The global leader in the display technology sector focuses on circular economy and environmental sustainability, to better support its “business community”.
There are now expectations for technological companies to lead when it comes to environmental sustainability, with concrete actions that involve business choices and that direct the development of series towards production, packaging and end-of-life characteristics, adhering to a responsible and functional strategic perspective in the long term to conserve the planet.
The products of the Philips Digital Signage, LED Display and Professional TV range, marketed under the trading name PPDS, fully respond to this type of philosophy, following a real virtuous path that starts from the design and continues with the production phases, delivery and installation, up to the end of their first life cycle and beyond. This is a “holistic” approach which at Philips also includes the activities of strategic partners, which are then applied to specific market segments: this is the case with system integrators, who are offered display solutions based on Android (which allow durability of the products by updating the platforms over time), but also resources for a more sustainable management of product obsolescence, with support services that favour their recycling, disposal or redistribution in areas where they can be reused.
A revolution already underway
Philips’ presence on the professional AV market is marked by proactivity, and this allows the brand to launch new solutions very quickly: from the PeopleCount (for managing access and social distancing in public environments), to the Air Quality Sensor (for air quality monitoring in workspaces and classrooms), to integrations that allow hotel guests to manage the in-room TV directly from their own mobile devices.
The future, therefore, is designed step by step. “We are aiming to go green- comments Daniele Tomè, Product manager EMEA of PPDS Philips professional display – “and the models of the new series will arrive on the market with a new concept, all made with recycled materials and without the use of plastics for the containment of cables and accessories. More generally, Philips’ overall production strategy, which adheres to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, is progressively including the issue of sustainability, with solutions that reduce the impact and total effective cost of each installation, generating lower energy consumption costs, fewer repairs, inconveniences and spare parts, with an overall goal to increase scalability”.
Obsolescence and disposal
Philips designs displays on the open Android SoC platform, offering solutions capable of extending their life and delaying their obsolescence, thanks to the collaboration with their partners. “This is what happens when we make regular firmware or operating system updates possible. It then makes it possible to bring compatibility elements, new functions and more advantages to the range of products already existing on the market”, Tomè points out. In this way, Philips customers are guaranteed benefits and a better return on investment, while simultaneously reducing the total amount of electrical and electronic equipment to be disposed of.
Less resources for a better future
From energy consumption to components and product packaging, Philips’ goal is to continuously monitor, modify and improve each of these aspects. In other words, making a “small” difference today can have a big impact on tomorrow.
The screen packaging is designed to minimise waste and optimise logistics and shipping. It’s also designed to help reduce the carbon footprint and amount of material that needs to be disposed of, without compromising the safety of the product during transport. The new Philips professional displays will therefore arrive on the market with neutral packaging printed in one colour, produced entirely with recyclable materials and without using any plastics.
