Panasonic has announced that it will end production of fluorescent lamps in 2027 when an international ban comes into force prompted by the health risks and environmental pollution from mercury used in them.
The Japanese electronics giant says it will end production by the end of September 2027.
Panasonic started selling fluorescent light tubes in 1951 and increased output as Japan’s economy enjoyed decades of high growth, but the increasing popularity of more energy-efficient LED bulbs led to a gradual decline in production.
An international conference on mercury use last year decided to prohibit the production, export, and import of fluorescent lamps containing the toxic element by 2027.