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Robert Metzke, who shepherded Dutch medical equipment company Philips’ push to integrate environmental considerations into new product design, is leaving to lead sustainability at German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom.
Metzke, a 17-year veteran at Philips, led sustainability for the past nine years. He most recently was senior vice president and global head of sustainability.
During Metzke’s tenure, Philips became the first health technology company to have the emissions reduction targets across its entire greenhouse gas footprint approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
The company also met its promise to include “EcoDesign” metrics — including reduced energy consumption, the elimination of hazardous substances and the use of lightweight or recycled materials — in all of its new product design roadmaps.
Philips is one of the few companies that calculates an environmental profit and loss statement that puts a monetary value on its environmental impact. The company uses that to prioritize emissions reduction investments. For example, it inspired a feature that uses artificial intelligence to reduce energy consumption in MRI machines.
Metzke cites more milestones in the Sept. 30 LinkedIn post about his job switch, with a shoutout to Philips employees: “Real change happens where human hearts meet, beyond roles and ratio. The late-night brainstorms, the courageous conversations, the shared belief that business can — and must — be a force for good.”
Simon Braaksma, head of non-financial reporting at Philips, will replace Metzke on an interim basis. “Our strong teams and foundations will ensure our ESG commitments continue without interruption,” the company said.
Deutsche Telekom, a much larger company than Philips with close to $134 billion in revenue in 2024, was not immediately available for comment. Its emissions reduction plan calls for a 55 percent cut across its entire carbon footprint by 2030, compared with 2020.
Like Philips, Deutsche Telekom cites circular business models that reimagine how products are sold and repaired as integral to its sustainability plan. The telecom’s goal is to make all of its technologies and devices “compatible” with a circular economy — prioritizing longer use cycles supported by repair services and materials reuse. Philips generates close to 25 percent of its revenue from circular models for upgrading or replacing its products.
Heather Clancy
Heather Clancy’s articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times.