Philips Pioneers Responsible and Sustainable Innovations in Healthcare, Enhancing Care for Millions Globally

7:09 pm UTC March 17, 2025 Mar 17, 2025 | by: Philips | Energy

(Photo by: Philips)

Philips' strategic focus on innovation, sustainability, and energy efficiency has helped improve the lives of 1.96 billion people in 2024, setting the company on a clear path to achieving its goal of positively impacting 2.5 billion lives annually by 2030.

“We are proud of the progress we made in 2024, executing our focused strategy to improve people’s health and well-being, creating sustainable long-term business value for all our stakeholders,” says Marnix van Ginneken, member of Royal Philips’ Board of Management. “Our sustainability-led partnerships with customers and suppliers highlight the potential for significant cost savings, improvements in energy efficiency, and expanding access to care in and outside the hospital, while the company continues to explore ways to provide consumers with greater choices to live sustainably.”

Improving Healthcare for Patients, People, and the Planet

In 2024, Philips achieved a significant milestone by ensuring 100% of its new product introductions (NPIs) were EcoDesigned. These products cater to the growing demand for environmentally conscious solutions by optimizing energy efficiency, reducing the use of hazardous materials, improving packaging, and enhancing the overall sustainability across the product lifecycle. This approach is bringing transformative change to healthcare by delivering effective, safe, and cost-efficient care methods.

Philips continues to focus on meaningful innovations that enhance healthcare delivery while reducing carbon emissions. The company expanded its portfolio of energy-efficient and compact solutions in 2024 while scaling circular practices to reduce waste and material usage throughout the healthcare sector.

Among these innovations is Philips' introduction of helium-free MRI operations, designed for easy installation in remote areas with limited resources. The lightweight, compact design of these systems enhances flexibility, while the PowerSave+ feature promotes energy efficiency by automatically switching to standby mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. Since 2018, Philips’ BlueSeal magnet technology has saved over 2.75 million liters of helium, eliminating the need for refills and ensuring long-term reliability with a lower environmental footprint.

In its Personal Health segment, Philips expanded the Refurb Edition and local takeback systems for toothbrushes and shavers across several European markets. These initiatives allow consumers to make more sustainable choices, giving products a second life.

Across its operations and value chain, Philips made considerable progress in reducing CO₂ emissions, optimizing logistics, and shifting to low-carbon energy solutions. In 2024, 48% of Philips' total purchases came from suppliers with science-based climate targets, an increase from 46% in 2023. Collaborating with suppliers also improved quality and cost management across the supply chain.

Philips continues to partner with customers globally, driving better health outcomes, addressing challenges such as rising healthcare costs, staff shortages, and growing health disparities, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.

A 2024 analysis showed that Philips' collaboration with the Champalimaud Foundation (Portugal) achieved a 24% reduction in emissions per exam in the radiology and nuclear medicine department.

In the UK, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust worked with Philips to identify sustainability improvements in ICU care, reducing energy consumption, waste, and enhancing critical care services. These recommendations will be used to inform further improvements.

A cradle-to-grave analysis conducted with Vanderbilt University Medical Center (US) revealed that imaging equipment accounted for over 50% of greenhouse gas emissions in hospital radiology services, guiding future decarbonization strategies.

Building a Culture of Impact and Care

Philips remains committed to fostering a people-centric work culture, creating an environment where employees are encouraged to grow and thrive. In 2024, the company strengthened its organizational culture, leadership, and operational efficiency. Philips engaged 3,000 people leaders to align on its purpose, strategy, and culture, laying the foundation for long-term success. Philips was also recognized by Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers for the sixth consecutive year, further solidifying its reputation as a responsible and innovative company.