LightingEurope | Business | Jun 04, 2025

Lighting: A Critical, Yet Overlooked, Technology in the EU Green Transition

As Europe strides towards more sustainability, the energy efficiency industrial ecosystem is pivotal, with lighting playing a crucial, yet often underappreciated role. Beyond mere utility, lighting enhances life quality, is a cornerstone of energy efficiency and should be better recognised as such in EU legislation.

Today, supported by 17 of our national association members, we publish a statement highlighting the vital role of lighting in Europe's green and competitive future.

The impact of lighting technologies
In Europe, lighting represents about 12% of the electricity consumption. Transitioning to energy-efficient lighting offers an immediate opportunity to reduce both energy demand and CO emissions. Europe is only halfway through the shift to LED technology, and combining LEDs with sensors and controls can unlock energy savings of up to 80%.

Europe's lighting industry: A hub of innovation
The European lighting market, valued at over €20 billion, is a hotbed of innovation, sustaining around 120,000 jobs, with over 600 patents filed between 2021 and 2022. The sector has a strong European footprint, with most R&D conducted on the continent.

A Call for Recognition and Action
To fully leverage the benefits of lighting, we urge policymakers to:

  • Recognise lighting as an essential technology for the green transition, including through incentives and financing support via EU budget instruments.
  • Implement ambitious energy efficiency measures and renovation policies at the national level.
  • Prioritise quality and sustainability in public procurement.
  • Simplify and clarify lighting product rules, without overhauling existing requirements.
  • Strengthen the enforcement of existing EU rules, especially in online markets.

How to Access the LightingEurope Statement
Read the statement and the full list of recommendations here.


© 2025 Luger Research e.U. – Institute for Innovation & Technology

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