We cannot turn a blind eye –
Not to the rapid population growth, environmental degradation and social and economic inequality that characterize our world today. Businesses that want to flourish into the coming decades must begin to focus on the impact their work has on the population and the planet.
What’s really important?
Sustainability’s all about “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
And manifestation of this concept – sustainable development – Philips defines as the simultaneous pursuit of:
Tangible proof of our commitment to sustainable development takes many forms.
New Sustainable Business Initiatives (NSBI)
We care about the future and the world’s ability to get there. As a healthcare and lifestyle company we look for projects in advanced, emerging and developing markets that will benefit people and contribute to our growth.
Distance Healthcare Advancement (DISHA) project brings hope to poverty-stricken areas.
Imagine – the developing market alone accounts for over 4 billion people who live on less than USD 1,500 a year. Opportunities for business with sustainability as the key driver must be identified to improve people’s quality of life.
For instance – consider our work in India to provide affordable healthcare to underserved people. Through specialized mobile clinics we can bring our technology to the people who need it, with exam results transmitted to a team of doctors in a metropolitan hospital for analysis. This setup provides the populace with a low cost alternative to distant clinics and loss of wages associated with getting there.
One of the unique aspects of projects like this is the need to develop partnerships with organizations outside the commercial world of business. This could mean partnering with non-governmental organizations, governments and hospitals.
EcoDesign
Global resources are finite. The aim of ‘EcoDesign’ is to minimize the environmental impact of our products throughout their lifecycle. To date Philips has launched more than 100 Green Flagship products.
Each was developed following six key Green Focus Goals:
Reduce weight
Eliminate or reduce hazardous substances
Reduce packaging materials
Improve energy consumption
Improve recycling efficiency
Increase equipment lifespan
And our iU22 Ultrasound system stands as a shining example of what can be done when we adhere to our sustainability model. Compared with its predecessors, the iU22…
Weighs 22% less
Eliminates 82% of the hazardous substance mercury
Reduces energy consumption by 37%
Uses 20% less packaging and
Offers a 30% improvement in total weight of recyclable material.
Many efforts underway
Other exemplary efforts specific to healthcare are also underway…
Ambient Experience – friendlier patient experiences through effective integration of divergent technologies leads to less stress, better health, increased productivity and reduced dosage.
DoseWise - a set of techniques, programs and practices that ensures optimal image quality, while reducing dosage in x-ray environments.
Refurbished equipment – our Diamond Select program thoughtfully extends the lifespan of imaging systems allowing more people to benefit.
Into the 21st century
To continue to drive sustainability throughout the Medical Systems division, we’ve established our own Sustainability Council. With members from all the business units, the Council is a powerful collaborative partnership empowered to help assure sustainable development across our entire product portfolio.
Sustainability is the mantra of business in the 21st century. We know it – we live it. Our futures are inexorably entwined – customer and company.
Stay tuned!