Strengthening Signify’s Sustainability Strategy through Expert Review

Introduction

BSR partnered with Signify to conduct an external expert review of its 2030 sustainability program. Through a structured review process involving subject matter experts across climate, nature, human rights, regulation, and futures, BSR provided targeted recommendations on the program’s targets, implementation considerations, and alignment with evolving sustainability expectations. The engagement helped Signify refine its sustainability program ahead of board review and launch and strengthen alignment between business objectives and evolving regulatory requirements.

Background

Signify, the world leader in lighting, sought to define the next version of its sustainability program, Brighter Lives, Better World 2030, to support its long-term business goals. As sustainability expectations from regulators, customers, and investors continue to evolve, the company wanted to ensure the program reflected clear ambitions and was positioned to deliver long-term value.

Like many multinational companies, Signify was already implementing regulatory requirements such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and preparing for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). At the same time, the company must navigate differing regional regulations and operational realities across global markets.

The Challenge

As Signify prepared to finalize its 2030 sustainability program, it faced several key challenges:

• Ensuring alignment with rapidly evolving sustainability standards and regulatory expectations 
• Validating whether its strategic priorities and targets reflected leading practice
• Strengthening internal coherence across key sustainability pillars for the company (circular economy, climate action, nature, workforce, and social impact)
• Testing the strategy’s resilience against future disruptions and emerging trends 
• Setting enterprise-level sustainability goals that accommodate varying regional requirements
• Designing a sustainability program that helps customers advance their own sustainability ambitions

BSR’s Response

BSR convened a panel of subject matter experts in climate, nature, human rights, regulations, and futures and facilitated a structured review process. This process focused on evaluating the program’s structure, priorities, and implementation considerations across Signify’s key sustainability pillars. Specifically, BSR:

• Conducted an expert assessment of the draft program to evaluate alignment with peer positioning, emerging trends, and stakeholder expectations
• Facilitated a working session with Signify’s program leads to test assumptions and identify areas for refinement
• Applied insights from BSR’s Sustainable Futures Lab to stress-test key elements of the strategy against potential disruptions
• Developed an annotated strategic framework with targeted recommendations to strengthen goals, targets, and overall narrative

BSR encouraged Signify to further strengthen the connection between sustainability commitments and long-term business value. The review process also helped Signify refine priorities and address implementation considerations across different markets and regulatory contexts.

“The most valuable aspect of the process was the opportunity to engage directly with each BSR topic expert. Gaining access to their insights, questions, and constructive feedback meaningfully strengthened the proposal. Their perspectives helped refine our thinking and ultimately shaped a more robust and well-grounded final version of our new 2030 program.

This collaboration prompted us to take a fresh, critical look at the metrics and targets associated with our material topics. It also encouraged us to explore additional areas that could meaningfully enhance our 2030 sustainability program. As a result, our program is now more comprehensive, forward looking, and aligned with the emerging expectations of our stakeholders.”

–Maurice Loosschilder, Global Head of Sustainability, Signify

Outcomes

The engagement helped Signify strengthen its 2030 sustainability program ahead of launch by providing independent validation, practical recommendations, and insights related to emerging trends.

Key outcomes included:

• Improved clarity and alignment across sustainability priorities and increased focus on priorities tied to areas where Signify can have the greatest direct impact
• Strengthened goals and targets informed by evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations, with consideration for risks and opportunities for innovation and impact 
• Greater confidence among Signify’s leadership and board in the credibility and resilience of the program
• Stronger alignment between sustainability commitments and long-term business value
• Enhanced understanding of sustainability trends, best practices, and stakeholder expectations related to priority topics
• Increased ability to meet growing market and regulatory expectations

“We felt confident moving forward with the updated sustainability program because the process allowed us to incorporate a diverse range of stakeholder considerations and viewpoints. Having the chance to test, stress-check, and refine our draft targets and strategic direction with people who bring varied expertise ensured that we addressed the right questions. This breadth of input gave us assurance that the program was both credible and ready for launch.”

 –Maurice Loosschilder, Global Head of Sustainability, Signify

Conclusion

By integrating external expertise and structured dialogue into the strategic development process, Signify strengthened its ability to deliver a robust, future-ready sustainability program aligned with business priorities and changing stakeholder expectations. The process highlighted the value of combining internal ownership with external perspectives to ensure strategies are both ambitious and practical.

As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, many multinational companies are reassessing how sustainability strategies are validated, refined, and implemented across global markets. For organizations with mature sustainability programs, targeted expert review can help strengthen strategic alignment, pressure-test priorities, and prepare sustainability commitments for leadership, investor, and stakeholder scrutiny.

BSR works with companies across industries to develop, review, and strengthen sustainability strategies through expert input, stakeholder perspectives, and implementation-focused guidance.