Design Life-Cycle

Li Kelly

DES 40A A05

Professor Cogdell

13 March 2026

LCA: Materials of Ikea’s Varamblixt Lamp

Ikea is fondly known as the “Do-It-Yourself” home furnishing company which provides reasonably priced, well-designed pieces for all homes. One product that has recently captured the interest of many is Ikea's orange Varamblixt lamp. By combining glass, steel, abs plastic, and a long-lasting LED light strip into an endearing “O” shape, the Varamblixt lamp has become the new cozy staple decor. This paper will delve into the material used in the Varablixt lamps life cycle, also highlighting the lamps' fully integrated design. Emphasis will be placed on the material glass and steel, as they make up the majority of the lamp. Abs plastic and LED lights also have intense material acquisition processes. However, given the limited number of studies into these processes, I would not be able to provide a complete picture of their influence. Therefore, they will not be delved into as much as glass and steel. The Varamblixt lamp’s fully integrated design will be discussed because of its link to the lamp's early disposal and increased waste. 

The first step in the Varablixt lamp’s life cycle is acquiring the glass, steel, and abs plastic needed to produce it. LED lights, being a completed product in itself, have their own complex life cycle and therefore won’t be delved into. To fully understand the process of acquiring and processing each material, let's break it down into two parts. Part one will dissect each material’s primary raw materials, while part two will follow the primary raw materials transformation into a secondary material. Two types of raw materials exist when discussing manufacturing products: primary and secondary raw materials. Primary raw materials come directly from the earth and can be used without any chemical alteration. Think mud, ice, wood, things that can be used right after obtaining them from their source. Secondary raw materials need chemical alterations before being usable as a material in another product. Think metal alloys, cements, dyes, and so on. The Varamblixt lamps materials–glass, steel, and abs plastic–are all examples of secondary raw materials. An emphasis will be placed on glass and steel procurement, as there is more information available than that of abs plastic. With the basics mastered, let's dive into glass’s composition. Many types of glass exist, each variation serving a specific purpose. While the underlying chemicals are the same–silica, soda, lime, alumina, and magnesia–the percentages of each vary depending on the products’ use. The exact glass used in the Varablixt lamp is unknown, though it likely uses a soda-lime-silica compound as soda-lime-silica compounds are commonly used for glass containers and lightbulbs. Soda-lime-silicate glass is roughly composed of “74.0% silica, 15.3% soda, 5.4% lime, 1.0% alumina, and 3.7% magnesia” (Glass | Definition, Composition, Material, Types, & Facts | Britannica). The resulting glass is transparent, requiring various metal oxides for color. One possible oxide added to the Varamblixt lamp is vegetable charcoal, as “vegetable charcoal added to a soda-lime glass gives a yellow colour” (Glass | Definition, Composition, Material, Types, & Facts | Britannica). These minerals are likely mined in China, as China is the leading producer of minerals and rare-earth materials. After acquiring silica soda, lime, alumina, and magnesia from the ground, they are superheated to 2100 degrees in a large natural gas furnace, melting into the secondary raw material of glass. Like glass, steel also needs additional processing from its primary form. Steel is made up of roughly 98% iron and 2% carbon. The addition of carbon helps strengthen the iron from a soft metal to a durable steel alloy (Wondris et al.). The first step to produce steel is to acquire its primary raw material of iron ore. The ore is likely sourced from Australia or Brazil, as they are the lead steel producing countries (Worldsteel). The iron content in raw ore averages “60% to 65% after taking into account other naturally occurring impurities” (Worldsteel). The raw ore needs to be combined with coking coal and heated to around 1700 degrees celsius to rid it of impurities, ultimately producing pig iron. The Varamblixt lamp steel is likely made using blast furnaces or basic oxygen furnaces, as this method makes up 70% of production compared to other methods. These furnaces combine pig iron, limestone, and recycled steel to make manufacturning steel. To get a sense of scale, producing 1000kg of steel using a blast furnace takes roughly “1,370 kg of iron ore, 780 kg of metallurgical coal, 270 kg of limestone” (Worldsteel). The last secondary material in the Varamblixt lamp is abs plastic. Abs plastic is a composite plastic made from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene (Bhaskar, Raghunath, et al. 1). Acrylonitrile is made from from propylene and ammonia, butadiene from ethylene, and styrene from the dehydration of ethyl benzene (ABS Plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Uses, Properties & Structure). These chemicals are likely sourced from China as well, China being the largest producer of chemicals and rare-earth minerals. These are then emulsified together to produce abs plastic. Having all the secondary materials, the Varamblixt lamp can now start its main manufacturing process. 

