drive long-term sustainability.

A recent upgrade to the facility’s lighting, using Tridonic solutions, has delivered an array of impressive energy savings and associated cost reductions. The upgrade has been completed utilising the introduction of Tridonic’s Building Asset 360 market approach, which included the replacement of outdated fluorescent lighting to LED lighting and controls.

Building Asset 360 market approach is built on the principle of seeing luminaires as more than just sources of light and enables the exploration of data on the performance and health of each luminaire.

This market approach encompasses all Tridonic solutions including wireless lighting and wireless emergency lighting. It also embraces the interoperability between other systems such as BMS for a market that is requiring retrofit solutions. In many cases, it can leverage assets that already exist with the building.

The result over just the initial three phases of the upgrade – offices, production hall, warehouse, compressor room, outside canopy and mezzanine – delivered savings of approximately 181MWhrs per annum. This is a 50% saving, securing a reduction in energy expenditure of £65,000 each year.

Spennymoor is now a fully-functioning, sustainable workplace that is not just collecting data, but converting these valuable insights into actions that make a big difference. This is not the end of the journey for Tridonic, however, and further energy saving projects, such as the implementation of daylight harvesting, are in the pipeline for the future.

Tridonic will maintain momentum in innovating and exploring new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, while supporting clients and partners to do the same.

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Sustainability has shaped KNIPEX for over 140 years. But today, the challenge is bigger. From climate-friendly steel to global partnerships, David Barnes, Sales and Marketing Manager, explains how responsible toolmaking can shape a better future.

When people talk about sustainability in manufacturing, it is often reduced to carbon targets and compliance checklists. These matter of course, but at KNIPEX it goes much deeper. Sustainability has been part of who we are for over 140 years, but it’s no longer enough just to do better than yesterday. Our challenge now is to rethink how we design, source, produce and recycle across the entire supply chain, because we believe we have a responsibility – to the environment, to our communities and to the generations who will use the tools we make.

Targets backed by action

This mindset drives our approach to our operations. We have set ourselves a clear goal: to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, using 2020 as our baseline, and by 2045 we aim to be climate neutral across the board. It’s a tough target, but we are already making great progress.

Since 2020, we have cut our emissions by a third. A big part of that is thanks to switching to 100% green electricity and 100% biogas in our operations, but we are also investing in long-term change. We promote e-mobility with our company’s electric cars and our public e-charging station, which runs using the solar power we have been self-generating since 2011 (and we are continuously expanding that capacity). We have even started converting our first large power units to run on hydrogen – another step towards decarbonising production.

Over 83% of our pliers now come in packaging made entirely from recycled material and all our plastic handles are made with recycled content. Inside our factory gates, it’s about considering waste a resource, not a problem; steel, wood, cardboard and other residual materials are fully recycled.

Over half of our greenhouse gas emissions are generated in Scope 3 – indirect emissions that originate from sources outside KNIPEX’s immediate control, such as transportation of materials and emissions from externally sourced raw materials. Steel production is a carbon-intensive process and the lion’s share of these Scope 3 emissions comes from the steel used to manufacture our high quality pliers. But we are committed to achieving our climate goals.

Climate-optimised raw materials will play a big part here and we are working closely with our long-time steel supplier, the Swiss Steel Group, to reduce emissions at the source and make sustainable steel a core part of our production. We were the first tool manufacturer to purchase Green Steel Climate+, a product made using hydro-powered electric arc furnaces and 100% recycled scrap. The carbon saving is huge; compared to conventional crude steel, emissions are cut by 98% per tonne, marking a huge shift in how raw materials can support Net Zero goals.

Thinking in circles, not straight lines

Our sense of responsibility doesn’t stop at our own factory gates; it also shapes how we work beyond them and has led to our involvement in initiatives like Circular Valley. For those who haven’t come across it, Circular Valley is a regional project in Germany that brings together manufacturers, researchers and start-ups to explore real-world solutions for a circular economy.

