Approximately 45 percent of Philips 2012 sales came from green products, accounting for nearly $15 billion, according to the company’s latest annual report.
Approximately 45 percent of Philips 2012 sales came from green products, accounting for nearly $15 billion, according to the company’s latest annual report.
The integrated report covers Philips’ financial, social and environmental performance, including data on its 2012 sustainability activities. The figures show Philips reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 9 percent in 2012, from 1,771 kilotons in 2011 to 1,614 kiotons. The company’s emissions have declined by 25 percent since 2007, the report says.
Philips reported investing more than $700 million in “green innovation,” which is dedicated to addressing global challenges related to care, materials and energy efficiency. The company included 11,000 tons of recycled content in its products by focusing on plastics, aluminum and refurbished products.
“Philips’ vision today has the ambition to make the world healthier and more sustainable through innovation, having the goal to improve the lives of three billion people by 2025,” said Nestor Coronado Palma, Director of Sustainability at Philips Consumer Lifestyle, in a 2012 Sustainable Brands interview.
“It took over 15 years to get from a green strategy to a sustainable strategy, where the social aspects play an important role, too. Sustainability is the future of businesses and not only as a responsibility or as a risk, but as a competitive advantage through the whole value chain,” he added.
The 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Index named Philips a Super Sector Leader in personal and household goods. And
Interbrand ranked Philips among the Top 50 Best Global Green Brands in 2012 for having a sustainability contribution of more than 10 percent of the total brand value.
@Bart_King is a freelance writer and communications consultant. @mikehower contributed.
Published Mar 1, 2013 9am EST / 6am PST / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET
Bart King is the founder and principal at New Growth Communications. He specializes in helping sustainability leaders develop thought leadership content and strategy