Signify working with relief agencies on Ukrainian lighting needs

Signify is working with several global relief agencies to help identify lighting needs for Ukrainian refugees and for people inside the war-torn country, where it is also providing “unrestricted financial support” to employees, a spokesperson told LEDs Magazine.

Unlike many companies from other industries, Signify has not shut down operations in Russia. It is evaluating its business there in terms of the effects on employees and customers, while firmly abiding by international sanctions, the spokesperson said.

Signify, the world’s largest lighting company, is believed to derive a notable amount of revenue from Russia, where showcase accounts have included various horticultural installations.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, a move widely condemned by the rest of the world. The deadly aggression has caused devastating hardship inside Ukraine. At the time of this writing, 1.7 million people had fled the country.

A nonprofit arm of Signify called the Signify Foundation “is working with the UN Refugee Agency, United Nations Population Fund, GlobalMedic, and the Philips Foundation to identify the lighting needs for relief and assistance inside and outside Ukraine,” the Signify spokesperson said.

She did not elaborate on the extent to which Signify might have already sent lighting, or on how much might be in store.

Signify Foundation is a registered charity in Holland, founded in 2017. Its largest donor is Signify.

The group’s mission is to provide lighting to underprivileged populations and offgrid areas around the world. It serves emergency humanitarian situations as well as fostering educational, training, and occupational opportunities to help offset social imbalances. Its projects often entail solar-powered LED lighting.

Here is the full statement that Signify sent to LEDs over the weekend, after we asked last week how the company is responding to and how employees are affected by the war:

“Signify statement on war in Ukraine

At Signify, we value peace, unity and humanity above all else. We unequivocally condemn the devastating war in Ukraine and are extremely concerned and saddened at the loss of life and the impact on the civilian population.

Our businesses have been discontinued in Ukraine and our absolute priority is to support our Signify teams and their families. We are keeping in daily contact with all our employees in Ukraine and monitoring their safety conditions. We are providing unrestricted financial support to our Ukraine employees and their families, based on individual circumstances. We are also supporting our Ukrainian colleagues in Poland and Hungary, many of whom are seeking to reunite with their families. We are deeply moved by the support given by employees of Signify Poland to organize transfers, food and accommodation for people arriving at the Ukrainian/Polish border. These colleagues are establishing a dedicated fund to support Ukrainian employees and their families living in Poland. This is an illustration of our values and strong culture of support and togetherness.

The Signify Foundation is simultaneously working with the UN Refugee Agency, United Nations Population Fund, GlobalMedic and the Philips Foundation to identify the lighting needs for relief and assistance inside and outside Ukraine.

This humanitarian issue will inevitably evolve into a developmental challenge. Signify is committed to supporting a sustainable recovery in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Our hearts are with Ukraine and the millions of people whose lives are affected by this tragedy. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder and give them support in any way we can, now and in the future.

After many decades of presence in Russia it is very important for us to monitor the situation as it relates to our employees and customers there. As a global organization, we are currently reviewing the implications of the recently announced sanctions and are strictly complying with them fully.

Signify employs almost 37,000 people of 96 nationalities. Our people all around the world are and will remain unified and united in the face of this appalling situation.”

More on Ukraine/Russia from Endeavor Business Media brands

Electronic Design collects coverage around EBM

IndustryWeek covers updates on Russian invasion impact on US businesses

Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing seeks analyst’s thoughts on resin prices

MARK HALPER is a contributing editor for LEDs Magazine, and an energy, technology, and business journalist ([email protected]).

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