How the UK ban on fluorescent lighting is playing out

When the UK government’s ban on fluorescent lighting in commercial premises and workplaces fully came into effect in February 2025, many organisations had already begun the transition to LEDs. Others, however, were still relying on legacy fluorescent systems, planning to “act later”.

Now, several months on from the ban taking effect, the picture is clearer. Not only has it changed what lighting products are available, but it has also accelerated wider conversations about energy efficiency, maintenance costs, workplace safety and sustainability.

So how is the ban working in practice — and what can we learn from organisations that have already made the switch?

The UK ban: What changed in 2025

By February 2025, the sale and import of CFLs and linear fluorescent lamps (including T5 and T8 tubes) had ceased for commercial use across the UK. While businesses were allowed to continue using existing installations, replacements quickly became harder to source, and prices for remaining stock rose as availability declined.

The aim was to help remove mercury-containing lighting from the supply chain, cut energy consumption across the commercial building stock, and push the market decisively towards LED technology.

Eight months on, and fluorescent lighting is still in use, although it’s fading fast. Many organisations are still operating fluorescent fittings installed years ago, particularly in older buildings. However, the practical impact of the ban is now being felt: when a lamp fails, it’s no longer straightforward to find a replacement. This has led many facilities teams to move away from reactive maintenance and instead plan whole-area or whole-building LED upgrades.

Impact of the ban on businesses

There have been many reports from businesses who have seen energy use reduce significantly since making the switch from fluorescent lighting. It has also resulted in better lighting for work areas, lower maintenance costs and clear long-term savings.

For larger organisations particularly, the ban has helped justify long-term investment in lighting as part of broader net-zero and energy-management strategies. An example of this is the University of York, which has been rolling out LED replacements across its campus buildings, using the fluorescent phase-out as part of a wider sustainability drive. In areas already upgraded, the university has reported energy savings of up to 50%, lower carbon emissions, and improved lighting quality for staff and students.

Across a range of sectors, LEDs have helped improve light quality, and thereby safety and productivity. They have led to savings on energy and cost, and encouraged planned upgrades rather than short-term fixes.

While some specialist sectors have faced challenges around colour accuracy and specific lighting requirements, most organisations report that modern LED solutions meet or exceed previous standards when correctly specified.

Looking ahead

With fluorescent lamps now effectively unavailable, the transition to LED in UK workplaces is no longer optional, it’s inevitable. Over the coming years, we can expect continued growth in LED adoption and greater use of smart controls and human-centric lighting. We predict there’ll be stronger links between lighting, wellbeing and ESG (environmental, social and governance) reporting.

It’s already looking as if the policy has done more than remove a product from the market. It has reshaped how organisations think about lighting and is beginning to lead to better workplaces, lower costs and meaningful sustainability gains – all things the ban was aiming to achieve.