Philips aims for revenues from greener products

Office equipment manufacturer Philips has underlined its commitment to environmentally friendly technology with its latest pledge.

The Dutch firm, which offers a green portfolio of goods in the medical equipment, consumer electronics and household and personal care spheres as well as the office equipment sector, is aiming to generate 30 per cent of all revenues from such lines by 2012.

That pledge represents a doubling of the percentage of revenue Philips took from green products in 2006.

Over the next five years, the company, which manufactures office machines such as the Philips PPF 695 Fax and Answering Machine with Colour DECT Handset, will double the amount it has invested in green innovations, taking the sum to €1 billion (£0.7 billion).

As part of its EcoVision programme, Philips also aims to lead by example by fitting greener office supplies and working practices at its premises. Through this, the manufacturer intends to increase the energy efficiency of its operations by 25 per cent.

"We want to be a company that provides solutions to complex problems such as sustainable development," said Barbara Kux, chair of the sustainability board at Philips.

"Sometimes these solutions will be simple; sometimes they will require more comprehensive approaches."

Earlier this month, Philips unveiled its Vision 2010 plan to strengthen the company’s presence in the healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle markets.