Sustainable LED drivers for energy-efficient light solutions

Being a member of the Zumtobel Group, Tridonic is following a transition plan to reduce CO₂ emissions in various business divisions according to the provisions of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). 

Tridonic’s excite (EXC4) and premium (PRE4) series compact drivers are particularly suitable for lighting solutions which require the LED driver being placed outside the lamp in the installation space. Typical areas of application include downlights, spotlights or decorative lighting systems in offices, educational facilities or museums. 

To further improve the carbon footprint of this LED driver series, Tridonic tested Covestro’s more sustainable RE series as a housing material.  

Using more sustainable raw materials that help reduce CO₂ emissions during production without compromising on quality or performance presents quite a challenge. 

Our ISCC PLUS-certified RE product portfolio, which includes materials such as Makrolon® RE, helps fulfill this challenging task. 

The use of ISCC PLUS-certified plastics containing bio-circular components, is a crucial step in reducing Scope 3 emissions, which are generated from the procurement of raw materials. Due to its high percentage of attributed bio-circular raw materials, the Makrolon® RE plastic used by Tridonic has a carbon footprint that is 80% lower than conventional, fossil-based polycarbonate.

Tridonic was able to replace the conventional Makrolon® with Makrolon® RE without encountering any problems. It can be used as a direct drop-in solution without adapting the existing production equipment.

Makrolon® RE was deliberately chosen as a more sustainable material solution for manufacturing LED drivers because it offers decisive benefits. Bio-circular raw materials are attributed via mass balancing, thus ensuring that the product properties are identical to those of conventional Makrolon®. 

The implementation of Makrolon® RE as a drop-in solution was particularly uncomplicated due to existing UL certifications and defined processing parameters.

One considerable benefit is the reduction of the plastic’s carbon footprint by over 80%, which has been verified by LCA calculations. 

It was the excellent cooperation between Tridonic and Covestro that enabled identifying a material solution for LED driver housings which is easy to implement and makes the lighting components more sustainable.