The next step in the Varamblixt lamp’s life cycle is production. Artisans hand-mold molten glass to create the glass’s iconic donut shape. Once formed, the vessel is put in an annealer where it undergoes a gradual cooling process to ensure it doesn't crack (Feltman). After cooling, the glass vessel can then be used in the lamp's final assembly. Similarly, molten steel is cast into a mold to form the mounting plate. As for abs plastic, Ikea mentions it being used as a covering for the lamp's glass. After searching Ikea's website, Google Scholar, and Encyclopedia Britannica, I couldn’t identify how the plastic is attached to the glass. It could be a removable cover or adhered directly to the glass’s surface. Either way, plastic encases the glass in the lamp's final assembly. I also couldn't find Ikea’s direct source for LED lights, though they likely source them from Taiwan, Taiwan being the current leading manufacturer of LED lights (Ho-Yin et al.). Finally, donut shaped glass, steel mounting plate, abs plastic covering, and LED light strip are fully integrated to complete the Varmablixt lamp.

Many modes of transportation are used throughout the Varamblixt lamp’s life cycle. Australia and Brazil transport “ore…to dedicated ports by rail, and ship [it] to steel plants in Asia and Europe” (Worldsteel). Similarly, LED lights utilize boats to  travel from Taiwan to Los Angeles and truck transport to other manufacturing locations (Ho-Yin et al.). I was unable to pinpoint the exact mode of transportation used for glass’s raw materials and abs plastic, though they are likely distributed from China by boat, China being the leading producer of minerals like silica and plastics. After its assembly, the lamp is stored and shipped in cardboard boxes lined with paper cushioning (Justin and Geoff). Ikea often opts to ship their products by rail or truck, as they usually have less emissions compared to other modes (Alrubah et al.). Successfully shipped to Ikea's stores, customers can now buy their cozy Varamblixt lamp.

Though this report is focused on Varamblixt’s materials, I will briefly touch on the lamps' maintenance, as it gives context to the waste portion of its life cycle. In terms of maintenance, Ikea doesn’t provide replaceable parts for fixing specific components of the lamp. In one case, a customer inquired about replacing a faulty LED light, receiving sympathy from an Ikea worker: “We're sorry to hear it's flickering. Whenever there is a quality concern with an assembled item, we recommend visiting our Returns Desk within 180 days of the purchase date” (“VARMBLIXT LED Table/Wall Lamp, Orange Glass/Round, 12"”). Similarly, when the glass of a customer's lamp broke, they were told the glass “isn't replaceable and if any part is damaged, the product shouldn't be used. [Ikea] recommend[s] visiting your local store to see if this part can be purchased in our as-is section” (“VARMBLIXT LED Table/Wall Lamp, Orange Glass/Round, 12 ""). Overall, if the lamp is broken Ikea recommends returning the lamp for a completely new one. Customers unable to repair the lamp themselves given the lack of replacement parts. This forces them to replace the full lamp and swapping it for a new one, causing more waste then needed. 

The last step in Varamblixt lamps life cycle is recycling and waste. If properly deconstructed, most of the materials can be recycled and used in other products. According to DM glassware, “Tempered soda-lime glass is recyclable and can be reused many times without losing quality” (“What’s the Material of IKEA Glass Tumblers?”). Abs plastic can be recycled using recycle number 9, and is 100% recyclable (ABS Plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Uses, Properties & Structure). Assuming that the abs plastic is removable from the glass, both materials can be recycled and reused in other products. Similarly, “At the end of a product’s life, steel’s 100% recyclability ensures that the resources invested in its production are not lost and can be infinitely reused” (Worldsteel). One input that doesn’t have proper recycling infrastructure is LED lights. Purportedly, “the precious metals in the LED package are too difficult and costly to retrieve so it is unlikely that LED recycling will be successful in the near future” (Ho-Yin et al.). Aside from the LED light, the Varamblixt lamp has high recyclability potential after the consumer is done with it. That caveat is big though, because depending on consumers' knowledge and willingness, the lamp might not be recycled. The LED poses a special hindrance given its full integration, making customers likely to opt for the landfill versus recycling. 

