Meet the wooden downlight
A downlightmade from hardwood has become the latest product in the trend for wooden luminaires.
Slovakian firm Setup Lighting says the light will appeal as each showcases ‘unique illuminated wood grain textures, adding warmth and depth’ to interiors.
The firm says that ‘when it comes to the carbon dioxide footprint and sustainability, wood is the most genius building material.
‘It grows continuously in our forests, binds carbon dioxide from our atmosphere and gives oxygen back. Only in Europe, there is 5,000 square kilometres more wood growing than we consume.
‘By managed forests old tries are removed and replaced by young trees which again bind the carbon in a much more efficient way.’
The firm says that its products can store up to one ton of CO₂ per cubic metre, underscoring their role in promoting a circular economy. Setup Lighting, based in Kalinkovo, Slovakia, specialises in the design and production of lights crafted from natural materials. Options include oak, ash, cherry, and American walnut. Each piece is treated to maintain form stability and can be coated to meet flame-retardant standards required for public buildings.
The downlight is the first from wood from Setup, which has historically created linear luminaires and circular wooden pendants. All products pass the glow wire test and receive a special coating to make them flame retardant to DIN 4102 B1.
Other firms making luminaires from wood include Fagerhult, Lyktan, TRT Lighting, Philip Payne, French brand Kraken and US firm Lightly.
Philip Payne’s Arden wooden emergency sign received prestigious platinum and green awards in the lighting category of the 2024 Build Back Better Awards.
In 2020, Setup received a special £137,000 grant from Norway Grants, co-financed by a £20,000 grant contribution from the Slovak state budget. The funding is designed to boost the competitiveness of Slovak enterprises.
• Learn more about sustainable lighting at Circular Lighting Live 2025, Recolight’s flagship conference and exhibition, which 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
