Thorn factory recognised for its sustainability
Thorn Lighting’s factory in Spennymoor in the north of England has been recognised for its sustainability.
The 40,000 square metre plant in County Durham was awarded the Sustainable Manufacturing Award at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2024. This accolade celebrates Thorn’s approach to sustainability and its ability to integrate environmental responsibility into its operations.
The site achieved a number of recent milestones, including a 1.3 million kWh reduction in energy consumption, a 50 per cent decrease in water usage since March 2021, and a projected 900,000 kWh reduction in gas usage through upcoming optimisations to the paint plant.
The company installed callibrated flow meters to monitor and identify areas of high usage. It also made process changes such as reducing paint treatment waste by 66 per cent.
Additionally, Thorn introduced water saving technologies to its washrooms.
The Zumtobel Group, of which Thorn is a member, has already signed up to 12 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
It has decreased its electricity and gas energy use across its facilities by 1.3M kWh. Measures included installing new compressors and conducting air leak surveys.
The paint plants, high energy consumers in all lighting factories, have also undergone modifications to lower the temperature of the pre-treatment tanks, saving an estimated 30,000 kWh in gas annually.
In terms of waste reduction, it has introduced a regrind process for polycarbonate materials and optimised steel sheet usage, resulting in a reduction of waste by 130 tonnes.
Thorn plans include a rainwater harvesting system to reduce water usage further, enhancements to the paint plant to cut gas consumption by 15 per cent, and investments in advanced waste management systems to minimise hazardous waste by 90 per cent.
‘Winning the Sustainable Manufacturing Award is a proud moment for everyone at Thorn Lighting and the Zumtobel Group,’ Paul Kilburn, managing director at Thorn and Zumtobel UK & Ireland, told the Circular Lighting Report. ‘The Spennymoor factory stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when sustainability is fully integrated into a business’s operations and culture.’
• 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
