LED's Buy Greener: Shedding Light on Sustainable Procurement

Sammanfattning: In last decade, the lighting industry significantly changed with the development of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and their corresponding penetration of the market. The new technology increases energy efficiency and longevity compared to other types of lamps. As a result, LEDs can improve the sustainability performance of cities and towns, contributing to the mitigation of climate change and cutting costs over the long term. This report reviews LED procurement from multiple perspectives, formulated as a guide to help public and private stakeholders make more effective and sustainable decisions when buying lighting products. This publication is the collective work of students involved in the Masters of Environmental Science, Policy and Management (MESPOM) programme, currently enrolled at International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE). The research has been performed for the European Union Inter-reg Lighting Metropolis Project, which involves institutions, designers and producers, and municipalities in the Öresund (or Greater Copenhagen) Region of Denmark and Sweden. The first two chapters of the report dive into the initial and final stages of the life cycle of LEDs. These chapters connect the impacts and risks of raw material extraction and supply chains to lighting procurement, and provide recommendations for the integration of end-of-life considerations into the procurement process. Chapter three analyses various national policies that contribute to promoting LEDs in public procurement. Chapter four examines the drivers and barriers for implementing innovative business models through the mapping various actors and their relationships. Finally, chapter five explores the decision-making process and the drivers and barriers of municipalities when procuring lighting solutions. Together, these five chapters provide a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve decision making for sustainable lighting solutions.