Through Circular Valley, we have supported efforts like Plastic Fischer, a start-up company that is the first in the world to tackle river plastic, working to intercept it before it reaches the ocean. With our backing, it has removed over 70 tonnes of plastic from the Ganges’ tributaries and created local employment in the process. It’s a clear example of how partnerships can make a global impact, even if they start small.

We are committed to climate protection on an international basis. Since 2016, for example, we have been involved in a project aiming to regreen areas of the Libyan desert with our local cooperation partner SEKEM. So far, 49,366 trees have been planted, which annually offset 1.804 tonnes of CO2.

The truth is, we live and work thanks to the world around us. The conditions and resources we rely on, air, water, raw materials, aren’t infinite. At KNIPEX, we believe that acknowledging this is essential for business. We want to be a good employer, a reliable partner and a positive presence in society. Success matters to us, but not at any cost. We are guided by long-term thinking and a belief that you can run a responsible, profitable business without cutting corners.

The demand for sustainably made tools is also growing. Whether it’s working on public sector sites with procurement requirements or just doing their bit for the planet, tradespeople increasingly want to know that the products they are using have been made responsibly.

At KNIPEX, we don’t claim to have all the answers, but we are taking action. From cleaner steel and recycled packaging to solar energy and international reforestation, we are proving that toolmaking can be both high quality and low impact. It’s not about ticking sustainability boxes, it’s about doing what’s right, now and for the future, and we are proud to play our part.

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David Williams, Schneider Electric’s Vice President, Transactional Business for the UK & Ireland, explains why electrical professionals are the true trailblazers powering the sustainable revolution.

When we look back at our sustainability journey up to now, it is clear that electrification is at its heart. From the wide-scale introduction of electricity 100 years ago to harnessing it to power a sustainable future today, one thing remains a constant – electrical professionals powering change behind the scenes.

In fact, they have always been the true trailblazers. Between contractors, engineers and electricians, they collectively ensure the transition to a more electrified and energy efficient world is as safe, effective and sustainable as possible. With an increase in innovative and sustainable technologies and the growing momentum of renewable energy sources, these key industry players are the impact makers helping us to embrace this new world of opportunities.

From system integration to the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) to dealing with new sources of electricity and connected electrical heating, these technicians face a challenging future. Let’s take a look at the role these trailblazers have played up to now, how their job will evolve going forward, and consider how partnerships and training can power sustainable success.

A century of electrical evolution

Reflecting on the last 100 years, the role of electrical workers is now unrecognisable. As the trailblazers leading the charge into a new world of electrification in the 1920s and 30s, they were front and centre of the world’s technological revolution. In an era where the average person had little to no understanding of electricity, electrical technicians were the noble pioneers learning how to install or repair electrical systems and bring society into a new era. As the experts who brought light to homes, installed the first electrical appliances and ensured that the new technological innovation was safely integrated into everyday life, they were the people making a serious impact on society.

This pioneering spirit meant that early technicians were keen innovators and problem-solvers, working with rudimentary tools and facing challenges that would be unimaginable today. With the concept of electrification so new, the equipment they dealt with was often bulky, complex and dangerous. In the 1950s post-war boom, when electrical appliances became household and business staples, and moving into the computer age of the 1980s and 1990s, technicians had to adapt and evolve. They had to think, and learn, quickly, transitioning from installing basic lighting and power outlets to handling much more complex systems.

These trailblazers laid the groundwork for the modern electrical systems we take for granted today.

Today’s electrical complexities

Now, a new set of challenges is on the horizon as the world becomes increasingly connected and electrified. The role of an electrical practitioner has expanded beyond simple installations and repairs. Modern technicians must now act as installers and system integrators, capable of managing and connecting a wide array of devices and systems in any type of building. There are four key focus areas as we look to the future:

System integration: With the rapid increase in smart equipment and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, specialists need to understand how to integrate various connected appliances and sensors. From lighting systems to smart thermostats to security cameras, professionals must ensure that all devices must work seamlessly together, systems are installed correctly and that communication between these systems is smooth and efficient.

The rise of EVs: As electric vehicles become more popular in the transition toward a sustainable future, electrical professionals are increasingly tasked with installing and upgrading EV charging stations in homes and businesses. This task requires a deep understanding of electrical load management and the ability to ensure that the charging station is safely connected to the building’s electrical system.

