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, 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. • Beeswax is used to make sustainable luminaires. • Comprehensive material characterization is conducted to optimize design and fabrication. • Optimized designs are made with parametric modeling and robotic fabrication. • Corrugation is used to allow for higher strength, fewer defects and improved light diffusion.