How Philips is Embedding Sustainability in Healthcare

Healthcare is an industry full of sustainability challenges, many of them extremely difficult to navigate. 

Philips’ 2024 Sustainability Report shows that the company is taking some important steps towards reducing the environmental impact of its operations. 

For the first time, 2024 saw the company achieve 100% EcoDesigned new product introductions – products designed to increase energy efficiency, avoid the use of hazardous substances, optimise materials use and improve packaging.

“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, EVP, Chief ESG and Legal Officer and 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.”

Innovating for sustainability

Philips has expanded its portfolio of energy-efficient, compact and lightweight healthcare solutions. 

Key innovations in 2024 include:

• Helium-free MRI operations: Combining compact design with increased flexibility, these machines improve access to advanced MRI in remote locations. The PowerSave+ feature ensures additional energy savings by automatically switching to stand-by mode after 30 minutes of idle time.
• BlueSeal Magnet Technology: This technology has saved more than 2.75 million litres of helium since 2018, eliminating the need for helium refills—a scarce resource—even in the event of a shutdown.

In the Personal Health segment, Philips expanded its Refurb Edition and local takeback systems across some European markets. 

This initiative gives toothbrushes and shavers a second life, reducing the raw materials needed to produce new products. 

Reducing emissions

Philips has made substantial progress in reducing CO₂ emissions across its operations, logistics and value chain through low-carbon energy alternatives and optimised planning. 

Nearly half of all purchases (by spend) in 2024 came from suppliers with science-based climate targets, up from 46% in 2023.

The company also says that collaboration with suppliers has resulted in continuous improvement skills, positively impacting overall quality and cost management.

It continues to work with customers across the world to enable better health outcomes and address challenges like cost of care and staff shortages. 

Philips collaborates with healthcare providers worldwide to address pressing challenges while reducing environmental impact, including:

• Champalimaud Foundation in Portugal: Achieved a 24% emissions reduction per exam in its radiology and nuclear medicine department within the first year of partnership.
• County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK: Identified key areas for sustainability enhancement in ICU care, from patient discharge to supply chain waste reduction.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the US: A cradle-to-grave analysis of hospital-based radiology services found that energy consumption from imaging equipment accounted for over 50% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Social impact and sustainability

Philips' strategic focus on innovation, sustainability and energy efficiency has helped improve the lives of 1.96 billion people in 2024, the report says. 

The company aims to positively impact 2.5 billion lives annually by 2030.

Within the company, Philips engaged 3,000 people leaders on its purpose, strategy and culture.

It has been recognised as one of the world’s best employers by Forbes for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting positively on its commitment to responsible business practices. 

Robert Metzke, SVP and Global Head of Sustainability at Philips, said on LinkedIn: “Above and beyond these results, what stands out to me personally are the meaningful dialogues and continued collaboration with dedicated colleagues, customers, partners and suppliers. 

“It sparks so much energy in our work and motivates people every day to do an even better job; structurally shaping a future where healthcare works for all: people, patients and the planet.”

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