Our vision statement, ‘Saving the planet, one remanufacture at a time,’ has been a driving force for us for many years. Since its conception, we have created a dedicated remanufacturing lab, The White Cube; a fully equipped testing and photometry facility, The Black Box; employed more remanufacturing technicians; and completed some of the most ambitious, large-scale remanufacturing projects in the country.
Today, we’re delighted to announce another major step forward in that mission: DRK Lighting has achieved BS 8887-220 certification, the British Standard for the process of remanufacture of luminaires. DRK MD, Darren Roper-Knight said, ‘This certification is incredibly rare, and we are thrilled to have this special recognition.’
This certification reinforces our position at the forefront of sustainable lighting solutions and demonstrates our dedication to delivering environmentally responsible lighting without compromising on safety, quality, performance or warranty.
What is BS 8887-220?
BS 8887-220 is a British Standard that defines the remanufacturing process for turning used products into “as-new” products with equivalent performance and warranty to a new replacement. Developed by BSI as part of the broader MADE framework (Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly, and End-of-Life Processing), the standard provides a structured process for inspection, disassembly, refurbishment, reassembly, testing, and traceability as part of sustainable end-of-life product management.
The BSI standard covers everything from:
- Inspection and assessment
- Component selection and replacement
- Electrical and mechanical remanufacture
- Testing and validation
- Traceability and compliance documentation
This is a clear, recognised benchmark for sustainable lighting remanufacture.
Why remanufacturing matters
The lighting industry is undergoing a huge shift towards the circular economy and the design of systems that minimise waste and maximise reuse.
Traditionally, ageing or inefficient luminaires were discarded and replaced entirely, even when much of the original fitting remained functional. Remanufacturing changes this unnecessary waste.
By retaining and upgrading existing luminaires rather than replacing them, remanufacturing significantly reduces waste, carbon emissions, energy consumption, and the demand for raw materials.
According to industry estimates, remanufactured lighting products can reduce embodied carbon by between 50% and 80% compared to new replacements.
What remanufacturing offers
Remanufacturing is often confused with recycling or conversions, but BS 8887-220 establishes a much higher standard.
Under the certification framework, remanufactured luminaires must undergo rigorous testing, validation and conformity assessments to ensure they perform safely and reliably.
This means that clients can benefit from:
- Modern lighting performance
- Improved energy efficiency
- Extended product life cycles
- Reduced environmental impact
- Full confidence in compliance and safety
Remanufacturing also offers a practical step to reaching a company’s ESG targets. Carbon reduction commitments and circular economy objectives can be achieved without the disruption and cost associated with lighting replacement.
What this means for DRK Lighting clients
Achieving BS 8887-220 certification demonstrates that DRK Lighting’s remanufacturing processes meet recognised industry best practice.
For our clients, this provides assurance that every remanufactured lighting solution is delivered with:
- Full traceability: Every project is documented and assessed throughout the remanufacturing process.
- Compliance and safety: All remanufactured luminaires are tested to ensure they meet the required standards for performance and electrical safety.
- Sustainable outcomes: Projects actively contribute to reducing waste and lowering embodied carbon.
- Long-term value: Clients can extend the lifespan of existing assets while improving efficiency and reducing operational costs.
Leading the future of sustainable lighting
The launch of BS 8887-220 represents a massive milestone for the lighting industry and a significant step towards circular lighting practices becoming mainstream. Industry bodies have described the standard as a key tool in helping the sector reduce waste, lower emissions, and accelerate sustainable practices.
At DRK Lighting, we are excited to be at the forefront of that movement.
Sustainability is a responsibility that businesses must act on today. By embracing remanufacturing, we can collectively reduce environmental impact while creating smarter, more efficient lighting solutions for the spaces we use every day.
DRK Lighting firmly believe the future of lighting isn’t about replacing everything.
It’s about saving the planet, one remanufacture at a time.
