Environment & Sustainability

Sustainability and Philips Lighting
Philips Lighting Company has been an industry leader in environmental initiatives educating end-users for more than eight years. With the landmark launch of our first ALTO® fluorescent lamp in 1995, we pioneered a new category of low-mercury fluorescent lamps, heightened corporate environmental awareness and eliminated more than 9 tons of mercury at its source.

Manufacturing
We were the first lighting manufacturer in the United States to earn ISO 14001 certification.The designation recognizes our system of evaluating the environmental impact of our production facilities and continually communicating these results to the public. EcoVision and ISO certification are a major part of our sustainability program and worldwide requirements for all Philips manufacturing facilities.

Reduce, reuse and recycle
Philips Lighting Company has adopted an integrated approach to sustainable lighting solutions. Using the “3R’s” guideline set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Solid Waste Management, we affirmed our endorsement and outlined how we live by this principle of “reduce, reuse and recycle.”

Reduce: Philips ALTO fluorescent lamps combine the lowest mercury with long life and energy efficiency—which together help achieve sustainability:

Low Mercury: Philips ALTO lamps average 70% less mercury than the 2001 industry average for fluorescent lamps up to sixty inches which are not TCLP¹ compliant. Source reduction during the manufacturing phase is essential to mercury management throughout the product lifecycle.

Long Life: Philips 4' T8 lamps featuring ALTO® Lamp Technology achieve longer life than standard 4' T8 lamps, reducing the impact of lamps on the environment.

Energy Efficiency: Since lighting, on average, consumes 25% of the energy use in a typical building, energy efficient lighting not only reduces operating costs it also supports a clean and sustainable environment.

Optimized Performance: Higher lumen output lamps potentially reduce the quantity of lamps required to achieve and maintain light levels. Better lumen output and maintenance can improve visual acuity. The IALD (International Association of Lighting Designers) defines sustainable lighting as “lighting design that meets the qualitative needs of the visual environment with the least amount of impact on the physical environment.”² Balancing the visual needs and environmental needs to achieve a sustainable lighting design is imperative.

Reuse: ALTO lamps use 100% recycled mercury during the ALTO manufacturing process. We also reuse as much of our glass and packaging materials as possible. Philips also has target reductions in packaging and production processes as outlined in the Annual Philips Sustainability Report.

Recycle: As part of our EcoVision program, we strive to reduce waste and increase recycling of all materials. Philips encourages recycling of all spent mercury-containing lamps at end of life to significantly reduce landfilling.

What are sustainable products?
Sustainable products are those products providing environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare, and environment over their full commercial cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to final disposition. Using transparent, consensus, and life cycle based metrics can help identify sustainable products.

Additional Information