Warming the rooms of many, glass, steel, abs plastic, and LED lights are combined to create the endearing Varamblixt lamp. Though the individual materials are highly recyclable, the fully integrated design might prevent proper recycling, instead increasing waste. I recommend Ikea to adjust the lamps design from being fully integrated to more deconstructable. A deconstructable design with replaceable pieces would allow customers to fix and extend the use of their lamp. Deconstructability would also reduce the number of returns and therefore the early death of the lamp. In addition, it would aid recycling by being able to properly separate the glass, steel, abs plastic, and LED lights from each other. These materials could then be sent to proper facilities for re-melting or re-molding, reducing the waste and environmental impact. 

Works Cited

ABS Plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): Uses, Properties & Structure. https://www.specialchem.com/plastics/guide/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene-abs-plastic. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.

Alrubah, Sarah, et al. “Factors Affecting Environmental Performance: A Study of IKEA.” International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality in Asia Pasific, vol. 3, Oct. 2020, pp. 79–89. ResearchGate, https://doi.org/10.32535/ijthap.v3i3.949.

Bhaskar, Raghunath, et al. “Investigating the Properties of ABS-Based Plastic Composites Manufactured by Composite Plastic Manufacturing.” Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, vol. 6, no. 6, Dec. 2022, p. 163. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp6060163.

Erol, İrem. Waste Minimization in Powder Coating Industry. 2014. Dokuz Eylul Universitesi (Turkey), M.Eng. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/docview/2925402433/abstract/9E87D4DF402C44F9PQ/1.

Feltman, Rachel. “How Glassblowers Turn Silica, Soda Ash, and Lime into Stunning Works of Art.” Popular Science, 23 Sept. 2021, https://www.popsci.com/technology/glass-blowing-process-sustainability/.

Glass | Definition, Composition, Material, Types, & Facts | Britannica. 9 Jan. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/technology/glass.

Harvey, L. D. Danny. “Iron and Steel Recycling: Review, Conceptual Model, Irreducible Mining Requirements, and Energy Implications.” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 138, Mar. 2021, p. 110553. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110553.

Ho-Yin, Mok, et al. LED Lights. University of California, Davis, 13 Mar. 2013, https://www.designlife-cycle.com/led-lights.

Justin and Geoff. IKEA VARMBLIXT Unboxing! 🍩🥯 How Many Donut Or Bagel-Shaped Things By Sabine Marcelis Did We Buy? 2023. Justin + Geoff. YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2p8JuGTeQ4.

“Powder Coating Types & Materials | Metaltech Products.” Metaltech Products Inc, 5 Nov. 2021, https://metaltech.us/blog/powder-coating-types-and-materials/.

“VARMBLIXT LED Table/Wall Lamp, Orange Glass/Round, 12".” IKEA, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/varmblixt-led-table-wall-lamp-orange-glass-round-90525150/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

“What’s the Material of IKEA Glass Tumblers? - DM Glassware.” DM Glassware, 19 July 2025, https://dmglassware.com/whats-the-material-of-ikea-glass-tumblers/. BLOGS.

Wondris, E. F., et al. “Steel | Composition, Properties, Types, Grades, & Facts | Britannica.” Britannica, 21 Jan. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/technology/steel.

