July 13, 2020
We added two Sustainable Development Goals – Good health and well-being (SDG #3) and Decent work and economic growth (SDG #8)
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests,” according to the official UN site.
Since the outset, Signify has proudly worked to contribute to the SDGs, as part of our commitment to unlocking the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world.
In particular we focused on the following four SDGs:
We have now also committed to two additional SDGs where we see an opportunity to positively contribute. SDG 3, Good health and well-being, and SDG 8 Decent work and economic growth.
By 2050 we need to feed 10 billion people. Through applying our LED technology in horticulture, we can improve the yield and quality of food and reduce environmental footprints. This is vital, as food production currently accounts for 30% of global energy consumption.
Our products and services can be key components of the innovative solutions needed to increase food supply and minimize resource use.
As an example, Wim Peters’ tomato nursery in Someren, the Netherlands was all but destroyed by a hailstorm in 2016. In response they applied our LED horticulture technology and the high-wire tomato crops grown there are now of the highest quality, able to be grown year-round, using fewer resources than before.
Lighting affects us biologically and emotionally, supporting comfort, well-being and performance. Our lighting can enable greater well-being through lighting which helps us to see, feel and function better. Also, lighting can directly impact our health. Our lamps with UV-C radiation can help reduce health risks by eliminating viruses and bacteria from water, air and surfaces.
Through our global CSR program we bring access to light to underserved sports fields around the world, enabling personal development through sports after sunset.
13-year-old Unjila from India was unable to pursue her dream of playing competitive sports with the lack of lighting at the badminton courts. In 2019, her school court was one of the five badminton courts in India to be provided with solar-powered lighting.
The right light helps us to see, feel and function better, playing an important role in improving well-being and performance.
Some milestones in our commitment to SDG 8 include:
“Ensuring good working conditions is a top priority for us. That’s why we’re committed to UN Sustainable Development Goal 8. We provide an inspiring place to work and grow, in an open and inclusive atmosphere, with fair employment practices. In these ways, we’re creating decent work and economic growth for us and our stakeholders,” Kimm says.
Broadening our commitments of ensuring health for all (SDG 3) and promoting sustainable employment opportunities (SDG8), is a testament to our purpose to unlock the extraordinary potential of light and create brighter lives and a better world!
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2022, we had sales of EUR 7.5 billion, approximately 35,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for six consecutive years and were named Industry Leader in 2017, 2018 and 2019. News from Signify is located at the Newsroom, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors can be found on the Investor Relations page.
