Table of contents
Planet
Rethinking Raw Materials
Sustainability is embedded in every stage of our product lifecycle - from sourcing raw materials to optimising energy efficiency and ensuring responsible end-of-life management. As part of this commitment, we are exploring innovative material alternatives that further minimise waste and resource consumption. The materials we choose to manufacture our luminaires play a crucial role in reducing environmental impact. Luminaires are made up of many components made from aluminium, glass, composites, and plastics , each carefully selected for durability, optical performance and energy efficiency . Since early 2023, we have been evaluating alternative materials that offer environmental benefits while maintaining the high technical performance required for outdoor lighting. One promising innovation is biopolymers - a diverse family of materials that are either bio-based, biodegradable, or both. Unlike conventional plastics, which are derived from fossil fuels, bio-based plastics are derived from renewable sources such as corn, sugar cane or cellulose. These materials significantly reduce GHG emissions and support a more sustainable production cycle.
Through rigorous testing, we have identified several biopolymers that are suitable for high-performance lighting applications: • Protective housing: we incorporate bio-based polypropylene (PP), similar to materials used in the automotive industry. This durable plastic is well suited for UV resistance and extreme weather conditions. • Lenses & Protectors: we are testing bio-based polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and bio-based polycarbonate (PC), which offer the same optical clarity and impact resistance as traditional plastics while offering a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
FRIZA GEN2 luminaire: the latest generation of our FRIZA luminaire features a protective cover and transparent protector made from bio-based plastic, reducing the CO₂ emissions of the luminaire by 28%. By switching to bioplastics for our FRIZA GEN2 luminaire and thereby reducing the GHG emissions, we are demonstrating our commitment to low- carbon product innovation. End-of-Life & Circular Design As well as sourcing sustainable materials, we prioritise design for longevity and recyclability . Unlike single-use plastics, streetlight components are designed for durability and modularity, ensuring parts can be replaced rather than discarded. All plastics used in our luminaires, whether fossil- based or bio-based, are selected to be compatible with either mechanical or chemical recycling processes. Mechanical recycling enables reuse by melting and reshaping the material, while chemical recycling breaks plastics down into their original components for new uses. These routes offer a more resource-efficient alternative to the use of virgin fossil materials, helping to reduce the overall environmental impact. Life Cycle Assessment & Environmental Product Declaration Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the process of assessing the environmental impact of a product over its lifetime, while the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is the document that communicates the details of the LCA results. At Schréder, we established our LCA process in 2019,
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