Worldsteel. “Raw Materials.” Worldsteel.Org, https://worldsteel.org/other-topics/raw-materials/. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Elena Nogales

DES 04A 

Professor Cogdell

13 March, 2026

Life Cycle of  IKEA VARMBLIXT lamp

Embedded Energy

Hundreds of thousands have walked the halls of an IKEA and browsed through more products one could buy in this lifetime. Some practical, some aesthetically pleasing, and some both. However, there is one product which continues to remain a customer favorite, the IKEA VARMBLIXT lamp. With its unique doughnut shape and warm orange glow, this lamp stands out for its eye-catching design. Since its release in 2023, it has caught the eye of many consumers with one being sold every five minutes (Bowers). This achievement is impressive from an economic standpoint, yet it is also pivotal to take in consideration the numbers that allude to the impact this lamp has on the environment. Given the role of generating a life cycle analysis for a product of one’s choosing, myself and a team of others undertook the product of IKEA's VARMBLIXT lamp. This paper will focus on the environmental ramifications of the IKEA VARMBLIXT lamp. While negative throughout each part of its overall life cycle, its embedded energy has an important footprint worth studying.

Starting with the extraction and sourcing of the raw materials that go into the making of this product, IKEA identifies four main materials that compose the lamp: steel for the mounting plate, glass for the shade, ABS plastic for the cover, and an LED lightstrip (IKEA). Within each of these categories lies a significant amount of energy during the stage of sourcing, however an emphasis on components and glass will be examined in this paper. If we were to first examine steel, the World Steel Association notes that iron ore is a key primary source. Nawshad Haque, a researcher credited for his work in applying LCA methodology to different forms of technology evaluations, notes the complexities when identifying energy usage throughout the extraction of iron ore. To begin with, iron ore mining can take place both underground or on the surface, with underground accounting for significantly more energy in terms of requiring ventilation, water pumping, hauling, and more. (Haque and Norgate 619). For the scope of this paper it is unclear to determine which method of extraction takes place for the means of IKEA, however, there are still key methods  that take place in both forms of extraction that can be identified. Firstly, drilling occurs for tunneling or blasting preparation, involving a variety of tools that run on diesel power, electricity, and in some cases compressed air. Secondly, there is blasting which involves explosives to help fracture rock and ore to further the extraction of material. What is notable here is that unlike other steps that involve what can be viewed as traditional energy sources, like diesel or electricity, blasting involves chemical energy. Lastly crushing and screen speciation occur to further conclude the ore product from the waste rock. Here, mechanical stackers which operate off of electricity or diesel energy, stockpile the iron ore to be ready for transportation. (Haque and Norgate 620). This overall accounts for energy just in the extraction process for the mounting plate of the lamp and while there are other primary raw materials that go into the making of steel, iron ore remains the most prominent. Transitioning to the glass portion of the lamp, silica sand is a primary raw material that resides as the largest component in glass. Similar to iron ore, silica sand is mined, most commonly from quartz, and requires a lengthy processing before being ready to be used in glass. Anamarija Grbeš, an  associate professor at the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering provides an insightful overview of the extraction process of silica. She notes that two key machinery were used: bulldozers for excavating the minerals and dumpster trucks transporting the materials on site. Both of which require energy in the form of lubricating oil and diesel Additionally, the energy in low voltage electricity is taken into consideration of lighting used at the excavation site.(Grbeš, 6). Once these materials have been brought to life through these processes then comes to the stage where they are brought together to be made into one.

In this next phase, following the extraction of these main primary raw materials then comes the processing and manufacturing stage. First referring back to silica sand, once extracted, goes through a lengthy processing. Metso, a company that provides sustainable technologies for mining, specifies that silica sand goes through the process of crushing, grinding, sizing, beneficiation, dewatering, and drying. With three main forms of energy coming from petrol, electricity, and water (Grbeš, 7). After this step, the silica is ready to take part in the manufacturing of the glass shade. Joan L. Pellegrino of Energetics gives a thorough analysis of glass blowing, first citing that due to the high temperature chemistry involved in glass formation, melting and refining glass is the most energy intensive part of glass manufacturing. Continuing to note that there is a wide range of furnaces that differ in energy requirements based on the type of glass (55). It is significant to note that IKEA highlights that the VARMBLIXT lamp glass is “mouth blown’’. Pellegrino suggests that for a blown glass furnace, its main energy sources would be regenerative based, direct melters, oxy-fuel fired, and electric melters (56). While also taking into consideration the extreme temperatures of these furnaces, a working temperature of over 1000 degrees celsius is required and for efficiency is kept on even when not in use (lowimpact.org).  Energy levels are already staggeringly high in glass production in comparison to other stages, however with extended periods of time when the furnace is left on without use, demonstrates shortcomings. In addition to the manufacturing of glass, another key aspect is the making of the LED lightstrip. Michael J. Scholand of LC N14 Energy Limited and Heather E. Dillon, Ph.D. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory breaks down LED manufacturing into three stages: substrate production, LED die fabrication, and packaged LED assembly. Each of these stages entails its own set of energies that account for a complex combination of chemical and thermal energy (24-33). Once manufactured, the glass shade, and LED light strip can be brought together with its other final parts such as the steel mounting plate and ABS plastic cover to then be ready to be shipped off to its next destination. 

