Sustainable Development Goals

Driving change: the Sustainable Development Goals

Our world is increasingly feeling the pressures of population growth, resource scarcity and climate change. In response to these challenges the UN launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. The SDGs are a set of 17 goals with 169 targets linked to them.

The SDGs provide a framework for society to take action and drive change. We aim to play an important role in achieving these goals through our sustainability program: Brighter Lives, Better World.

There is strength in numbers, which is why we work closely with our suppliers, peer groups, industry organizations and academia to create products and systems that make a real difference and to push boundaries and innovate.

Some of our partnerships include:

StEP: solving the E-waste Problem

En.lighten intitative: a public & private partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), industry and countries. The aim is to drive the conversion to environmentally sustainable lighting technologies

Ellen MacArthur Foundation: leading the way in building capabilities towards a circular economy

Some of our partnerships include:

StEP: solving the E-waste Problem

Ellen MacArthur Foundation: leading the way in building capabilities towards a circular economy

Collectively contributing to the SDGs means not only driving change in our own organization, but joining forces with our many partners. If everyone takes small steps, we’ll make big strides together."

Nicola Kimm, Head of Sustainability, Environment, Health & Safety

Our commitment

Sustainability is at the heart of our purpose: to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world.

We’re contributing to a more sustainable future through our products, systems and services. Our Brighter Lives, Better World program sets ambitious targets through which we contribute to sustainable development goals.

We are focusing on the areas where we can be most influential. So we are actively working on goals 3, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 13.

SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing

We contribute to improved health and wellbeing in two main ways: with light that increases food availability and quality and with light that helps people to see, feel and function better.

Increased food production will be needed to feed 10 billion people by 2050. Signify increases food availability and quality through horticulture and animal lighting, increasing the supply of food while minimizing resource use and environmental impact.

Light is essential for humans and fundamental for life, equally important as food, water and air. Light allows us to see and to experience the world around us. Additionally, it affects us visually, biologically and emotionally, supporting comfort, wellbeing and performance. Through applying a specific combination of functional, emotional and circadian lighting, our light for health and wellbeing helps people to see, feel and function better.

SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

As part of our Brighter Lives, Better World commitments, we will be powered by 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2020. This pledge helps to increase the demand for renewable energy.

As a member of the RE100 initiative, we focus on increasing the availability of clean energy sources. Also, we drive energy efficiency programs in partnership with EU-ASE, UNEP and SE4AI. By distributing our solar LED products to off-grid and underserved communities, we increase the access to both affordable and clean electric light sources. As a founding partner of the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), we are collaborating to help ensure a sustainable future for all.

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SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

We want to contribute to a better quality of life for all by fostering decent work and economic growth and improving the safety and wellbeing of employees and suppliers. We are committed to support 10,000 lighting entrepreneurs with technical and business skills development and our sustainable supply chain program helps our suppliers to improve working conditions for their employees. We are also committed to ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for our own employees through our injury prevention program and initiatives across our sites, such as safety boot camps.

SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Our sustainable products, systems, and services and our LED lighting programs with city associations, and NGOs such as The Climate Group and the World Green Building Council, help reduce the environmental impact of cities, while making them smarter, safer and more vibrant. We are also accelerating the renovation rate of buildings, upgrading infrastructure, and offsetting unavoidable emissions through projects with positive socio-economic impacts for local communities. Through the Signify Foundation we provide communities in crisis access to light through our humanitarian solar LED lighting.

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SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

By 2050, it is expected that the global population will reach 10 billion people, with an associated increase in resource demands. We address this resource challenge through our zero waste to landfill program and our circular economy approach. Already in 2020, all our production sites are committed to reach our zero waste to landfill ambition. With our circular economy program, we provide products which are designed for easy disassembly, repurposing and longer lifetimes to save materials, including 3D printing, serviceable luminaires, lights with replaceable components and circular services.

SDG 13: Climate action

We have implemented several energy efficiency and carbon reduction programs and we achieved carbon neutrality in 2020. Additionally, we actively work with suppliers to implement measures to reduce their environmental footprint. Our portfolio of connected and energy efficient products, systems, and services and solar products offer low carbon alternatives that are fit for sustainable consumption patterns. We have partnerships with UN agencies, governments, academia, NGOs and industry peers, through which we advocate for climate action.

Brighter Lives, Better World

Read more about our Sustainability program