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Robert Metzke, who shepherded Dutch medical tools firm Philips’ push to combine environmental concerns into new product design, is leaving to steer sustainability at German telecommunications firm Deutsche Telekom.
Metzke, a 17-year veteran at Philips, led sustainability for the previous 9 years. He most not too long ago was senior vice chairman and international head of sustainability.
Throughout Metzke’s tenure, Philips grew to become the primary well being know-how firm to have the emissions discount targets throughout its total greenhouse fuel footprint authorised by the Science Based mostly Targets initiative.
The corporate additionally met its promise to incorporate “EcoDesign” metrics — together with decreased vitality consumption, the elimination of hazardous substances and the usage of light-weight or recycled supplies — in all of its new product design roadmaps.
Philips is without doubt one of the few corporations that calculates an environmental revenue and loss assertion that places a financial worth on its environmental impression. The corporate makes use of that to prioritize emissions discount investments. For instance, it impressed a function that makes use of synthetic intelligence to cut back vitality consumption in MRI machines.
Metzke cites extra milestones within the Sept. 30 LinkedIn publish about his job swap, with a shoutout to Philips workers: “Actual change occurs the place human hearts meet, past roles and ratio. The late-night brainstorms, the brave conversations, the shared perception that enterprise can — and should — be a drive for good.”
Simon Braaksma, head of non-financial reporting at Philips, will exchange Metzke on an interim foundation. “Our sturdy groups and foundations will guarantee our ESG commitments proceed with out interruption,” the corporate mentioned.
Deutsche Telekom, a a lot bigger firm than Philips with near $134 billion in income in 2024, was not instantly obtainable for remark. Its emissions discount plan requires a 55 p.c lower throughout its total carbon footprint by 2030, in contrast with 2020.
Like Philips, Deutsche Telekom cites round enterprise fashions that reimagine how merchandise are offered and repaired as integral to its sustainability plan. The telecom’s purpose is to make all of its applied sciences and units “suitable” with a round economic system — prioritizing longer use cycles supported by restore companies and supplies reuse. Philips generates near 25 p.c of its income from round fashions for upgrading or changing its merchandise.
