Thorlux recycles paint powder coating
Thorlux Lighting has begun recycling the powder coating at its factory in Redditch, Worcestershire.
Launched in January this year, the programme has so far collected 150 bags of powder totalling over 3 tonnes.
This recycled powder has now been used to spray nearly 63,000 components for luminaires.
The company also operates a four-day week in the spray shop, reducing the amount of gas used in the drying ovens through improved efficiency.
Other sustainability measures adopted by the brand include an extensive which solar installation came online in 2019 and supplied around 225,000 kWh of electricity yearly.
Thorlux considerably expanded the solar grid in 2023; it now delivers an 1 million kWh annually from 3,138 photovoltaic panels.
This electricity helps power the plant and equipment and charge the company’s fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles.
On days with lower demand, Thorlux feeds excess energy captured into the national grid.
On good weather days, the whole site can be powered just from the PV system. The company says that over its anticipated 25-year operational lifetime, the solar PV system will avoid the creation of approximately 4856 tonnes of carbon through reduced consumption.
Thorlux uses fully recycled, biodegradable, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified cardboard for its luminaires. Card offcuts are baled and recycled.
Additionally, paper-based packing tape is used instead of vinyl.
More recently, the company has been piloting a cardboard recycling scheme for its luminaire packaging. So far, over 10 tonnes of cardboard have been returned, which has been reused or recycled through waste management partners.
Thorlux has moved to digital installation guides, saving over 1.3 million sheets of paper yearly – equivalent to 131 trees. Contractors can access installation information for the luminaire and the lighting control system by scanning a QR code on either the packaging or the product.
• Diary date: Circular Lighting Live 2025, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, takes place on Thursday 25 September 2025 at the Minster Building in the City of London. Free to specifiers, Circular Lighting Live 2025 will feature leading experts, specifiers and policy makers who will share their insights into forthcoming standards and legislation, emerging technologies and new business models. More info: www.circularlighting.live
