Lighting emerges as strategic pillar in circular economy in Vietnam

Beyond expanding scale, developers are prioritizing energy optimization, emissions reduction, and resource longevity – the core principles of a circular economy.

Within this transition, lighting is steadily evolving into a strategic component that shapes both operational efficiency and the sustainability profile of industrial projects.

When integrated from the earliest design stages, efficient lighting systems can simultaneously reduce energy consumption, improve user experience, and enhance overall operational management.

Lighting seen as competitive advantage

Continuing a legacy spanning more than 135 years from Philips Lighting, Signify said that the company is positioning itself not merely as a lighting supplier but as a technology partner supporting businesses on their sustainability transition journey.

Modern LED lighting systems now offer lifespans of up to 50,000 hours, helping reduce replacement frequency and limiting operational waste generated throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Besides, the firm’s smart Interact platform enables real-time monitoring and adjustment of lighting systems according to actual usage demand, optimizing electricity consumption across facilities.

LED lighting combined with smart control systems can significantly reduce energy use, while the Circular Lighting model is capable of cutting maintenance costs by up to 60 percent, helping move to zero landfill waste goals.

In addition, Signify’s 3D-printed lighting products are also designed with lower carbon emissions.

Martijn Douven, head of smart buildings for Southeast Asia and the Far East at Signify, said that firms are facing dual pressure to optimize costs while reducing emissions, making lighting an increasingly effective solution for improving operational performance.

With lighting systems present across virtually every environment, from logistics warehouses and hotels to office buildings, lighting has evolved beyond simple energy savings.

It now plays a key role in enhancing user experience and strengthening operational management.

Vu Linh Quang, CEO of Ardor Green, emphasized that every component within circular economy-oriented projects must be evaluated through the lens of lifecycle efficiency and resource optimization.

“When lighting is properly designed and operated, it not only reduces energy consumption but also enhances the overall efficiency of the building, thereby supporting ESG objectives in a meaningful and long-term way,” Quang said.

Collaborative ecosystems drive green development

One typical example of the collaborative ecosystem approach is the LŌ-GOI Yen Phong industrial-logistics complex, a large-scale two-story project in northern Vietnam that has achieved LEED Gold certification.

The project reflects close collaboration among stakeholders, including the investor, main contractor Coteccons, consultants, and technology solution providers.

Lighting served as one of the project’s key parts, working alongside natural ventilation systems, ecofriendly materials, and the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) model, to create an energy-optimized facility from the design stage onward.

Beyond individual developments, Signify is expanding this approach across broader industrial ecosystems.

At eco-industrial parks such as DEEP C, high-efficiency and smart-connected lighting systems are being integrated into long-term sustainability strategies.

Moreover, Signify has implemented comprehensive lighting solutions for major infrastructure projects and large-scale service complexes aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing emissions across multiple sectors.

These projects range from transportation infrastructure such as Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to modern manufacturing hubs including Kim Long Motor Industrial Park, BM Windows Factory, Compass II Plant, as well as logistics networks operated by Singapore’s YCH Group and Marina Bay Sands Resort.

Across these developments, lighting has moved beyond its purely functional role to become a key driver of operational optimization and spatial experience enhancement.

Through such projects, Signify is gradually advancing circular economy principles, extending sustainable value from individual buildings to broader urban ecosystems.

As foreign direct investment increasingly favors projects aligned with sustainability standards, such projects as LŌ-GOI Yen Phong illustrate a growing reality: investment attractiveness is no longer determined solely by scale or location.

It also depends on the ability to create a sustainable development ecosystem in which stakeholders, from investors and contractors like Coteccons to technology partners such as Signify, collaborate from the outset to optimize efficiency and reduce emissions.

Lighting is steadily establishing itself as a strategic element that enables enterprises not only to lower operational costs but also to meet the increasingly stringent ESG requirements imposed by international investors.

As ‘green’ criteria become essential, integrating advanced lighting solutions from the earliest design phases is likely to become a decisive factor in enhancing competitiveness and attracting high-quality foreign investment into Vietnam’s industrial real estate market.