
Closing the loop – and extending the lifecycle of luminaires
The concept of rebuilding old luminaires to save material and energy is growing. Sometimes, all an outdated luminaire needs to shine bright again is some tender love and engineering skills. We met Emma Hallman, Mathilda Holl and Andreas Ekslätt, the team behind ReLight at Fagerhult, to discuss the challenges of finding solutions that will take old luminaires into the future.
At Fagerhult, a deeply rooted innovation culture influences all aspects of work. Possibly, it springs from the founder Bertil Svensson's mindset of solving problems with sometimes small means – and curiosity and dedication. Unlike today, sustainability may not have been a buzzword back then. However, using our resources consciously and striving for high quality have always been cornerstones for Fagerhult. Today, a new focus on circularity has urged us to challenge our thinking and makes us conscious of finding long-lasting solutions.
Fagerhult's Bespoke Lighting Solutions (BLS) department has developed unique luminaires and adapted solutions for many years. So, refurbishing and updating old luminaires is something familiar to us. However, the ambition to reuse and rebuild old luminaires to lower climate impact has increased over time. In this process, yesterday's design and technology are brought up to speed by today's advances to meet the requirements of tomorrow.
"We want to make reusing luminaires a more accessible choice. We have complete standard kits for many luminaires to be ordered more or less off-the-shelf. We thoroughly analyze new requests and design solutions based on our core ideas of light comfort and high quality. We are constantly refining our process, with a desire to facilitate reuse as much as possible." Emma Hallman, Business Development Manager
ReLight your old luminaires
To the ReLight team at Fagerhult, there are no unusual questions or impossible solutions. Daily, they manage inquiries regarding specially developed lighting solutions for projects from Fagerhult's markets. It's a complex process, but over time, they have learnt that some projects are ideal for reusing old luminaires instead of investing in new ones.
"To us, the luminaire's qualities in lighting comfort, safety and aesthetics are at the core of every ReLight project. When requested, we also calculate if – and how much – we can reduce the luminaire's total climate impact through its lifecycle." says Emma Hallman.
Within ReLight, there is an outspoken will to save materials and energy – and make an environmental effort by updating the luminaires. However, not all old luminaires can live forever; some are outdated and better recycled than refurbished.
"If the circumstances don't meet our requirements and it doesn't work to rebuild the luminaire, we will not take the project further. We would never compromise on light comfort, quality, safety or the expression of the luminaire if it does not result in a first-class end solution", says Emma Hallman.
At Fagerhult, safety and quality are the red threads that combine all products. And ReLight is no exception. Throughout the process, CE-marking and testing are crucial factors.
"To ensure the overall quality, the updated luminaire is CE-marked in full before delivery. We also want to make the installation on site both smooth and quick, and the new kit is as close to a complete luminaire as possible," says Andreas Ekslätt, Design Engineer.
TEXT LINDA KARLSSON
PHOTO BJÖRN CEDER

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Fagerhult uses recycled aluminium for high-volume products — ensuring circular use of resources
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As the Scandinavian market leader for innovative and sustainable lighting solutions, Fagerhult now offers its comprehensive range of products for office applications in Germany. It focuses on lighting solutions that enhance human well-being and help more property owners minimise their climate impact and achieve sustainability targets.“We have planned, prepared, and worked hard for a long time – and collectively strived to move towards taking this step. Now I am pleased to announce that we are finally here,” says Frank Augustsson, MD, Fagerhult. “Germany is Europe’s largest market within the office sector, and we strongly believe our knowledge of smart, sustainable and human-centred lighting can make a difference for both people and the environment, along with sharing our vision of creating Light for better living.”The ongoing phase-out of fluorescent tubes, regulated by EU directives, positions Fagerhult as a key player to help its customers reduce energy consumption and minimise climate impact in offices around Germany."Energy efficiency is high on the agenda in Germany, as it is across Europe. Our ambition is therefore to offer Organic Response with all our lighting solutions. This enables a wireless lighting management system based on integrated sensors to automatically detect and share presence and daylight data. As a result, the light follows people – it is only used when and where it is needed, saving up to 70 % energy from day one."Also, in 2024, the European Parliament voted to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to reduce the average energy consumption of buildings. This revision mandates the collection of energy performance data, including lighting, in public and commercial buildings. To optimise your facility, smart lighting with Organic Response offers valuable insights that inform strategic decisions about facility management, from energy consumption to space utilisation.A key driver of sustainability is energy efficiency. A life cycle analysis by Fagerhult shows that, depending on the energy mix, the majority of a luminaire’s greenhouse gas emissions occur during the use phase, reaching up to 95% in the German energy mix. In addition to reducing energy consumption, Fagerhult attaches great importance to exploring and using innovative and sustainable materials. By 2030, all newly developed luminaires are to be made from at least 80% renewable or recycled materials.“We hope to find many new and forward-looking collaborations as we introduce Fagerhult and the Swedish Light to Germany,” says Frank Augustsson.