Can Plastic Luminaries Be an Environmentally Responsible Choice?
Plastic pollution is a serious environmental concern. So how can a plastic luminary offer environmental advantages?
The answer begins with a simple principle: Make products that last, use them repeatedly and avoid unnecessary waste.
FLIC Luminaries were designed as a durable alternative to disposable paper-bag luminarias and lightweight plastic decorations that may need frequent replacement. Rather than purchasing new luminaries for every holiday or event, our customers can bring out the same FLIC Luminaries year after year.
Every manufactured product has an environmental footprint, but durability, reuse, efficient lighting and responsible material choices can make a meaningful difference.
1. Built to Last Instead of Being Thrown Away
One of the biggest differences between FLIC Luminaries and disposable luminarias is their expected service life.
FLIC Luminaries are manufactured from durable, injection-molded polyethylene and designed for repeated seasonal outdoor use. Their one-piece construction helps them withstand normal exposure to rain, snow, wind and changing temperatures.
They're backed by our 10-Year Luminary Durability Warranty which covers qualifying residential and commercial use.
Some of our earliest customers report using their original FLIC Luminaries for more than 20 years.
A luminary that remains in service for many seasons reduces the need to continually manufacture, package, transport and dispose of replacements.
2. Reuse Is the First Environmental Advantage
Ten Years of Neighborhood Luminary Displays
Consider a neighborhood that displays 1,000 luminarias every Christmas. Here's how many luminaries it would need over ten years.
| Single-Use Luminarias | Reusable FLIC Luminaries |
|---|---|
|
10,000 Individual luminarias purchased over ten years |
1,000 Luminaries reused for ten annual displays |
Illustrative example assuming all reusable luminaries last ten seasons and disposable luminarias are replaced annually. This compares the number of decorations required, not their total environmental impact.
The advantage extends beyond the decorations themselves. Repeated use can also reduce demand for replacement packaging and transportation.
For homeowners, churches, homeowners associations and large commercial installations, a reusable system can turn an annual purchase into a long-term investment.
3. Made from Recyclable HDPE
FLIC Luminaries are manufactured from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a durable plastic widely used in products ranging from household containers to outdoor equipment.
HDPE is recyclable. When suitable recycling facilities are available, the material can potentially be recovered and used to manufacture other products.
However, recycling programs vary. Not every curbside recycling service accepts durable molded plastic products, even when they're manufactured from recyclable material.
When your FLIC Luminaries eventually reach the end of their useful life, check with your local recycling provider to determine whether it accepts this type of HDPE.
Our primary environmental objective is to keep our luminaries in service for as many years as possible, rather than relying on recycling after a short period of use.
4. Energy-Efficient LED Lighting
The environmental considerations don't end with the luminary itself.
FLIC offers several LED lighting options, including C7 bulbs, FLAME bulbs and LED tea lights. LEDs generally consume substantially less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs while offering long operating lives.
For large installations, selecting an appropriate lighting system can make a meaningful difference in electricity consumption, maintenance and the number of replacement bulbs needed.
Our FLAME bulbs also create the visual effect of a dancing flame without requiring an open flame.
5. A Practical Alternative to Disposable Luminaries
Traditional paper-bag luminarias have a beautiful history and remain an important part of holiday celebrations, particularly in the American Southwest.
However, paper luminarias exposed to wet weather or used with traditional candles can require replacement, cleanup and additional preparation.
Reusable FLIC Luminaries offer a different approach: preserve the appearance and tradition of luminaria displays while providing a durable product that can be used repeatedly.
For neighborhoods and organizations that illuminate hundreds or thousands of luminarias each year, that difference can be particularly significant.
Compare FLIC with Paper and Lightweight Plastic Luminarias →
6. Wake Forest University Recognizes Reusable Luminaries
FLIC worked directly with Emily Smith and Wake Forest University to develop a reusable luminary installation for the university's annual Lovefeast celebration.
Our solution combined durable FLIC Luminaries, customized commercial-grade light strings and energy-efficient LED lighting. We also developed a practical storage approach to make the installation easier to recreate year after year.
In 2019, Wake Forest University's Office of Sustainability recognized Emily Smith with its Champions of Change Bright Idea Award for Reusable Lovefeast Luminaries.
We're especially proud of this recognition because it reflects the environmental principles behind FLIC: durable products, efficient lighting and repeated use instead of disposable decorations.
FLIC Luminaries illuminate Wake Forest's annual Lovefeast celebration. The university recognized Emily Smith with its 2019 Bright Idea Award for reusable Lovefeast luminaries.
Read About Our Wake Forest University Luminary Project →
See Wake Forest's Champions of Change Awards →
Buy Once. Celebrate for Years.
The environmental advantages of FLIC Luminaries begin with their durability.
Our goal is to create luminaries that customers will want to keep using for many years, reducing the need for disposable decorations and frequent replacements.
Combined with energy-efficient LED lighting, compact storage and recyclable HDPE construction, FLIC offers a practical approach to creating beautiful, reusable holiday and event displays.
