UN GLOBAL COMPACT
Taking action on climate change represents one of this century’s most defining topic. To recognize the transition to a zero-carbon economy is the only way to secure a sustainable future for all. Launched in 2000, by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the UN Global Compact was initiated to bring business and the United Nations together. When businesses unite, they are a powerful force for good by upholding universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour and the environment.
Although important progress has been made, the actions do not currently match the ambition and pace necessary to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 shows that humanity is on an unsustainable path, with climate change occurring much faster than anticipated, accelerating ocean acidification, 1 million plant and animal species at risk of extinction, deepening inequality and persistent poverty, and unsustainable consumption and production patterns.
All stakeholders must unite to transform this collective aspiration into reality. The aim with the UN Global Compact is to uniting business for a better world. From that goal the initiative “Recover better” was born.
RECOVER BETTER
When celebrating the 20th anniversary of the UN Global Compact, an event themed “Recover Better, Recover Stronger, Recover Together” was arranged. It was a platform where leaders from business, civil society, Governments and the UN were challenged to reflect on the importance of collaboration and public-private partnerships. The goal was to increase their ambition to achieve the sustainable development goals.
The Recover Better statement was signed in June 2020 by approximately 150 different companies, including well-known brands as the H&M Group, Husqvarna Group, Inter IKEA Group and INDITEX, to just name a few. The core of the agreement is divided in three areas:
- DEMONSTRATE THAT THE BEST DECISIONS AND ACTIONS ARE GROUNDED IN SCIENCE.
By implementing ambitious science-based targets, we aim to set the world on a 1.5°C trajectory leading to healthier and safer people, and a healthier and safer planet. - INVEST IN RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE FOR A SYSTEMIC SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION.
By divesting from fossil fuels and innovating in low-carbon, resilient solutions, we are prioritizing green jobs and sustainable growth, protecting nature and people, and delivering on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. - WORK WITH GOVERNMENTS AND SCALE UP THE MOVEMENT.
By advocating for enabling policies aligned with a 1.5°C trajectory and zero carbon economy, we look to policymakers to give businesses the confidence and clarity they need to take ambitious climate action.
HOW CAN THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY PARTICIPATE?
It is very visible in the Overshoot day-graphic, that us humans has for a long period of time consumed over our assets. And to be able to meet the needs of a growing population, we need to household with our resources more efficiently. This is a challenge for all industries and organisations, not only producing companies.
- Changing the current state for the climate, is not an individual task, says Niclas Thulin, Environmental Coordinator at Fagerhults Belysning. It is a joint effort, that we must do together. Set in the context of Covid -19, the reality has showed more than ever before how connected we humans are, and how our actions echoes worldwide. We are working very actively at Fagerhult to reduce our carbon footprint and are constantly seeking to develop our effort and our ways of working – to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Thulin continues:
- We have done lifecycle assessments on some of our luminaires, where we have analysed the environmental impact during our products lifetime. We have found that the biggest environmental impact occurs from when the luminaires are in use. This is why the choice of energy – renewable sources, coal or nuclear – makes a great difference in the carbon footprint. Another important issue which will affect the carbon footprint is the energy consumption during usage. It can be decreased very effectively with smart controls, such as sensors in our solutions. Together, these are both simple options, but also possibilities of making conscious choices which can contribute to decrease climate impact significantly.
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Fagerhult’s medical supply units approved under the Medical Device Regulation
Fagerhult’s medical supply units are now approved under the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR). ”We see the benefit of offering our customers products that are already tailored to meet future requirements,” says Lars Handberg, Technical Product Manager for medical supply units. The former Medical Device Directive (MDD) has been replaced by the new Medical Device Regulation (MDR). Suppliers must complete the transition by 31 December 2028 at the latest. Fagerhult is already delivering its medical supply units in full compliance with MDR. ”Fagerhult began early to ensure our documentation and processes were aligned with the new regulation MDR. As a result, Fagerhult’s units already meet the requirements of MDR 2017/745, Article 22,” says Lars Handberg. Img As a consequence of this, the classic CE marking is removed. The reason is that according to the regulation, if you choose to follow Article 22, modular products - the ward panels should not be provided with an additional CE mark, (Article 22, Section 5) beacuse the included components are already CE marked. ”This doesn’t impact the functionality or safety of our products. It is simply a result of the legal framework. Our medical supply units comply with product standards and remain just as safe as before. However, it’s worth noting this in case anyone wonders why the CE marking is no longer present on the new products being delivered”, Lars Handberg explains.
Closing the loop – and extending the lifecycle of luminaires
The concept of rebuilding old luminaires to save material and energy is growing. Sometimes, all an outdated luminaire needs to shine bright again is some tender love and engineering skills. We met Emma Hallman, Mathilda Holl and Andreas Ekslätt, the team behind ReLight at Fagerhult, to discuss the challenges of finding solutions that will take old luminaires into the future. At Fagerhult, a deeply rooted innovation culture influences all aspects of work. Possibly, it springs from the founder Bertil Svensson's mindset of solving problems with sometimes small means – and curiosity and dedication. Unlike today, sustainability may not have been a buzzword back then. However, using our resources consciously and striving for high quality have always been cornerstones for Fagerhult. Today, a new focus on circularity has urged us to challenge our thinking and makes us conscious of finding long-lasting solutions. Fagerhult's Bespoke Lighting Solutions (BLS) department has developed unique luminaires and adapted solutions for many years. So, refurbishing and updating old luminaires is something familiar to us. However, the ambition to reuse and rebuild old luminaires to lower climate impact has increased over time. In this process, yesterday's design and technology are brought up to speed by today's advances to meet the requirements of tomorrow. Quote ReLight your old luminaires To the ReLight team at Fagerhult, there are no unusual questions or impossible solutions. Daily, they manage inquiries regarding specially developed lighting solutions for projects from Fagerhult's markets. It's a complex process, but over time, they have learnt that some projects are ideal for reusing old luminaires instead of investing in new ones. "To us, the luminaire's qualities in lighting comfort, safety and aesthetics are at the core of every ReLight project. When requested, we also calculate if – and how much – we can reduce the luminaire's total climate impact through its lifecycle." says Emma Hallman. Within ReLight, there is an outspoken will to save materials and energy – and make an environmental effort by updating the luminaires. However, not all old luminaires can live forever; some are outdated and better recycled than refurbished. Img "If the circumstances don't meet our requirements and it doesn't work to rebuild the luminaire, we will not take the project further. We would never compromise on light comfort, quality, safety or the expression of the luminaire if it does not result in a first-class end solution", says Emma Hallman. At Fagerhult, safety and quality are the red threads that combine all products. And ReLight is no exception. Throughout the process, CE-marking and testing are crucial factors. "To ensure the overall quality, the updated luminaire is CE-marked in full before delivery. We also want to make the installation on site both smooth and quick, and the new kit is as close to a complete luminaire as possible," says Andreas Ekslätt, Design Engineer.