Sustainability & CSR
CONTRIBUTING TO A BETTER WORLD
CLS LED considers it important to contribute to a better world and a cleaner planet. Precisely because of the sector in which we operate and the products we offer, we can make a difference in every project in which our products are applied.
Peter van Workum – Owner & Inspirator CLS LED:
“For us, sustainability and innovation go hand in hand; a step forward in our business processes often also means a step forward in sustainability. That is great to see.”
70-80% Lower
Energy use than traditional sources
50.000h
Average LED lifespan
40%
Energy use reduced
95% recyclable
Up to 25 years take-back
LED & Energy reduction
> LED LIGHTING IS SUSTAINABLE BY NATURE
LED lighting is in itself more sustainable than the alternatives and is also more and more seen as a logical choice for replacements. At CLS, we think it is important to work sustainably in the production process as well and to reduce our waste.
Our company contributes to sustainability by definition through the nature of our work. In addition, CLS contributes indirectly to environmental conservation by providing customers with sustainable and energy-efficient lighting solutions.
Energy efficiency
LED lighting uses up to 70-80% less energy than traditional lighting methods, resulting in significant cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint.
Long lifespan
LED fixtures last far longer than traditional lamps, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimising maintenance costs and natural resource use.
No hazardous materials
LED fixtures contain no hazardous materials, allowing for safe disposal and significantly reducing the environmental impact at end of life.
Lower energy costs
Indirectly, CLS shares profits with all the projects our fixtures are used in, as they benefit from lower energy costs due to the energy-efficient LED fixtures.
Reduced maintenance
A 50,000-hour average lifespan results in fewer replacements, fewer repairs, and less use of natural resources, materials, and energy over the lifetime of an installation.
Smaller carbon footprint
Every project illuminated with CLS LED fixtures contributes to lower carbon emissions. Both directly through energy reduction and longer product lifecycles.
Sustainable production
> SUSTAINABLE IN OUR PRODUCTION PROCESS
At CLS, we think it is important to work sustainably in the production process as well and to reduce our waste. This is why we offer our customers a number of services made possible by the modular structure of our fixtures. To reduce our ecological footprint, we have instituted various measures and optimised processes.
95% sustainability rate
Up to 25 years after purchase, fixtures may be returned for recycling, resulting in a 95% sustainability rate of our range.
Made to order - no obsolete stock
Only parts are kept in stock. All products are Made To Order. This prevents obsolete stocks and obsolete products ending up as waste.
Recycling
CLS is a member of Stichting Open, better known as WeCycle, which recycles materials and gives them a second life.
Lower CO2 emmisions
Development and production take place in our own production facility in Wijchen, minimising traffic movements and therefore CO₂ emissions.
Circuit boards
In our own development and production department, we are able to repair printed circuit boards at component level, giving them a lifespan of 20 to 25 years.
Local purchasing
We try to purchase required products locally from sustainable parties as much as possible, to minimise carbon emissions from transportation.
Modular design
The modular design of our fixtures means that upgrades and changes are made with ease. Parts can be replaced individually rather than replacing an entire fixture. This significantly reduces waste and extends the effective lifespan of the installation.
Updates & Repair
We offer up to 15 years of fixture repair/upgrade support.
Environmental care
> WHY LED LIGHTING IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT:
Energy efficiency
LED lighting uses up to 80% less energy than traditional lighting methods, resulting in significant cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint.
Service life
LED fixtures last longer than traditional lamps, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimising maintenance costs.
Environmentally friendly
LED fixtures contain no hazardous materials, allowing for safe disposal and reducing environmental impact.
PEOPLE, PLANET & PROFIT
> CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Besides a sustainable production process, we also consider it important to treat people and the planet sustainably. We strongly believe in the importance of social responsibility and inclusion. Therefore, we have implemented an active Social Return policy as part of our business philosophy. We aim to have a positive impact on society and offer opportunities to people who may need extra support when entering the labour market.
> Good diversity: 40% female employees.
> We offer highly flexible contracts.
> Different backgrounds and life experiences among employees.
> Close cooperation with UWV and sheltered workshops to give many a chance.
> Modular construction reduces CLS’s waste mountain.
> Components are transported in environmentally friendly ways wherever possible.
> We only use high-quality products, which benefits the lifespan and the planet.
> All our products are CE-compliant.
> All our packaging is made of recycled cardboard and plastic.
> We develop our own boxes and inlays, to reduce packaging materials and ship as little empty air as possible, to reduce our carbon emissions.
> We offer employees and visitors the opportunity to charge electric cars at the company to reduce CO₂ emissions.
> CLS generates direct economic value through the sale of LED fixtures.
> CLS contributes indirectly to environmental conservation by providing customers with sustainable and energy-efficient lighting solutions.
> We support (local) charities we feel connected to.
> In addition, we try to purchase required products locally from sustainable parties as much as possible, to minimise carbon emissions from transportation.
> Indirectly, we share profits with all the projects our fixtures are used in, as they benefit from lower energy costs due to the energy-efficient LED fixtures.
WORKING WITH MAAK24 - SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN NIJMEGEN
CLS LED works with Maak24, a social enterprise based in Nijmegen, which is near our location in Wijchen. Maak24 is a versatile production company with a clear social mission: creating opportunities for people with a distance to the labour market, giving them meaningful work, social recognition, and active participation in society.