Taking into consideration transportation, this part of the life cycle can be accounted for in more ways than just transportation from manufacturing to customer. There is transportation throughout each part of the life cycle, though some parts display higher amounts of energy than others. Generally in each stage, materials are moved throughout work sites and to their next place of creation. Haque cites that most commonly trucks and railings are used to transport raw materials, which rely on diesel energy (Haque and Norgate 622). Furthermore, for the scope of this paper, there are gaps in determining exactly where IKEA manufactures the VARMBLIXT lamp, due to their production process being quite global. Despite this, it can be inferred that trucking, trains, or ships are still used for transportation, however exact energy usage is hard to determine without exact distances. Philip Krammer, whose works highlights transportation and climate, notes that on an energy ranking scale, railways come in at mean of 0.241 MJ/ tonne-km, ocean vessel being 0.136 MJ/ tonne-km, and trucking comes in at the highest of energy with 2.19 MJ/ tonne-km. As well as energy in the vessel of transportation, materials such as packaging are also important to consider. Corrugated boxes are commonly used around the world for transporting goods and in the case of the VARMBLIXT lamp, it is no different. With this, the manufacturing of corrugated boxes must be analyzed. During this process, wood chips are stripped of bark to then be placed in a bath digester, a high pressure tank. Here, chemical and thermal energy is used to create masses of fiber to then be fed to a  paper-making machine in its last stages to finally become the form of a box (Madehow). Once the transportation side is taken care of, the VARMBLIXT lamp is finally ready to meet its buyer.

Lastly, the final stages of the life cycle pertain to the use and disposal of the VARMBLIXT lamp. Examining the embedded energy among the use of the product, IKEA cites that “using LED as a light source means that it not only lasts 20 times longer than an incandescent bulb, but consumes up to 85% less energy”. Not only this, but the U.S. The Department of Energy remarks that in terms of heat LED releases a very minimal amount of heat in comparison to incandescent bulbs releasing 90% of their energy as heat. Referring back to statement that this lamp last 20 times longer than that of an incandescent bulb, this is a great highlight, however it is important to note that with the non-disintegrating formation of the lamp, replacing the LED is quite difficult. Not being made for the purpose of reuse, the VARMBLIXT lamp is likely to be thrown after the light has gone out. Alternatively, if reused in the means of remelting scrap glass, this would contribute to energy levels that are much lower than that of original production due to reusing already sourced primary materials. 

Overall the ramifications of IKEA's VARMBLIXT lamp prove to have significant effects on the environment through its embedded energy throughout its each stage of the life cycle. With its mass amount of consumption, it is important for one to recognize their impact on the environment through their purchases. As well as this, strides can be taken to reduce this impact. If more individuals can take the steps to reuse the components of the lamp, then the life of this lamp can be stretched further.

Bibliography 

Bowers, Ben. “Ikea Just Gave Its Most Viral Product of the Decade a Massive Upgrade.” Gear Patrol, 8 January 2026, https://www.gearpatrol.com/home/ikea-varmblixt-smart-donut-lamp-announced-explained/. Accessed 13 March 2026.

“Corrugated Cardboard.” How Products are Made, https://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Corrugated-Cardboard.html. Accessed 13 March 2026.

“Glassblowing - introduction.” lowimpact.org, https://www.lowimpact.org/categories/main/glassblowing/. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Grbeš, Anamarija. “ALife Cycle Assessment of Silica Sand: Comparing the Beneficiation Processes.” Sustainability, 2015, p. 9. Google Scholar, C:/Users/enoga/Downloads/sustainability-08-00011%20(3).pdf. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Haque, N., and T. Norgate. “Life cycle assessment of iron ore mining and processing.” Iron Ore, 2015, p. 16. Google Scholar, C:/Users/enoga/Downloads/HaqueandNorgateIronOre.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2026.

