{"id":719,"date":"2021-12-21T11:09:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T11:09:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prod-web.com\/?p=719"},"modified":"2022-01-30T16:01:43","modified_gmt":"2022-01-30T16:01:43","slug":"carbon-neutrality-the-new-normal-for-signify","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/energyefficiencymagazine.com\/index.php\/2021\/12\/21\/carbon-neutrality-the-new-normal-for-signify\/","title":{"rendered":"Carbon Neutrality: The New Normal for Signify"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”20px” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” advanced_gradient_angle=”0″ overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”1682″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”75%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3\/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text] Harry Verhaar
\n<\/span><\/strong>Head of Global Public & Government Affairs Signify has over 20 years of experience in the lighting industry
\nSignify became the new company name of Philips Lighting as of May 16, 2018.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”1680″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” img_link_target=”_blank” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” img_link=”https:\/\/www.signify.com\/en-us”][vc_column_text]\n

Five years since announcing its commitment to COP21 delegates in Paris, Signify has become 100% carbon neutral. <\/span>
\nThe company, formerly known as Philips Lighting, has reduced its operational emissions by more than 70% since 2010, making it the first major lighting company in the world to reach carbon neutrality. Energy efficiency has played a key role in this accomplishment. It\u2019s also committed to a new journey which will see it focus on \u201cdoubling its positive impact on the environment and society\u201d through a five-year sustainability programme. \u201cWe would like to congratulate Signify on their fantastic achievement of carbon neutrality across all operations in 2020,\u201d said Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, in a recent company press release.
\n\u201cWe have been working in partnership with Signify for over 10 years to accelerate the global adoption of energy efficient LED lighting and through Signify\u2019s support of RE100 and EV100,\u201d she added. Turning a Vision into Reality<\/span>
\nThe company has met its targets through moving all its global markets to sustainable methods of operation and aligning with goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Speaking on its approach, chief executive Eric Rondolatsaid, \u201cit\u2019s been a collective effort as we shifted to more energy-efficient technologies, optimised logistics, reduced our business travel and moved to 100% renewable electricity.\u201d Its energy efficiency that has been a particular focus for Signify, having transitioned to advanced technologies in offices and factories, as well as looking at more sustainable transport modes. The company\u2019s car fleet, for example, is moving to electric vehicles and its buildings are being powered by electricity created from renewable energies; made possible through two virtual power purchase agreements. In 2016, Signify signed a deal with a windfarm in Texas to reduce carbon emissions in the States and late last year the company made an agreement to purchase at least ten years of electricity from an onshore Polish windfarm that generates around 92 Gigawatt hours annually. In 2017, Signify was the first major international company to secure a renewable energy deal in the Gulf region using the pioneering International REC, a renewable energy documenting standard used in regions where no similar documentation scheme exists.
\nTo close its emissions gap, Signify has been involved in a number of carbon offsetting programmes through its offsetting partner South Pole. These have \u201creduced environmental impacts and increased the well-being of local communities,\u201d including a reforestation project in Colombia, and an off-grid solar energy programme in India to give rural populations more access to light. The news is also proof that ecoeconomic decoupling is possible, as a previous CHN article on the significance of LED lighting looked at.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great reminder that growth and energy consumption need not go hand in hand,\u201d said Harry Verhaar, Signify\u2019s Head of Global Public and Government Affairs, adding \u201cthey can be decoupled, enabling socio-economic development while at the same time contributing to protecting our climate.\u201d
\nThe company has long-promoted decoupling through the use of LED lighting, which is up to 80% more energy efficient than conventional lighting, as well as through developing new products like solar-powered streetlights that can also decrease luminosity when there\u2019s no footfall. Signify has also had building renovations as a focus in its fight against climate change. <\/span>The EU building sector is responsible for 40% of the region\u2019s energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas <\/span>emissions; \u201cbuilding renovation is therefore a vital short-cut to achieving a carbon neutral world,\u201d argues Verhaar. \u201cOnly 1% of buildings undergo renovation each year which is a huge missed opportunity,\u201d Verhaar added, \u201cif we bring this renovation rate to 3% per year, we will slash the energy consumption of our building sector, create local skilled jobs, and improve the quality of life for EU citizens.\u201d
\nThe company has called on governments and municipalities to show leadership by committing to energy savings in their own buildings and joining initiatives like the Net Zero Carbon Buildings (NZCB) programme and switching ministerial car fleets to EV\u2019s through the EV100.
\nWhat\u2019s Next?<\/span>
\n<\/span>Despite the global economic slowdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Signify has now committed to embark on a new five-year journey that will go \u201cbeyond\u201d carbon neutrality and double its positive impact on
\nthe environment and on society. \u201cThis is not a time to pause and celebrate but a time to become even more ambitious and accelerate our efforts to address these challenges,\u201d Rondolat insisted. \u201cGrowth for sustainability
\nand providing a great place to work are firmly anchored as central parts of our company strategy.\u201d The Brighter Lives, Better World 2025 programme will work towards doubling the pace of the Paris Agreement, its circular
\nrevenues, its proceeds to innovations that benefit society,\u00a0 and its percentage of women in leadership, within the next five years. The integrated initiative touches on six of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; Good Health
\nand Well-Being, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Climate Action. \u201cThe 2020\u2019s are the Climate Decade as we need to halve global emissions by 2030 to get us on track to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement,\u201d Climate Group\u2019s Clarkson said, \u201cso we need more companies to follow Signify\u2019s lead in setting their own net zero targets.\u201d
\nBY Harry Verhaar<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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