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    Our commitments to Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 8

     

    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"

    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:

    • Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)
    • Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)
    • Responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) and
    • Climate action (SDG 13)
       

    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. 

    Sustainable Development Goals-1

    SDG 3: Good health and well-being


    “We’re committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good health and well-being. This SDG is linked to two of our sustainable growth areas – food availability and health & well-being,” says Nicola Kimm, Signify’s Head of Sustainability, Environment, Health & Safety.

    Healthy food for healthy lives


    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.

    Our products and services can be key components of the innovative solutions needed to increase food supply and minimize resource use"

    And just recently, we partnered with RIAT, an innovative farming enterprise in Russia, to pioneer growing tomatoes and cucumbers in a vertical farm – without daylight!
    Sustainable Development Goals-2

    Lighting for health & well-being


    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.

    The right light helps us to see, feel and function better, playing an important role in improving well-being and performance"

    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. 

    SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth 


    SDG 8 promotes sustained and inclusive economic growth and decent work for all. Signify is committed to promoting this internally through our designated sustainable supplier guidelines. Our global mission reaches further to entrepreneurs in underserved parts of the world. 

    Some milestones in our commitment to SDG 8 include:
     

    • Income-earning opportunities: Around the world, vulnerable communities still struggle with inadequate income opportunities. Our global CSR program empowers these communities to become economically self-sustaining. In 2019 alone, 3,276 lighting entrepreneurs have been supported through our global programs. One such program is WE SOLVE which tackles the twin problems of lack of economic opportunities for women in rural Tanzania and an absence of access to clean energy.
    Sustainable Development Goals-3
    • Sustainable supply chain: Our designated supplier programs and guidelines ensure that we partner with responsible suppliers through sustainable production practices. In our commitment to a sustainable supply chain, we engage in promoting sustainability beyond our own operations. By promoting good working conditions and respect for human rights in our operations and supply chain, Signify is creating a positive and lasting impact that is integral to sustainable production patterns.

    “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!

    About the author:

    Su Basegmez

    Su Basegmez

     

    Sustainability Strategy and Reporting Intern

    Aninda Eijkens

    Aninda Eijkens

     

    Project Coordinator at Signify Foundation

    For further information, please contact:

    Signify Global Integrated Communications
    Neil Pattie
    Tel: + 31 6 15 08 48 17
    Email: neil.pattie@signify.com

    About Signify

     

    Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2023, we had sales of EUR 6.7 billion, approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for seven consecutive years and have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for four consecutive years, placing Signify in the top one percent of companies assessed. News from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.

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