I have been seeing sources online that apparently state that nearly 150 countries in the world have plans to phase out fluorescent lighting after the end of 2027. I have this fear that fluorescent lamps on a global scale will become suddenly become extremely hard to find virtually overnight by 1 January 2028. I just have this feeling that time is QUICKLY RUNNING OUT to stock up on fluorescent lamps in most countries in the world as a result of these bans and have that feeling that specific models of fluorescent lamps will suddenly take years and maybe even decades to find:


https://www.clasp.ngo/campaign/clean-lighting-coalition/farewell-to-fluorescents/cop4-press-release/

Nothing unexpected, mercury containing light sources in general are on their way out. That is not new information, and the clock started running when the first countries started phasing out mercury containing light sources in the mid 2010s.

Old, collectible light sources will remain as they are. 'Standard' users are not gonna search for collectible lamps here and there to put in their corner shops and such. Only people who are still using and installing new fluorescents will be affected. It is no different than what happened to incandescent lamps in that regard. In 2012 i stocked up on a few 100w lamps (the first ones to go) to use in dim bulb limiters. If you need something you can currently still buy of the shelf that contains mercury, you will have to stock up now and have a replacement ready by the time your stock runs out.

For me, the fact that China has been in the process phasing out mercury based light sources for a while now is the big indicator that things are not gonna last very long anymore. If china, the most government-controlled capitalist country in the world that is super happy to accept money from anyone buying anything regardless of their environmental impact in the production process, is phasing out mercury containing lamps - that should be an indicator that the end of fluorescent lamps is very near.

Nothing anyone can do, collect what you can responsibly.

@WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
Not trying to start anything here, Cedric... but it's been evident for years.
No one wants fluorescent tubes except us collectors, and those keeping traditional lighting installs alive.
You can go on Marketplace and score F96T12s, F40T12s, F32T8s, etc. for a tiny fraction of their original cost.
Fluorescent is a dead and buried technology, unfortunately.
But it does not help when you continually make posts that use fearmongering tactics to increase engagement. This post has no reason to exist.

Has any company in your country said it will continue manufacturing specialty fluorescent lamps after 2028?
In Japan, at least Iwase Prince has announced that it will continue making them.

@Maxim, preferably, I would like for you to only refer to me by my username on LG just so you know. Sometimes, when people refer to me by my real name, I feel like I am guilty and accused of having bad intentions. I just want you to know that this makes me feel uncomfortable.

@Maxim You’re not wrong
A few days ago I was on Digi-Key and I was seeing 2700K 2-step MacAdam Ellipse (this means that deviations in CCT are only visible with instruments, and invisible to the human eye) LED COB chips with 97-98 CRI and like 9000 lumens and over at around 135 LPW (for LEDs this isn’t that good these days but in general it is incredible for the CRI and CCT) for just a couple of dollars
This easily outperforms pretty much all of the CMH lamps around and even Philips’ beloved TL950 fluorescents in both CRI and efficiency (the 5000K ones are significantly more efficient than the 2700K ones and leagues ahead of the TL950s)
Just because these LEDs don’t make it into streetlights or consumer products doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

But I still like collecting fluorescent and HID lamps