IKEA. “VARMBLIXT LED table/wall lamp, orange glass/round, 12 ."” IKEA, IKEA, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/varmblixt-led-table-wall-lamp-orange-glass-round-90525150/?msockid=1481a9035b546c353089bde55ad76d09. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Krammer, Philip, and Andreas Schäfer. “Energy and economic benefits from economies of scale in intercity freight transportation.” sustainable mobility and transport, 2025, p. 8. Google Scholar, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11953041/pdf/44333_2025_Article_28.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2026.

“LED Lighting | Department of Energy.” Energy.gov, https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/led-lighting. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Pellegrino, Joan. Energy and Environmental Profile of the U.S. Glass Industry. Report. April 2022, p. 108. Google Scholar, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Industrial Technologies, https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/11/f4/glass2002profile.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Scholand, Michael J., and Heather E. Dillion. Life-Cycle Assessment of Energy and Environmental Impacts of LED Lighting Products. Report. June 2012, p. 79. Google Scholar, U.S. Department of Energy, https://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/ssl/2012_led_lca-pt2.pdf. Accessed 13 March 2026.

“Silica sand processing plant equipment.” Metso, https://www.metso.com/commodities/silica-sand-processing-plant-equipment/. Accessed 13 March 2026.

“Steelmaking - worldsteel.org.” World Steel Association, https://worldsteel.org/about-steel/steelmaking-process/. Accessed 13 March 2026.

Callie, Dou

DES 40A A05

Professor Cogdell

13 March, 2026

LCA: Waste and Pollution in the IKEA VARMBLIXT Lamp

The IKEA VARMBLIXT is an orange decoration for the wall light. It has a sculpture glass way and includes an LED light source. This lamp reflects IKEA ’s emphasis on accessible design and energy-efficient technology. Like many contemporary lighting products, it uses LED technology designed to last longer to reduce energy in consumption. LED lighting is often marketed as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional lighting technologies (Kumar et al.). However environmental performance of a lighting product cannot simply be judged through its energy efficiencies. Although LED technology would reduce energy requirements in its use period, it contains metallic elements and electronic parts which may increase the complexity of material, even potentially toxic factors and cause challenges for disassembly, recycling and waste disposal. Furthermore, integration of Led with the lamp increases the difficulty to disassemble, disintegrate and recycle because they are made of single units. Therefore, environmental burdens might not vanish but could migrate from energy consumption to waste management.

This can be understood by considering the life cycle of the IKEA VARMBLIXT lamp. In particular, it considers the lamp across all seven stages of its life cycle: raw materials, material processing, manufacturing, transportation, retail and use, and end-of-life disposal. Although each stage may contribute to the environmental footprint of the lamp, this paper focuses only on the waste and pollution impact of its life cycle, with particular focus on the issue of material toxicity and electronic waste challenges in its end-of-life stage. This study aims to examine the environmental footprints of the IKEA  VARMBLIXT lamp in all stages of the product lifecycle.

Why it is important to examine the waste phase of LED products

The IKEA  VARMBLIXT lamp itself embodies the challenges of waste and pollution in its design. The integrated LED lighting system, which requires replacing the entire unit when the LED malfunctions, presents environmental concerns when the product reaches the end stage. While the product seems minimal and contemporary, its mixed-material construction presents limitations in terms of end-of-life recovery in terms of materials. The use of integrated LED lighting products is a popular choice in contemporary design practices as it allows for compact design, long lifespans, and versatile solutions. However, integrating the LED into the lamp can affect the repairability, and increase the likelihood that the whole product would be discarded and replaced when a single component malfunctions. Studies on electronic waste and environmental risks associated with discarded electronic devices have shown that discarded lighting products, including those that use LED technology, may contribute also to the increasingly prevalent e-waste streams (Kumar et al.) The study further highlights that the environmental burden of the VARMBLIXT lamp product is not only created through the disposal of end-of-life products but may be embedded in its structural design.

