Use of Recycled-Based Light Guides and Their Impact on the CO₂ Footprint of Ambient Lighting Systems

Sustainability increasingly shapes societal and political discussions. At its core, sustainability means that within a given system, only as many resources are consumed as can be provided in the long term. 1 In the context of climate change, sustainability implies that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be reduced across all economic sectors to the extent that no GHG are emitted in the long term, thereby achieving climate-neutral processes. Simultaneously, the use of finite natural resources must be minimized. This is a declared goal of EU legislators, who are advancing these objectives through various regulations. The automotive industry, which significantly contributes to GHG emissions and the use of natural resources in the transportation and industrial sectors, is particularly affected by these regulations. Specifically, reduction targets for GHG emissions and target values for the recycled content in new vehicles have been established. This paper examines the feasibility of using recycled-based light guides according to optical criteria and whether the recycled content in the component can be significantly increased through these materials. Additionally, the impact of recycled-based light guide materials in ambient lighting systems on GHG emissions is investigated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This analysis includes emissions generated during production, operation, and recycling.