Thorn Lighting’s Spennymoor factory wins prestigious Sustainable Manufacturing Award

Thorn Lighting is delighted to announce that its Spennymoor factory has been awarded the Sustainable Manufacturing Award at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2024. This accolade celebrates Thorn’s innovative approach to sustainability, showcasing its ability to integrate environmental responsibility into every aspect of operations.

Presented at the prestigious gala ceremony at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, the award highlights Thorn Lighting’s leadership in creating tangible environmental and operational benefits. The Spennymoor factory achieved remarkable milestones, including a 1.3 million kWh reduction in energy consumption between FY21/22 and FY22/23, a 50 percent decrease in water usage since March 2021, and a projected 900,000 kWh reduction in gas usage through upcoming optimisations to the paint plant.

Asif Moghal, Director, D&M Market & Industry Development, Autodesk from the judging panel commented, “It was a pleasure to visit Thorn Lighting and witness the impressive strides they are making to embed sustainability throughout their operations. The enthusiasm and dedication displayed by the teams during our visit highlighted a business-wide commitment to sustainability, where innovative ideas are celebrated and actively contribute to their success.

Thorn Lighting exemplifies how strong leadership for sustainability, combined with effective project management, can deliver tangible actions and measurable results. The introduction of their new software system for monitoring utilisation and enhancing safety was particularly noteworthy and demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to both operational efficiency and employee wellbeing.”

Mark Helm, Quality Assurance & Lean Six Sigma Manager at Thorn Lighting’s Spennymoor plant, expressed his pride in the achievement: “This award is a reflection of the dedication and innovation of our team at Spennymoor. Sustainability is woven into everything we do, from cutting energy consumption to designing environmentally conscious products. It’s fantastic to see these efforts recognised on such a prestigious stage.”

Saurabh Pandhi Vice President – Thorn Lighting, emphasised the significance of this recognition: “It showcases the dedication of the entire team at Spennymoor and their ability to turn ambitious sustainability goals into tangible results. Achievements like this not only strengthen our reputation as a leader in sustainable manufacturing but also motivate us to keep driving progress for the benefit of our customers, communities, and the environment.”

Paul Kilburn, Managing Director at Thorn & Zumtobel UK & Ireland, added: “Winning the Sustainable Manufacturing Award is a proud moment for everyone at Thorn Lighting and the Zumtobel Group. This recognition reflects the innovative spirit and collective effort of our teams, who are driving meaningful change in how we approach sustainability. The Spennymoor factory stands as a beacon of what can be achieved when sustainability is fully integrated into a business’s operations and culture. We remain committed to leading the industry with solutions that not only meet today’s challenges but help build a more sustainable future for generations to come.”

As they strive towards net zero, Thorn Lighting’s sustainability journey continues with ambitious plans, including introducing a rainwater harvesting system to reduce water usage further, enhancements to the paint plant to cut gas consumption by 15 percent, and investments in advanced waste management systems to minimise hazardous waste by 90 percent.

This award also provides customers with the assurance they need in today’s climate, affirming that they are partnering with a producer fully committed to sustainability and aligned with global environmental priorities.

The Manufacturer MX Awards, delivered in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is the UK’s premier celebration of manufacturing excellence. With rigorous evaluation processes and peer-reviewed criteria, the awards recognise the exceptional achievements of companies setting benchmarks in innovation, sustainability, and industry leadership.