International environment and climate protection goals

Within the framework of Kyoto 1997 climate protection objectives, the EU defined a series of measures for the economical and sustainable use of resources. After prohibiting conventional fluorescent lamp ballasts in EU Directive 2000/55/EC, reducing hazardous materials content as part of EU Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS), and regulating the disposal of discarded electronic devices in EU Directive 2002/96/EG (WEEE), the EU issued a framework directive, EU Directive 2005/32/EC, to define requirements for acceptable environmental design (eco-design) of energy-using products (EuP). In November 2009, this directive was replaced with an updated framework directive, EU Directive 2009/125/EC, relating to the eco-design of energy-related products (ErP). This change did not affect implementing measures already issued.

These Implementing Measures for consumer-sector lamps (244/2009 Domestic Lighting, part 1) and fluorescent and high-pressure discharge lamps (245/2009 Professional Lighting) reflect EU climate targets set at the beginning of 2007 that extend to 2020. The core objective of these ambitious goals is to reduce CO₂ emissions in the EU by 20% by 2020. In the professional lighting sector, reductions of just over 20 million metric tons of CO₂ are being targeted and another 24 million metric tons in consumer lighting.

Implementing measures of the EU Directive

In April 2009, based on Article 15 of the EuP Directive by the European Commission, two regulations were enacted as implementing measures, which establish specific requirements for sub-areas in electrical lighting.

Regulation EC 244/2009 for Domestic Lighting (part 1, modified by Regulation EC 859/2009) sets requirements for acceptable eco-design of consumer-sector lamps with diffuse light. It covers technologies that can generally be used in private households, namely incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts, and LED retrofits.

Regulation EC 245/2009 for Professional Lighting sets requirements for ecological design of products used primarily in highway, industrial, and office lighting, which includes fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent lamps without integrated ballasts, and high-pressure discharge lamps with E27, 40 and PGZ12 sockets as well as ballasts and luminaires for fluorescent lamps and high-pressure discharge lamps.

OSRAM contributions to environmental protection

Comprehensive environmental protection has long been a focus of efforts at OSRAM. From the economical use of resources to extensive programs for avoiding waste and hazardous materials to the development of energy-saving lamps and systems – from development and production to sales, disposal, and recycling.