Signify achieves carbon neutral operations in India

Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) 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 per cent 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 per cent in 2019. This includes a reduction of 33 per cent from non-industrial sites, 17 per cent from industrial sites, 32 per cent from business travel and 18 per cent 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.”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 per cent of revenues will come from sustainable products, systems and services by 2020More than 2 billion LED lamps and luminaires delivered by 20202. Sustainable operations:100 per cent carbon neutral for operations100 per cent use of renewable electricityZero waste to landfill in manufacturingStrive for a safe and healthy workplace with a total recordable case rate of less than 0.35Ensuring a sustainable supply chain with a minimum supplier performance rate of 90 per centAs 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.Additionally, 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.