As the world shifts toward carbon neutrality, energy infrastructure manufacturers are facing stronger expectations around environmental compliance and sustainability. Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear — critical equipment for industrial automation, utilities, buildings, and renewable energy — are no exception.

Today, sustainability goes far beyond energy efficiency. Manufacturers must evaluate how materials, production methods, logistics, usage impact, and end-of-life recovery influence the environment across the full lifecycle of the product.

This growing requirement has led to the creation of IEC TS 63058, a technical specification designed to guide environmental performance evaluation for low-voltage switchgear and controlgear.

✅ Why Sustainability Matters in Switchgear Manufacturing

Switchgear may seem like a small part of a vast industrial system, but its environmental influence includes:

✔ Raw material extraction (metals, plastics, insulation)
✔ Production and assembly processes
✔ Global transportation and logistics
✔ Energy consumption during operation
✔ Waste disposal or recycling at end-of-life

Even if each product individually has a minor environmental footprint, the global installed base makes the cumulative impact substantial.

Governments and industries now require greener products due to:

• Carbon reduction policies

• Industrial energy efficiency regulations

• Restrictions on hazardous substances (e.g., RoHS, REACH)

• Circular economy requirements

🌱 IEC TS 63058 — The Sustainability Roadmap for Low-Voltage Switchgear

Developed by IEC TC 121, this document establishes clear expectations for:

1️⃣ Environmentally Conscious Design (ECD)

Design determines approximately 80% of a product’s environmental footprint.

IEC TS 63058 defines:

ECD also ensures sustainability decisions are well-documented and repeatable.

2️⃣ Product Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)

Lifecycle assessment evaluates how each phase contributes to environmental impact, such as:

• Carbon footprint (kg CO₂-eq.)

• Resource depletion

• Toxicity & recyclability

• Energy consumption during service

IEC TS 63058 provides standard assessment models for realistic application environments.

3️⃣ Material Declarations

Customers and regulators now demand transparent material disclosures.
IEC TS 63058 aligns with IEC 62474 to standardize:

• Compliance reporting

• Supply chain traceability

• Documentation automation

📌 Major focus areas:

🚫 Restricted substances
♻ Critical raw materials
✅ Recyclable vs. hazardous components

4️⃣ End-of-Life (EoL) Guidance

Circular design = business advantage + environmental benefit ✅

IEC TS 63058 recommends:

Manufacturers who improve recyclability gain competitive value in green procurement markets.

✅ Practical Steps Manufacturers Are Taking

Switchgear brands adopting IEC TS 63058 are focusing on:

Future-ready companies are advancing faster in competitive procurement bidding.

🔌 Connection to Smart Energy & Green Transformation

Low-voltage switchgear is becoming essential in:

• Solar power systems

• Energy storage and microgrids

• EV charging infrastructure

• Smart factories and IoT power management

Each of these sectors prefers eco-labeled equipment that meets sustainability reporting standards.

🌍 Benefits for System Integrators & End Users

Sustainability is no longer just ethical — it is economically essential.