Beeswax Luminaires: Sustainable lighting through materials design

Biogenic materials like beeswax have potential for sustainable manufacturing by reducing environmental impact. This study introduces “Beeswax Luminaires”, a sustainable lighting solution made from natural beeswax and water via ice-casting. The objectives are to characterize beeswax properties, optim...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Junpyo Kwon, Pelin Asa, Mourad Jaffar-Bandjee, Shahrouz Amini, Peter Fratzl, Karola Dierichs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525004459
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Summary:Biogenic materials like beeswax have potential for sustainable manufacturing by reducing environmental impact. This study introduces “Beeswax Luminaires”, a sustainable lighting solution made from natural beeswax and water via ice-casting. The objectives are to characterize beeswax properties, optimize luminaire design for mechanical strength and light diffusion, and develop scalable robotic fabrication. Results indicate that beeswax maintains rigidity up to 50°C and possesses suitable translucency for lighting. Parametric modeling produced corrugations enhancing flexural rigidity and light diffusion uniformity. Robotic fabrication precisely controlled coating thickness and quality, reducing product defects. Life-cycle assessment showed the production was energy-efficient, consuming less energy than traditional methods. These findings support Beeswax Luminaires as an eco-friendly lighting option, combining sustainability, optimized design and efficient manufacturing.
ISSN:0264-1275