November 3, 2006—Philips Lighting Company, the US-based lighting company affiliated with Royal Philips Electronics, was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the first company in the US to launch a company-wide effort towards meeting the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) waste minimization standards.
As a new partner in the national program, Philips Lighting has committed to reducing the amount of mercury used in the manufacturing of their fluorescent lamps by 780 pounds by the end of 2007. In addition, the company has committed to eliminating the amount of lead in all of their US lamp manufacturing processes by 1.5 million pounds by 2010, says Philips.
According to the EPA, Philips Lighting’s reduction in mercury and lead is a cut worthy of national attention since it represents 37 percent of the EPA’s national chemical reduction goal for 2011 for all businesses and companies reporting priority chemicals.
Philips Lighting says it will continue to refine the technology modifications and product designs it first developed in 1995 to further reduce the levels of mercury in their fluorescent lamps and the lead in all its lighting products.
With the changes planned, Philips Lighting will reduce mercury levels particularly in its fluorescent lighting. The change equates to nearly two tons of mercury reduction in the manufacture of light bulbs over the next five years. Additionally, Philips has committed to reducing the level, and in some cases, completely eliminating all of the lead in the base and glass sleeves of its incandescent bulbs by 2010.
While these reductions will ultimately have a long-term impact on the environment, customers won’t be able to tell a difference in the brightness or quality of the lighting.
For more information, see the Web site of Philips and the National Waste Minimization Program.
