13 January 2025: New guidance to support the lighting industry’s transition to a more circular approach through remanufacturing and give consumers confidence in these products, has been published by BSI.
The standard aims to provide clear guidance for manufacturers and customers on extending the lifecycle of luminaires and lighting equipment to reduce waste, conserve resources, and advance the circular economy. The guidance is designed to help the lighting industry enhance its sustainability by lowering demand for virgin materials, reducing energy consumption and minimising use of resources in production.
Design for MADE (Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly, and End-of-Life Processing) BS 8887-221:2024 is the first sector-specific addition to the BS 8887 series of six standards. Developed for lighting manufacturers, designers, and purchasers, the standard provides clarity on the process involved in remanufacturing lighting products and enables the industry to provide circular options to its clients as well as tackling the waste, imports and emissions associated with regular lighting design. It aims to enable the lighting sector’s transition to the regular use of remanufactured products, to champion circular economy practices and contribute to meaningful, long-term environmental benefits.
The World Resources Institute estimates that approximately 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions are linked to product use and manufacturing. Adopting circular economy strategies, such as remanufacturing, can significantly reduce resource consumption and cut emissions by 39% — equivalent to 22.8 billion tons. Remanufacturing, which restores used products to at least their original performance with a warranty equal to or better than that of a new product, is a critical component in advancing the circular economy. Furthermore, research from BSI[1] indicates that 72% of consumers would consider purchasing remanufactured products if quality is guaranteed, highlighting a clear consumer demand.
The standard, developed by BSI in its role as the UK National Standards Body, provides the sector with the vocabulary and procedures needed to specify, plan, and carry out work on existing and/or used luminaires to provide a remanufactured product. It establishes a methodology that supports the work of remanufacturers while instilling confidence in purchasers and end-users that the process has been completed in line with accepted industry norms.
Sebastiaan Van Dort, Director of Sustainability and Energy, BSI, said: “While the benefits of transitioning to a circular economy are clear, many organizations still face challenges in embedding these practices into their everyday operations. The launch of this guidance (BS 8887-221:2024) is intended to play a central role in helping the lighting sector reduce waste, minimize demand for virgin materials, and lower energy and resource expenditure through remanufacturing.”
“As businesses increasingly seek to protect the planet's future, this standard is designed to provide practical solutions to key challenges in the lighting industry and help society reach the tipping point where circularity becomes the more feasible choice, ultimately accelerating progress toward a sustainable future.”
BS 8887-221:2024 forms part of BSI’s sustainability portfolio of standards which aim to support industry’s move to a more circular, sustainable economy.
[1] Data collected with international polling of over 9,300 people across nine countries for BSI’s Thirst for Change; Accelerating Progress to a Water Secure World: https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/campaigns/thirst-for-change/
