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 Sometimes, all an outdated luminaire needs to shine bright again is some tender love and engineering skills.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 halves CO₂ emissions – 49% reduction since 2021
Material choices, product innovations, reuse initiatives, and a systematic analytical approach underpin Fagerhult’s reduced climate impact. Over five years, total CO₂ emissions have decreased by 49 per cent – far exceeding the company’s own targets. Using resources wisely has been a cornerstone throughout Fagerhult’s 80-year history, and it continues to shape the business today. Since 2021, this work has gained even sharper focus and direction, with clear carbon-emission targets, long-term plans, and a comprehensive sustainability programme based on life-cycle assessments (LCA).“A reduction of this magnitude in such a short time shows that systematic work truly makes a difference. It is the result of many large – and small – initiatives, where every improvement contributes to the whole,” says Josefin Carlsson, Sustainability Specialist at Fagerhult. Fagerhult's total CO₂ emissions have decreased by 49 per cent compared to 2021 levels. Many initiatives – one shared direction The success is underpinned by a series of strategic decisions in product development and processes. The work has been carried out across several parallel tracks, following the principle many small streams together create significant impact.“Innovation and sustainable solutions make a real difference for our customers and reduce emissions across the entire value chain – not just in our own production,” adds Josefin Carlsson. Josefin Carlsson, Sustainability Specialist at Fagerhult, Habo. The greatest impact is in the use phase, where emissions since 2021 have been steadily reduced by around 200,000 tonnes of CO₂e – a 49 per cent decrease. At the same time, emissions in Scope 1 and 2 have been reduced by 60 per cent compared with the base year. Sustainability in practice A decisive factor behind this progress is the many parallel initiatives, with material choices playing a central role.Since 2025, the majority of luminaires with housings made from extruded aluminium profiles contain up to 75 per cent recycled material. This contributes to an annual climate saving of approximately 225 tonnes of CO₂e.In 2025, Fagerhult reused more than one hundred luminaires per working day through the ReLight initiative. By upgrading existing luminaires with new technology and extending their life cycle, the climate impact from materials and production is significantly reduced. In total, more than 50,000 products have been given a new lease of life through reuse.Product development is also a key driver of the transition, and several innovations have both reduced climate impact and increased energy efficiency: Multilume Re:Think has reduced Scope 3 emissions by over 320 tonnes of CO₂e through smart design and environmentally sustainable material choices since its launch in 2021. This is equivalent to planting and growing 1,300 trees for ten years. Twin Dual Driver has reduced the climate impact of control gear by 49 per cent through more efficient electronics and improved material composition. Wrapped’s Solid Board housing has up to 89 per cent lower climate impact per kilogram compared with virgin aluminium. Gallery - products At the same time, more than one in ten luminaires sold today includes an integrated sensor, helping to reduce energy consumption during operation. A key factor behind the success is the long-term, fact-based approach.“Based on life cycle assessments, we have identified where and when climate impact occurs – and which actions have the greatest impact. We’re now carrying that knowledge forward in our continued efforts to further reduce our climate impact,” concludes Josefin Carlsson.
Fagerhult is switching LEDs to reduce its climate impact
Fagerhult is implementing a major change with the aim of reducing the climate impact of its luminaires. By switching to the latest LED technology, Fagerhult is able to reduce annual emissions by 2,250 tonnes CO₂e from the products it sells. “A small change in each luminaire that has a huge overall impact,” says Niclas Thulin, Sustainability Manager at Fagerhult. The decision to replace the LED technology in the luminaires is a strategic one and has been made at management level. In practice, this means that the majority of Fagerhult’s Indoor range will be equipped with new LEDs featuring the latest generation of Flip Chip technology. This change will improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption by 5–10 percent, depending on the luminaire model. A small change with a big impact “Successful sustainability efforts entail focusing on the right things. In all, 85 percent of Fagerhult’s total climate impact across the entire value chain – Scopes 1–3, in other words – comes from the energy consumption associated with the use of our products. If we can improve efficiency and reduce electricity consumption from a significant portion of our product range, this will have a major impact,” says Niclas Thulin. Extended lifetime from 50,000 to 100,000 hours, with stable, high-quality light throughout. “It’s always difficult to predict exactly how much a change will save, since there are many factors at play. But by using data from 2025 – how many luminaires we sold and to which markets – and assuming that they are used for an average of 50,000 hours without lighting control, we estimate potential savings of approximately 2,250 tonnes of CO₂e each year*.” That is basically an entire forest: “That’s roughly equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by 90,000 trees in a year**. As a result, this change could have a significant impact on both our own and our customers’ environmental efforts.” A small LED upgrade can reduce emissions by approximately 2,250 tonnes of CO₂e per year – equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed annually by 90,000 trees. Doubling the operating time The change also offers other sustainability benefits. The operating time of the luminaires is doubled from 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. In the long run, this will entail a reduction in the consumption of resources such as raw materials and other materials. It will also provide financial benefits for our customers, who can make a secure and profitable investment in energy-efficient lighting with a longer working life. With this new technology, all luminaires will also have a Constant Light Output, providing stable, high-quality light throughout the luminaire’s working life. Put simply, good lighting ergonomics at work. How it works A small change that produces big results – what exactly makes the difference from a technical standpoint?“Our approach involves replacing standard LEDs with the latest generation of Flip Chip technology. In simple terms, Flip Chip has a more advanced design in which electrodes and other contact surfaces are positioned in such a way that they do not block or affect the light output. Flip Chip LEDs are simply more energy-efficient and robust,” explains Niclas Thulin.Luminaire models that already feature this type of LED will be upgraded to the latest generation of Flip Chip, as will all models that were previously equipped with standard LEDs. A win-win for everyone The cost of the upgrade will not be passed on to customers in the form of more expensive luminaires but will be financed through the logistical benefits that the change will bring. Sustainability Manager Niclas Thulin regularly meets customers in Fagerhult’s Sustainability Hub —bringing to life how informed lighting choices can deliver both climate and cost savings. “Larger purchase volumes and fewer item numbers mean we can offer these added benefits. Improved energy efficiency, a longer working life and better light quality, lower energy consumption and, above all, a significant contribution to the climate,” says Niclas Thulin.“Here at Fagerhult, we are committed to fulfilling our social responsibility and offering solutions that can address both climate change and the challenges associated with future electricity supplies. In our opinion, our customers shouldn’t have to choose between affordability and sustainability when it’s possible to have both. It's a win-win for everyone.” * Emission factors by country, based primarily on data from the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB).** Based on average carbon dioxide absorption according to Ecotree.