Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

The three values in the inner circle constitute the vital signs of a lamp - at OSRAM we follow a 'no steps backward strategy' concerning these KPI when developing new products - assuring a process of continuous improvement.

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Efficacy

The luminous efficacy of a lamp is calculated in lumens/Watt. Typical values range from 10 lm/W for incandescent lamps to 70 lm/W for different fluorescent lamps to over 100 lm/W for HID Lamps. For the ecology, high efficacy means producing the needed light with as little energy as possible, thus reducing the CO2 emitted through electricity production. For the user of the lamp, it means savings on the energy bill.

Life

The rated life of a lamp is of importance in several ways: Obviously, a longer lasting lamp means less use of resources, less cost for transportation, and less waste to be recycled at the end of its life - less environmental impact per hour of light. For the customer, it means less money to spend on replacement lamps and lower cost for service.

Hazardous materials

Modern lighting technology consists of highly complex products using different technologies to generate light. Some technologies still require hazardous materials in small amounts.

Back in 1967, we were one of the first manufacturers to produce lamps without the carcinogenic metal beryllium in phosphors.  We have constantly reduced or eliminated hazardous materials in our products. But in some OSRAM products the use of harmful substances is still unavoidable at present.

For generating energy efficient lighting, the mercury discharge process continues to be unmatched, so almost all discharge lamps contain a minute amount of mercury. Mercury has moved into the public focus in the last few years following the discussion on replacing inefficient incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps, which contain small amounts of mercury.

There is a wide variety of other hazardous substances as well. OSRAM has compiled an 'Index List Environment' (ILE), which contains substances we prohibit in our products, and other substances which we are reducing to the lowest possible levels. To manage their content in our products, we require our suppliers to take note of our ILE, disclose any relevant substance, and confirm their compliance with all these provisions.

OSRAM is bound by the framework of the European REACH Regulation, since we import or produce chemicals. The regulation provides for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals ("REACH" for short), and came into force on June 1st 2007. (EC No 1907/2006)