News
Meeting Update
How can photonics companies make their facilities more
sustainable, efficient, and future-ready?
May, 2026
During the latest EPIC online event, speakers from ONEFAB, 3D AG,
and CSEM shared practical examples of how infrastructure,
energy management, and smart building decisions can support
both sustainability and business resilience.
A few key takeaways stood out:
Rethink the cleanroom concept.
ONEFAB highlighted the need to move away from rigid, inflexible cleanroom environments. As technologies and production needs evolve, facilities should be designed to adapt. Modular fab concepts, with standardized walls integrating pipes and electricity, can make it easier to change the technology inside without rebuilding the entire environment.
Start small, but plan with a clear vision.
3D AG shared its experience refurbishing an existing building with a sustainable approach, while staying fully operational. Their journey included better insulation, solar panels, heat recovery from production, and monitoring technologies. Customer expectations, including carbon-free targets, were one important driver, but the broader message was clear: collect data, calculate, plan, and stay pragmatic. Sustainability does not always require complex technology from the beginning.
Energy efficiency is one of the most accessible sustainability topics.
CSEM reminded us that buildings account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, making energy use a practical starting point. Through heat recovery, CSEM achieved around 25% energy savings, showing that measurable impact can come from focused, realistic actions.
Across all presentations, one message was repeated: sustainability is not only about ambitious targets. It is about smart infrastructure, operational efficiency, employee comfort, and long-term competitiveness.
Thank you to all speakers for sharing concrete lessons from real facilities and showing how photonics companies can take practical steps toward more sustainable operations.
News
China makes landmark pledge to cut its climate emissions
China’s new commitment to cut absolute greenhouse-gas emissions by 2035 signals a major shift. While the target still leaves much to be done, it opens up significant momentum for clean tech and sustainable innovation worldwide. For the photonics industry, this means heightened relevance and opportunity in areas like energy-efficient manufacturing, environmental monitoring and smart sustainable systems. At the European Photonics Association we stand ready to support our members in navigating this evolving landscape.
News
OPTOMAN joined the Sustainable Business League challenge
October, 2025
OPTOMAN joined the Sustainable Business League challenge with Walk15 - taking steps (lots of them) toward a greener planet.
Together they walked 2,619,301 kilometers!
News
The Jabil Team Joins the World Sustainability Congress
October, 2025
During October the Jabil sustainability team traveled to Amsterdam for the World Sustainability Congress, reconnecting with global leaders.
News
Half of Corporate Buyers Plan to Drop Unsustainable Suppliers: Bain Survey
September, 2025
A new Bain & Company survey reveals that half of corporate buyers
are increasing spending with sustainable suppliers and nearly as
many plan to cut ties with those failing to meet sustainability standards. The findings highlight a growing shift in B2B purchasing behavior, as companies increasingly link sustainability to business value and competitive advantage.
News
EU to Provide €17.5 Billion Financing for Energy Efficiency, Decarbonization Projects for SMEs
September, 2025
The European Investment Bank, backed by the European Commission, has launched a €17.5 billion initiative to support energy efficiency and decarbonization projects for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU. Aimed at mobilizing over €65 billion in total investments by 2027, the program will offer streamlined financing tools to help more than 350,000 businesses cut energy costs and boost sustainability.
News
Illuminating a Greener Future: EPIC Sustainability Meet-Up at
Laser World of Photonics
June, 2025
At this year’s Laser World of Photonics, EPIC brought sustainability into sharp focus with a dedicated get-together designed to unite our members across the photonics community.
🌱 Shining the Spotlight on Sustainable Innovation The event was a showcase of how the photonics industry is embracing cutting-edge solutions to reduce environmental impact. Discussions explored everything from energy-efficient technologies and AI-powered systems to different sustainability-focused software’s. Each conversation sparked ideas and emphasized our shared responsibility to accelerate the industry’s transition toward more environmentally conscious practices.
🤝Building Community Through Collaboration: More than just a networking event, this gathering fostered genuine collaboration and deep dialogue. Participants exchanged insights on how to create real measurable change.
💡 Photonics for a Better Tomorrow EPIC is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, connecting individuals and organizations who believe in
technology as a force for sustainability. With every photon, we’re building a brighter, cleaner, and more resilient future.
🌍 Ready to join the conversation and drive meaningful progress? Sign up for our next meeting!
New Link
Powerful Sustainability Software
June, 2025
Emitwise is a carbon management platform designed to help companies—especially those with complex supply chains—track, reduce, and report their greenhouse gas emissions. It uses machine learning and a vast database of primary emission factors to deliver financial-grade accuracy in emissions accounting. The platform empowers procurement teams and suppliers with tools to measure product carbon footprints, set science-based targets, and implement actionable decarbonization strategies2.
Emitwise focuses heavily on Scope 3 emissions, offering real-time insights and supplier engagement features that make it easier for businesses to meet sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
News
April, 2025
Elizabeth Illy from Hübner Photonics and Estefania Cervantes from Edmund Optics, co-chairs of the EPIC Sustainability Workkgroup, present the 2025 EPIC Sustainability Award to Christian Raith, CEO at IMM Photonics.
Group Update
Recap of February Meeting
February, 2025
During our sustainability meeting in February Indre Blauzdziunaite from Sustinere shared her knowledge on EDG and other regulations and gave examples of what individual companies can do and which impact it can have on a larger scale.
Maximilian Liesegang from our member AEMtec also told us about their excellent sustainability work and about the climate compensation they do using ForTomorrow.
News
New EPIC Sustainability Award
December, 2024
EPIC is excited to announce the launch of our Sustainability Award!
This award will be presented for the first time at the EPIC Annual General Meeting in March 2025. It honors companies in the photonics industry for their outstanding contributions to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social, and economic.
Showcase your commitment to sustainability, boost employee engagement, and gain the recognition you deserve! Apply for the award by January 24, 2025. For more info click here.
Group Update
Recap of December Meeting
December, 2024
EPIC has announced a new sustainability award, which will be presented at the EPIC Annual General Meeting in March 2025. During the meeting, guidelines for applying companies were discussed and are now available on the website.
Additionally, the workgroup discussed plans to create monthly "cheat-sheets" with actionable sustainability tips. These will be finalized by the end of January and presented in March 2025.
The dates for next year's meetings have been set, and all details can be found here on the website.
October, 2024
Is your company prepared for the future with a sustainability plan? A recent survey of EPIC members revealed that while larger companies often have strategies in place, many smaller firms have yet to address sustainability in a meaningful way.
Why is this important? Survey respondents highlighted that adopting sustainable practices is not just ethically responsible - it’s becoming a business necessity. More and more customers are requiring their suppliers to provide data and demonstrate active efforts toward sustainability. At the latest EPIC Sustainability Workgroup meeting, Elly Schietse from SuperLight Photonics shared insights from her journey as a startup implementing a sustainability plan.
Carbon footprint calculator for SME's
This Business Carbon Calculator is powered by Normative and offered for free through the SME Climate Hub. Use it to estimate your company’s full carbon footprint and find quick-win actions to reduce emissions.
April, 2024
During our last quarterly meeting in April we addressed the topic of the new CSRD directive is a reality. Elizabeth Illy from Hübner Photonics shared her experiences from the work involved recently while creating their sustainability policy.
Notes from December meeting and recap of 2023
December, 2023
We are happy to close the year at the EPIC Sustainability Workgroup with even not big, but meaningful results of the year.
Photonics sustainability project launched by EPIC
August, 2023
Photonics has a part to play in the environmental crisis that affects us all. EPIC CEO Carlos Lee tells
Electro Optics about its new sustainability working group.
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