Reducing plastics in mass production, including lighting fixtures, which are currently such a product, is becoming an urgent challenge of our time.
This is especially true where plastic serves its functional purpose for only a relatively short time, subsequently causing problems with the functionality of lighting fixtures and, of course, their later disposal. Investing in lighting designed to last 25–30 years, which respects produced resources and allows for the easy recycling of used materials, is a significant step towards sustainable development. Manufacturers who prioritize ecology, not just for image purposes, are those who engage in research on the environmental impact of their products and implement innovations from the design and testing stages. The greatest importance lies in using raw materials in the production process that can be recycled. AEC Illuminazione lighting fixtures are marked with the ‘Plastic Free’ icon because they are made from 96% recyclable materials. Plastics used in these constructions are limited only to essential electrical components, as required by electrical insulation standards for such devices.
The efficiency of a lighting system also significantly impacts its environmental effects. High efficiency helps to minimize electricity consumption, reduce CO2 emissions, and limit light pollution. The quality of the product itself is also crucial here. Lighting fixtures with optics made from plastic are more prone to aging, to micro-damage to lenses due to high temperatures, and yellowing of the material responsible for shaping the photometric body. This results in the progressive degradation of the optical system in such equipped fixtures and, unacceptably, uncontrolled changes in the emission color and shape of the photometric body. Lighting fixtures, or rather optical systems in such fixtures, need to be replaced more often, increasing installation costs, and the used ones become a problematic environmental issue. It is worth mentioning other costs generated by these types of fixtures. More frequent servicing, storage, and disposal can be a significant burden on the budgets of offices, municipalities, or businesses.
As consumers or investors, we are not always aware that our purchasing choices greatly impact the world we live in. By supporting innovative technologies and promoting ecological awareness in the lighting sector, we can help protect the environment and create better living conditions for future generations. In today’s world, it doesn’t matter where plastic is produced and used, whether in Asia, Europe, or Africa; what matters is that it is produced and is becoming a permanent part of our ecosystem, changing our lives, and certainly turning future generations’ lives into a nightmare of uncontrolled climate phenomena.
