wakaNINE isn’t giving away lighting fixtures, but you can trust the lines we represent give back to their local communities. These are companies with conscience and lead by example, acting ethically to set a positive tone. There is an overall benevolent approach of helping people in the workplace.

The second chances don’t stop here. Stephen Pikus Design products are handmade from upcycled would-be-landfill materials such as glass or industrial waste such as car filters. These recycled materials reimagined as functional art are the gateway toward a sustainable environment and Pikus has been recognized in South Africa as a maverick in the sustainable movement.

Luminosa™ is based in San Miguel de Allende Mexico, a picturesque colonial town in Central Mexico. Surrounded by the traditions and culture of hand-made craftsmen – it only makes sense that Luminosa light fixtures employ the talents and skills of the local tradespeople.

An inventive, adaptive and industrious community, Luminosa is also an equal opportunity employer that actively embraces individuals who may not fit the traditional employment paradigm. This includes persons with mobility issues and learning challenges as well as others who need greater flexibility – including rural workers, single mothers and older workers, who often bring exceptional wisdom, experience and time-honored traditions that are deeply embedded in Mexican culture.

More than a trend, it’s becoming the norm. Endurance and longevity have steadily been a concern and have received increased attention in residential housing design, large space buildings, malls, hotels, and airports internationally.

This challenges our ‘disposable culture’ i.e. fast fashion makes shopping for clothes more affordable, but it comes at an environmental cost with no regard for the land/landfill. There is research that says “The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, (which) is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics.”* via Business Insider

And while fast fashion isn’t going away anytime soon, there’s another movement, a moral one, which gives a rationale for spending. Take PATAGONIA for example– Here’s a company one has a “feel good” response spending money with.

This “Ethical Marketing” isn’t a strategy; it’s a philosophy. According to a WordStream Blog addressing Ethical Marketing by Dan Shewan, he questions the data: “(Are) 92% of millennial consumers are more likely to buy products from ethical companies? Or that 82% of those consumers believe ethical brands outperform similar companies that lack a commitment to ethical principles?”

Increased focus on environmental awareness and ethical manufacturing processes is a welcome change, to be sure. Yet despite the increased costs associated with environmentally-sustainable business models, consumers’ willingness to pay the extra fee ensures a continued uptick in the practice – a practice that wakaNINE is committed to as well.

wakaNINE’s lighting lines all use innovative sustainable materials –either upcycled or naturally sourced.

David Trubridge Design has moved from plastic to using sustainably grown bamboo. Many products have been redesigned to eliminate plastic completely, such as the recent releases of Cloud and Ebb.
David himself has coined the “kit-set”, a flat packing shipping method that is easier to ship internationally and reduces freight impact on the environment. Something you build yourself is more likely to stick around, and not end up replaced by a cheaper item, or thrown away.

PLN Group’s primary materials are post-consumer waste, recycled water bottles- keeping trash out of landfills.  The popular HUSH acoustic lights are made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate,) plastic bottle flakes. This Autex Material in the Declare database which is a materials transparency platform and product database that is changing the materials marketplace. PLN also uses flat-packed shipping which saves freight pollution.

Stephen Pikus’s upcycled glass and diesel truck air filters are transformed into unique statement fixtures. These materials otherwise end up in landfills, as South Africa is still developing recycling ordinances.

Luminosa uses a variety of materials to create their light fixtures including molten glass, hand-beaten recycled copper and cast ceramic. These hand-crafted lights result in a collection that delivers a unique and yet familiar warmth to any space. Ethically sourced, hand-made, and suitable for residential, commercial, and hospitality projects – a true triple-threat.

The wakaNINE lighting lines have proven their commitment to ethical labor and manufacturing processes, as well as why championing good causes. It has proven effective for these brands.

wakaNINE is aware of the appetite for sustainability which shifts priorities in consumerism. We are collectively raising our consumer awareness by seeking out enduring characteristics and focusing not only on how these products benefit customers, but also how they benefit socially responsible or environmental causes.