Maak24 is certified on Step 3 30+ of the Prestatieladder Socialer Ondernemen (PSO) (Social Entrepreneurship Performance Ladder) — an independent standard developed by TNO that measures how organisations contribute to employment for people in a vulnerable position in the labour market. Step 3 means Maak24 is a frontrunner: proportionally more people with a distance to the labour market work there (directly and indirectly) than at comparable organisations of the same size.
In 2024, Maak24 received the ION Trofee from the Inclusief Ondernemers Netwerk (ION) (Inclusive Entrepreneurs Network) — a business network in the Nijmegen region working toward more employment for people with a disability or distance to the labour market.
MAAK24 - NIJMEGEN
PSO Trede 3 30+ - ION Trofee 2024 - Social enterprise since 2016
Mission
Creating opportunities for people with a distance to the labour market through meaningful work, skills development, and social inclusion.
Regional impact
Part of the ION network in the Nijmegen region. Produces locally to minimise transport and contributes to the regional sustainable economy.
PSO Certification
Certified at Step 3 30+ — frontrunner status. More people with a vulnerable labour market position work at Maak24 than at comparable organisations.
ION trofee 2024
Recognised in 2024 with the ION Trofee as appreciation for being an inclusive employer in the Nijmegen region.
Learn more about Maak24.NL
“We place strong value on long-term commitment and invest in the development of our employees. Our exceptionally low absence level reflects the positive informal work environment, favorable working conditions, and high employee satisfaction.”
> Peter van Workum, Owner and Inspirer CLS LED
Efficiency vs. effectiveness
> LUX PER WATT (lx/W)
When evaluating the energy performance of a lighting installation, lumens per watt (lm/W) is the most commonly cited figure. It tells you how much light a fixture produces from a given amount of electricity. But in real-world applications, that number only describes what happens inside the fixture, not what happens in the room.
What actually matters is how much of that light lands where it needs to be. A fixture with an impressive lm/W rating but broad, imprecise optics will scatter light across surfaces, ceilings, and walls where it serves no purpose. That scattered light still consumed energy, it just didn’t do any useful work. The metric that captures this is lux per watt (lx/W): the illuminance achieved at the target surface, per watt consumed.
At CLS, our fixtures are engineered with this in mind. Precision optics and a wide range of beam angle options allow light to be placed accurately, minimising spill and maximising the contribution of every watt to the lit surface. Features like the Performance Zoom in our Focus Series take this further, allowing beam adjustment on site without replacing optics, so installations can be fine-tuned for exactly the right balance of coverage and intensity.
Zonal lighting: Instead of illuminating an entire space uniformly, zonal lighting concentrates light where people actually need it, at workstations, on display objects, along pathways. Unoccupied areas, ceiling zones, and transitional spaces are left darker or unlit. The result is a lower total connected load, reduced energy consumption, and often a more compelling visual environment. Sustainability and lighting quality are not in conflict here, they reinforce each other.
un sustainable development goals
> CONTRIBUTING TO THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a shared framework for action on environmental, economic, and social challenges. CLS LED contributes, directly and indirectly, to a number of these goals through the nature of our products, our production process, and our working practices.
SDG 7 - AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN
ENERGY
LED lighting reduces energy consumption by up to 80% vs. traditional sources. Every CLS installation contributes to lower energy use and a reduced demand on energy infrastructure.
SDG 8 - DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
CLS provides stable, long-term employment at our facility in Wijchen. Our partnership with Maak24 directly contributes to decent work for people with a distance to the labour market.
SDG 9 - INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Our in-house R&D team continuously develops new lighting technologies and control systems. Designed and produced in the Netherlands — innovation is at the core of what we do.
SDG 10 - REDUCED
INEQUALITIES
Through our partnership with Maak24 and our own inclusive employment practices, we actively contribute to reducing inequalities in the workplace and in the wider community.
SDG 11 - SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
CLS fixtures are used in public spaces, cultural buildings, and architectural applications that contribute to vibrant, well-lit, and sustainable urban environments.
SDG 12 - RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Made To Order production, modular design, and local purchasing all contribute to responsible production practices and a reduction of waste across the supply chain.
circular economy
> DESIGNED FOR CIRCULARITY
No permanent jointing
CLS fixtures are assembled without permanent adhesive joints where possible, which means they can be disassembled for repair, component replacement, or recycling at end of life.
Responsible packaging
Packaging is kept to the minimum required for safe transport; we design our own boxes and inlays, as to ship as little empty air as possible to reduce carbon emissions. We use recyclable materials and aim to avoid unnecessary packaging, keeping raw materials within the circular economy after installation.
Spare parts availability
Individual components such as LED modules, drivers, and optics can be replaced separately. This prevents fixtures from being discarded due to a single failed component.
GOALS & MEASURES
> WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS
We continue to innovate to reduce our waste stream and footprint. That is why by 2022 our energy consumption has already been reduced by 40% for our gas and electricity consumption. But we are working towards more goals. These are the concrete goals and measures CLS is working on for the coming years.
goal
description
Status
25% ENERGY REDUCTION
We aim to reduce energy consumption by 25% in the coming years, and to generate part of our energy through renewable energy sources.
renewable energy
Reduce energy consumption in our production facility by 25% through process optimisation.
Electric transport
In the near future, the aim is to transport parts in electric buses, with self-generated electricity through a solar panel installation on the roof of our company building.
waste stream reduction
Continuous innovation to reduce our waste stream and ecological footprint across production processes.
mORE INFORMATION
> WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Want to find out more about CLS, or learn more
about how we operate sustainably in our business
processes? Then click below to find out more.