Beeswax Luminaires

Biogenic materials like beeswax have potential for sustainable manufacturing by reducing environmental impact. An interdisciplinary team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Ajou University in Korea, the Cluster »Matters of Activity« at Humboldt-Universität in Berlin and the Department of Biomaterials of Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam-Golm 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 that 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.«

The study was recently published in »Materials & Design«, Vol. 254, June 2025, and can be downloaded here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114025

We congratulate the first authors, Junpyo Kwon and Pelin Asa as well as Mourad Jaffar-Bandjee, Shahrouz Amini, Peter Fratzl, and Karola Dierichs.