Net Zero Lighting Conference promotes holistic approach to sustainability
Achieving Net Zero for lighting must encompass everything from supply-chain sustainability and logistics to customer engagement – this was one of the key messages to come from the Net Zero Lighting Conference in London on 2nd May.
The event was organised by The Lighting Industry Association (LIA) and Recolight. It brought together 120 delegates and speakers for a comprehensive review of the challenges around the decarbonisation of manufacture in the industry. Lighting manufacturers Ledvance, Whitecroft, Stoane Lighting and Knightsbridge, shared some of the strategies they have adopted to reduce carbon emissions.
“What’s clear to me is that moving towards Net Zero and sustainability is not a tick-box exercise, but more about changing the culture of your organisation,” said Conference Chair Ray Molony. “And when you change that culture, good things flow. For instance, staff, especially younger members of the team, become energised and engaged in a way few management initiatives can achieve.”
Ray added: “A number of companies said that they gained enormously from beginning their sustainability journey. Far from being a burden, gathering and analysing data on their processes such as their energy use and their supply-chain, helped organisations identify waste and potential cost savings. In some cases, the savings were dramatic.”
Nigel Harvey, Recolight CEO, said: “It has been inspiring to hear of the work some lighting manufacturers are now undertaking as they start to decarbonise their operations. Nobody should underestimate the challenge this involves. But the commitment to make change was tangible, and the number of delegates confirming that they would implement changes as a result of the conference was very encouraging.”
