Corporate Social Responsibility

At Sony Electronics we recognize the close link between our business and the environment. Reducing our impact is a challenge we take seriously. Not only are we actively producing eco-friendly products but we continuously strive to be a leading environmental corporate citizen.

View 2008 CSR report (PDF)

In promoting a sustainable environment for generations to come,
Sony is focused on four key areas:

• Global warming and the reduction of greenhouse gases
• Conservation and effective use of natural resources
• Preservation of our natural environment
• Reducing CO2 emissions from product use by introducing more
  energy efficient products

In 2006, Sony joined the World Wildlife Federation’s Climate Savers
Program, a global organization dedicated to achieving these goals:

• Cutting greenhouse gas emissions 7% by 2010
• Reducing CO2 emissions from product use by lowering the annual energy consumption
• Educating people on how to reduce global warming.

Energy

Sony uses renewable energy whenever possible.  Sony Electronics headquarters in San Diego is currently running on 100% renewable energy.

Sony facilities are committed to reduce energy consumption by 7% by end of March 2011 compared to 2000.   Various programs are implemented under the ISO 14001 environmental management system.  Sony is also a member of WWF Climate Savers program.  Under the program, Sony has made this reduction a public commitment.

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Packaging

The adoption of a three-piece carton for the BRAVIA^® LCD television makes installation easier. The use of thinner and slim packaging also reduces the amount of packaging materials used and improves loading efficiency during transportation.

In addition to protecting products with the minimum amount of materials required, Sony uses recyclable and recycled packaging materials. To facilitate sorting the materials for recycling, Sony packaging is clearly labeled and easy to separate.

Beyond merely conserving resources and reducing packaging materials, Sony also promotes the development of new technologies that are designed for easier recycling by eliminating hazardous materials and reducing the number of total parts.

Stewardship through Reuse & Recycling

Through innovative programs and processes, Sony is dedicated to the reuse of high-quality materials as well as maintaining a steady supply of recycled materials back into its product life cycle in order to decrease the reliance on raw materials.

Amount end-of-Life Product Collected in 2007

Conservation

All Sony sites (all sites larger than 100 employees) are ISO 14001 certified since 2005.

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Elimination of hazardous substances

Sony’s Green Partner program restricts the use of hazardous substances in parts and materials.

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Recycle

The Sony National Take Back Recycling program makes it easy for its customers to recycle. Since the inception of the program, Sony has held over 101 event days  and collected over 18.1 million pounds of unwanted electronics. Over 87,000 consumers participated in these drive through events where Sony offered free recycling of all brands of unwanted electronics. Our goal is to collect one pound of electronics for every pound produced.

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Procurement Activities

Sony sees global environmental conservation as one of the most critical issues for mankind in the 21st century. Sony, as a good corporate citizen, has therefore established the Sony Environmental Vision to form the basis for aggressive actions to conserve the environment and create a sustainable society.

Sony closely monitors and manages chemical substances used in its products at all stages of the manufacturing cycle, from the raw material and component stages right through to final shipment. Naturally, the cooperation of suppliers is essential in promoting our activities in this area.

Learn more (PDF)