Lighting products are essential in people's daily life. The global lighting market is expected to have over 100 billion euros’ revenue by 2020 (McKinsey & Company 2012), and the introduction of Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology in the lighting sector is leading to a rapid growth of LED-based lighting products. By 2020, it is predicted that the LED-based lighting market share will be almost 70% of the total lighting market (McKinsey & Company 2012). However, lighting products also cause a negative impact on the environment during all the product life cycle stages, especially during the use stage. To date, there are no in-depth studies that have researched how to reduce the environmental impact caused by LED-based lighting products; therefore, research in this area is needed. This research aims to contribute to the body of knowledge in this area by studying the following issues: 1) What the key product-related features are that influence the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products at each product life cycle stage, 2) What design recommendations can contribute to extend the lifespan of LED-based lighting products, 3) What the most effective and efficient method is to assess and compare the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products, and 4) What the most effective and efficient eco-design tools, techniques and methods are to reduce the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products during the design process, and how these can be integrated into an eco-design approach to reduce the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products. The methodological approach followed to gather and analyse the data necessary to understand and answer the issues above mentioned has been based on the utilisation of two research methodologies: 1) Case study research, and 2) Survey. The case study research consisted of the study and critical examination of a real-world eco-design process of an awarded and patented LED-based product designed by the author in collaboration with several manufacturers. The data was collected using direct participatory observation. In addition to this, a survey was also conducted to understand the lifespan and causes of end of life of LED-based lighting products. The data was collected using on-line self-completion close-ended questionnaires. This research contributes to body of knowledge of how to eco-design LED-based lighting products. In particular, it has made the following contributions to knowledge: 1) Identification of key product-related features that influence the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products at each product life cycle stage, 2) Definition of design recommendations to extend the lifespan of LED-based lighting products, 3) Development of a method to assess and compare the environmental impact of LED-based lighting products, and 4) Development of approach to eco-design of LED-based lighting products. These contributions can be utilised to inform product developers' decision-making processes to reduce the environmental impact of this category of products
