Lighting Major Signify Achieves Carbon Neutral Operations in India

Signify, the world leader in lighting, has achieved carbon neutrality in India, which is a part of its growth markets. The achievement is part of a total of five more markets – specifically ASEAN, Far East, India, Indonesia and Pacific – achieving carbon neutrality, boosting Signify’s number of markets with carbon-neutral operations to 15 out of a total of 19. This brings Signify a big step closer towards achieving 100% carbon-neutral operations in 2020, one of the goals of its “Brighter Lives, Better World” sustainability program.

By focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption and office space optimization, the five markets have reduced their overall carbon emissions by 19% in 2019. This includes a reduction of 33% from non-industrial sites, 17% from industrial sites, 32% from business travel and 18% from logistics. Signify offsets its remaining emissions through contributions to projects that have a positive environmental and social impact, including small- to medium-sized wind farms in India and a hydro plant in Vietnam that operates without using a dam.

“I’m extremely proud of the relentless commitment of all our employees that resulted in this great milestone, showing that carbon neutrality is possible and that it is possible today,” said Sumit Padmakar Joshi, Market Leader – India at Signify. “We hope that our achievements inspire other companies around us and we call upon them to join initiatives that will result in global carbon neutrality by 2050.”

‘Brighter Lives, Better World’

Signify introduced its “Brighter Lives, Better World” sustainability program in 2016, setting ambitious sustainability goals for 2020, consisting of two pillars:

1. Sustainable revenues:

80% of revenues will come from sustainable products, systems and services by 2020
More than 2 billion LED lamps and luminaires delivered by 2020

2. Sustainable operations:

100% carbon neutral for operations
100% use of renewable electricity
Zero waste to landfill in manufacturing
Strive for a safe and healthy workplace with a total recordable case rate of less than 0.35
Ensuring a sustainable supply chain with a minimum supplier performance rate of 90%

As part of the company’s leadership in energy efficiency measures Signify is committed to the World Green Building Council’s initiative to have all of its buildings be carbon neutral by 2030. In addition, Signify supports The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative to operate a 100% electric and hybrid lease fleet by 2030 and its RE100 initiative to scale up the use of renewable electricity. To further support these initiatives, during Climate Week New York 2019, Signify called on companies and countries to join the Three Percent Club, so carbon neutrality can be achieved by 2050.

Signify was named Industry Leader in the Electrical Components and Equipment category of the 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), receiving recognition for all its sustainability improvements for the third consecutive year.