Tuesday 16 June 2020

Philips’ lighting division Signify to phase out plastic packaging by 2021

Philips' lighting division Signify has announced it aims to be plastic-free on all consumer-related packaging in 2021.

By phasing out plastic, the firm predicts it will avoid the use of more than 2,500 tonnes of plastics every year, equivalent of 125 million PET bottles - placed in a row, this number of bottles would stretch more than 8,000 kilometres.

The new packaging is also expected to slash annual carbon dioxide emissions from transport by 6,000 tonnes as its smaller size will enable fewer delivery journeys to be made.

This amount of emissions is equivalent to the volume of carbon dioxide 270,000 trees are able to absorb in a year.

Eric Rondolat, CEO of Signify, said: "Plastic waste has a very negative impact on our planet and its biodiversity and we decided that we must take a leading role and start using plastic-free alternatives.

"It is the right thing to do and meets the increasing expectations of our customers."