Global Leaders Form UVSAFE Alliance to Advocate for Mercury-Free UV Disinfection

UVSAFE unites leaders from across the UVC value chain with a shared mission: to educate the industry on the performance, availability, and environmental benefits of UVC LED systems. The alliance supports international efforts such as the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury, which aims to reduce the use of mercury in products and processes to protect human health and the environment.

“It is already clear today that UV-C LED technology is changing how we disinfect air, surfaces and water, thus enabling new possibilities in a wide variety of applications,” said Nina Reiser, Senior Product Manager at ams OSRAM. “We are convinced that mercury-free disinfection with the power of light will make daily life much healthier, safer, and more pleasant.”

UVSAFE will serve as an open, non-exclusive consortium that consolidates and shares credible data on the performance of UVC LEDs and associated systems. The alliance aims to accelerate the global transition away from mercury-based UV lamps—especially in the face of growing regulatory scrutiny and pending RoHS exemption expirations in the EU.

“There should be no argument that UVC LED technology is rapidly gaining commercial traction, increasingly replacing traditional mercury lamps,” said Erik Swenson, President of Nichia America Corporation. “This shift—similar to what we saw with visible LEDs—is driven by major advances in both source and system technologies. As the global leader in LED innovation, Nichia is proud to support UVSAFE in its mission to build a sustainable, mercury-free future.”

“At Watersprint, we believe the time is right to move beyond mercury for good,” said André Carlsson, CEO. “UVC LED technology has reached a level of performance and reliability that enables safe, sustainable, and future-ready solutions. Together with our fellow UVSAFE members, we’re shaping a cleaner, healthier world, one innovation at a time.”

The alliance is not anti-mercury—but pro-science, pro-safety, and pro-sustainability.

“Transitioning to a new technology platform can be unsettling, leading to exaggeration and misinterpretation of facts on all sides,” said Oliver Lawal, CEO of AquiSense, Incorporated. “The intention of UVSAFE is not to be anti-mercury, but rather to promote viable alternatives that ensure long-term Minamata compliance.”

In addition to aligning with environmental treaties, the alliance aims to promote education across industries, especially in sectors like healthcare, water treatment, and consumer products where UVC disinfection plays an increasingly critical role.

“As global water systems modernize, it's imperative we align disinfection technologies with environmental and regulatory progress while capturing the benefits of technical innovation,” said Eoin Connolly, President & CEO of Crystal IS. “This cross-industry alliance brings together leaders committed to ending mercury lamp exemptions and advancing market education on UVC LEDs. These solid-state solutions offer a safer, more sustainable path forward—and it's time the industry fully embraces that future.”

“Cleanbox Technology is proud to be a founding member of UVSAFE, reflecting our commitment to advancing consumer safety and environmental sustainability," said Amy Hedrick, CEO. "As one of the earliest adopters of UVC LED technology in commercial product engineering, we’ve seen firsthand the long-term value UVC LED products bring to both enterprise and consumer markets. It’s an honor to collaborate with industry leaders who recognize that UVC LEDs represent the future of safe, effective, and environmentally responsible disinfection.”

“Lithoglas’ work in UVC LEDs is centered on improving device performance and long-term stability through engineering excellence in packaging,” said Dr. Ulli Hansen, Executive Manager of Lithoglas. “Through UVSAFE, we have the opportunity to join forces with partners across the supply chain to establish UVC LEDs as reliable, high-performance components, amplify awareness, accelerate adoption, and realize the full potential of UVC LEDs.”

UVSAFE Founding Members

●      ams OSRAM International (Germany, ams-osram.com)

●      AquiSense, Incorporated(USA, aquisense.com)

●      Canopus (USA, canopuswater.co)

●      Cleanbox Technologies (USA, cleanboxtech.com)

●      Crystal IS (USA, cisuvc.com)

●      MSG Lithoglas (Germany, lithoglas.de)

●      Nichia Corporation (Japan, nichia.co.jp)

●      TZIC (France, uvoji.com)

●      Watersprint (Sweden, watersprint.com)

UVSAFE Members will be hosting an education luncheon during the IUVA World Congress in Lisbon on September 10th. To learn more about UVSAFE, explore the founding members, or inquire about joining the alliance, visit www.uvsafe.org.

About UVSAFE
UVSAFE (UV Solutions for a Mercury-Free Earth) Alliance is a global alliance of UVC LED and UVC LED-based system manufacturers formed to educate and advocate for the adoption of mercury-free ultraviolet disinfection technologies. The group supports regulatory alignment with the UN Minamata Convention and other global initiatives, promoting credible performance data and practical resources to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.

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