Materials Used in LED Systems

The waste and pollution challenges of the IKEA VARMBLIXT lamplist directly relate to the materials needed for its LED system. These metals are often found in LED components such as heat sinks, wiring, and even in the phosphor materials. Although the VARMBLIXT lamp appears innocuous to the eye, it contains LEDs that rely on metallic materials such as aluminum, copper, rare earth metals (Mrozik et al.). It is these rare earth metals that require extraction methods where chemical processing of these minerals may cause by-products and wastewater as by-products. Additionally, aluminum extraction requires significant amounts of mining and also causes tailings around its areas. Research about LED technologies shows that the minerals need to be extracted which causes mining waste, chemical by-products, and potential contamination (Mrolzuk et al). This by Products is not visible to a consumer but becomes part of the product from the very beginning of its life cycle. In the case of the  VARMBLIXTlamp, the lamp will need to use the LED system and these materials will not be separable from the product and directly affects how the product is dealt with when it is thrown away or recycled at the end-of-life of the product.

LEDs Lamp Disposal Challenges

The environmental burden attached to the IKEA VARMBLIXT lamp is most evident in the waste and pollution phase of its life cycle, where its mixed construction and integrated electronic components create significant disposal challenges. Electronic waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, according to the Global E-Wastmounter. Products that combine glass, metals, and electronic components pose particular challenges in recycling due to the need to separate materials before recovery (Widmer et al.). Since the LED module is built into the lamp rather than designed for easy replacement, a failure of the light source may lead to disposal of the entire product. Furthermore, the mixture of glass, metal, and electronic components complicates recycling efforts, as these materials must initially be separated before they can be recovered. Studies on electronic waste suggest that improper disposal of led components can contribute to dangerous waste streams and long-term environmental contamination (Mrozik et al.). While the lamp reduces energy consumption during use, its disposal phase highlights how sustainability claims based solely on energy efficiency can overlook material toxicity and waste management challenges. These end-of-life challenges ultimately reinforce the argument that environmental burdens are not eliminated, but instead shifted within a product’s life cycle.

Conclusion

A life cycle analysis of the IKEA VARMBLIXT product illustrates the inadvisability of measuring environmental sustainability solely by energy efficiency during use. While the product’s integrated led system reduces electricity consumption, its material composition and diseño structure introduce extraction, toxicity risks, and complex end-of-life disposal challenges. These impacts are most visible in the waste andPollution phase, where mixed materials and electron components complicate recycling efforts and increase the likelihood of electronic waste.

The VARMBLIXT lamp stands as a compelling case study in the interplay between design and sustainability in lighting products. This analysis reveals the importance, beyond the marketing claims of energy efficiency, of a broader consideration of the material and disposal impacts of modern design. Ultimately this case study highlights how design choices significantly influence environmental outcomes, particularly at the waste stage of the life cycle of an object.

Full Bibliography

Gutowski, Timothy, et al. Electrical Energy Requirements for Manufacturing Processes.

Kumar, Amit, et al. “E-Waste: An Overview on Generation, Collection, Legislation and Recycling Practices.” Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 122, July 2017, 7.3-7.6. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.01.018.

Mrozik, Wojciech, et al. “Environmental Impacts, Pollution Sources and Pathways of Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries.” Energy & Environmental Science, vol. 14, no. 12, 2021, pp. 6099–121. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EE00691F.

Qin, Yufei, et al. “Life Cycle Assessment of Recycling High Impact Polystyrene and Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Plastic from Waste Refrigerators.” 

Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 435, Jan. 2024, p. 140294. ScienceDirect,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140294.

Teehan, Paul, and Milind Kandlikar. 

“Comparing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Modern Computing and Electronics Products.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 47, no. 9, May 2013, pp. 3997–4003. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1021/es303012r.

“How to Recycle Your Old Lighting Products.” 

IKEA, https://www.ikea.com. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

“VARMBLIXT Lamp Product Information.” 

IKEA, https://www.ikea.com. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.

European Commission, Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

European Union,https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-electrical-and-electronic-equipment-weee_en. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR),
The Global E-Waste Monitor 2020. United Nations University, 2020,https://ewastemonitor.info/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.