Energy efficiency and renewables: With energy efficiency becoming a priority, many homes and businesses are adopting connected systems that allow remote control and optimised energy use. Electrical professionals now play a critical role in installing and maintaining these systems, ensuring they operate safely and efficiently. The shift to sustainable energy sources – like solar panels and heat pumps – requires skilful and safe integration into existing technologies.

Digitalisation: Moving forward we need to make sure our systems are future ready and give us the insights we need to be proactive. Digitalisation and the use of advanced technology solutions, such as our own Acti9 active safety system – powerful tools to navigate modern electrical challenges. With increased visibility into how systems perform, technicians can anticipate, diagnose and address potential issues in real time before they become major issues.

Powering a sustainable future

Electrical professionals remain just as vital to progress today as they were in the early 1900s – but what does that role look like in practice? As more organisations prioritise electrification and sustainability to power a better future, skilled electrical partners are helping drive meaningful progress toward Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) targets.

At Schneider Electric, we closely monitor and measure our impact across a range of transformative ESG goals – a commitment that has earned us the title of World’s Most Sustainable Corporation for 2025 by Corporate Knights. This recognition marks Schneider Electric as the only company to top the Global 100 ranking twice, having first led the list in 2021. It highlights both our longstanding dedication to sustainability and the significant gains that can be achieved through strong partnerships with skilled electrical professionals.

A key factor in this success has been surpassing our goal of providing access to green, reliable energy for 50 million people, alongside our ongoing upskilling efforts. In an industry defined by rapid technological change and growing sustainability demands, continuous training is essential for electrical professionals to navigate complex systems and emerging technologies. To support this, we’ve trained over 763,000 people in energy management and recently partnered with Enactus, empowering university students from 10 countries to develop entrepreneurial solutions addressing social challenges tied to the energy transition.

Ultimately, a truly sustainable future can only be achieved with the help of electrical professionals. Throughout the past century, they’ve been at the forefront of technological evolution – and that remains the case today. As sustainability challenges evolve, these key players will continue to adapt and innovate, and it’s up to industry partners to provide the tools, training and guidance they need to lead the way.

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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.

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The lighting sector is embracing verified data on its sustainability claims, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). That was a key lesson from Circular Lighting Live 2024 in London. The conference and exhibition, held on 9^th October in London was packed with new information, initiatives and updates on all issues related to sustainability and lighting.

A theme throughout the day was the growing need for lighting manufacturers to provide credible third party certified environmental metrics such as Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) and EPDs. Recolight used the event to unveil its partnership with One Click LCA, which provides lighting manufacturers with a luminaire specific online tool to generate LCAs and EPDs.

The impact of AI on lighting product design and manufacture also featured strongly, as did the benefits of using additive manufacturing (3D printing) and newer, non-fossil fuel based bioplastics.  The importance of establishing an organisational baseline carbon footprint and setting carbon reduction targets was also covered in detail, supported by the availability of a new Recolight/Auditel carbon assessment service.

300 attendees, sponsors, and speakers hailed the event as a resounding success. The unanimous feedback from delegates confirmed that Circular Lighting Live, now in its third year, provides essential information and clarity in what is a both a vital, but also a rapidly changing landscape.

Greg Bristol of ASD lighting said: “CLL2024 was a fantastic event. I came away awed by the challenge but inspired by the amazing people and companies working towards a more sustainable industry.”

And Martin Wherry of Glamox added: “Circular Lighting Live 2024 was an inspiring and essential gathering. It showcased how the industry is coming together to innovate around circularity, pushing the boundaries of sustainable lighting design while embracing AI and digitalisation. The focus on reuse and refurbishment is exactly the kind of forward-thinking approach our sector needs to achieve net-zero goals”

The event was organised by Recolight, and the conference was hosted and curated by Ray Molony, editor of the Circular Lighting Report. The organisers have already confirmed that Circular Lighting Live 2025 will be held on 25 September 2025, at a newer and larger venue in central London.

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