Philips 2012 Annual Report Download - page 56

5 Group performance 5.2.11 - 5.3.1
56 Annual Report 2012
purchasing minerals from the DRC, creating a de facto
embargo and a collapse of the local economy. Philips,
believes that this provides opportunities to positively
engage in the DRC and invest in legitimate minerals trade.
Therefore, we helped launch the Conflict-Free Tin
initiative to catalyze economic growth in the region
outside the control of the rebels. In October 2012 an
important milestone was reached when the first bags of
tagged minerals left the mine. The first end-user products
containing this conflict-free tin are expected mid-2013.
We believe that industry collaboration and stakeholder
dialogue are important to create impact at deeper levels
of our supply chain. Therefore, Philips continued its active
contribution to the Extractives Work Group, a joint
effort of the EICC and GeSI to positively influence the
social and environmental conditions in the metals
extractives supply chain. To assist in developing a due
diligence standard for conflict minerals, we participated in
the multi-stakeholder OECD-hosted pilot for the
implementation of the ‘OECD Due Diligence Guidance
for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-
Affected and High-Risk Areas’. We also continued our
engagement with relevant stakeholders including the
European Parliament, other industry organizations and
local as well as international NGOs in Europe and the US
to see how we can resolve the issue.
For more details and result of our supplier sustainability
program, please refer to section 14.5, Supplier indicators,
of this Annual Report.
5.3 Environmental
performance
EcoVision
Philips has a long sustainability history stretching all the
way back to our founding fathers. In 1994 we launched
our first program and set sustainability targets for our
own operations. In 1998, we launched our first EcoVision
program focused on operations and products. We also
started to focus on sustainability in our supply chain in
2003. In 2010 we extended our scope further by including
the social dimension of products and solutions, which is
now reflected in our renewed company vision stating that
we strive to make the world healthier and more
sustainable through innovation. Our goal is to improve the
lives of 3 billion people a year by 2025.
The main elements of the EcoVision program are:
• Green Product sales
• Improving people’s lives
• Green Innovation
• Green Operations
• Health & Safety
• Employee Engagement
• Supplier Sustainability
In this environmental performance section an overview is
given of the most important environmental parameters of
the program. Improving people’s lives, Health & Safety,
Employee Engagement and Supplier Sustainability are
addressed in the Social performance section. Details of
the EcoVision parameters can be found in the chapter 14,
Sustainability statements, of this Annual Report.
5.3.1 Green Innovation
Green Innovation is the Research & Development spend
related to the development of new generations of Green
Products and Green Technologies. In 2010 we announced
plans to invest a cumulative EUR 2 billion in Green
Innovation during the coming 5 years. Philips invested
some EUR 570 million in Green Innovation in 2012, with
the strongest contribution from Lighting.