The 5th edition of Circular Lighting Live – and not including all the other CL events that Nigel Harvey and the Recolight team have been responsible for over the past decade – has been announced for Thursday 8th October 2026, at the Minster Building in the City of London.
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There are those who think that pushing a circular economy manufacturing model ha had its day and, with the state of the global economy on something of a knife edge, there are more important things to worry about. But that’s not right. Two things:
- Just because something is more difficult doesn’t make it any less important – and vital for all our futures
- Change is happening but, like the inevitable frog in a saucepan, it comes without much drama. And there are few companies around these days who do not have some kind of circular economy strategy; sure there’s greenwash a-plenty, but there IS CHANGE and we need to embrace and celebrate that.
Anyway, here’s a bit from the Recolight Press Release (my own bit of recycling . . . )
At the heart of this year’s conference is Vision 2040: Restructuring the lighting sector, where the keynote speaker will imagine a world beyond the take-make-use-waste model. Will inventory live in ceilings rather than warehouses? Could lumens be delivered on subscription? And is a fully circulating, zero-waste ecosystem finally within reach?
Following the keynote presentation, delegates can choose from six specially curated sessions to get the most out of the day.
- REAL WORLD REUSE: MAKING IT WORK | Practical case studies demonstrating how luminaires can be reused at scale, overcoming logistical, technical, and cultural barriers to deliver true circularity.
- EPDs ON TRIAL: FIT FOR PURPOSE? | Experts scrutinise environmental product declarations, questioning assumptions and examining whether they genuinely support better decision-making.
- MATERIALS MASTERCLASS: MAKING THE FUTURE | A deep dive into materials innovation, supply chains, and design choices shaping resilient, low-impact lighting solutions.
- CONFRONTING CAT A: THE ALTERNATIVES | Rethinking standard fit-outs, this session explores viable alternatives that reduce waste, preserve value, and challenge default demolition practices.
- FUTURE LIGHTS: INNOVATION WORKSHOP |Speakers showcase the most sustainable luminaires on the market today, exploring the key materials, technologies, and concepts driving progress.
- DISRUPTIVE DESIGN: PROJECTS UNCOVERED |A close look at the stand-out lighting schemes of 2026, revealing what truly sustainable design looks like in practice.
And on a personal note: if there’s one thing that frustrates me, its the concept of the multi-track conference. How do you choose?
So here’s an idea: team-up with five other friendly folk and agree who attends which session – then take yourself off to the pub for a de-brief at the end of it all. And whoever draws the short straw of the EPDs on Trial gets free drinks all night; OK?
But, whatever you do, make sure you’re there because Circular Lighting Live and Recolight continue to make a difference to the way that we do things.
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A FINAL NOTE
The one-day multitrack conference will also incorporate the presentation ceremony of the prestigious Build Back Better Awards 2026 and an expansive exhibition where pioneering brands will unveil innovations in sustainable lighting.
So two more things to look forward to, then. Don’t forget to spend time with the manufacturers who, ultimately, are the guys who decide whether Circular Lighting Live happens or not. And we help and support them to make the right decision by being in the room with them.
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