Japanese electronics firm Sony Corporation announced Tuesday that it has exceeded most of its sustainability targets, marking a milestone on its journey to achieving a zero environmental footprint by 2050.
The results of Sony’s interim environmental sustainability plan - verified by global certification organisation Bureau Veritas Certification (BVC) - showed that the company had reduced its global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its direct operations by 31 per cent based on year 2000 levels.
The company’s environmental performance was assessed against “Green Management 2010”, the first of a series of Sony’s incremental plans, called “Road to Zero”, to eliminate its negative environmental impacts. Results from the next set of targets will be assessed in 2015.
Using in-house experts to manage energy use at both its offices and factories, Sony surpassed its original stated target of a 7 per cent reduction between 2006 to 2010 by increasing energy efficiency, introducing on-site and purchased renewable energy and switching away from the use of greenhouse gas substances in its manufacturing processes.
Consumers of Sony products also benefit from efforts to increase energy efficiency. As part of its long-term plan, the company set targets, which have thus far been achieved 100 per cent, for reducing the average annual electricity consumption of its products. Sony’s Bravia LCD televisions, for instance, dropped by 30 per cent between 2008 and 2010.
As part of its efforts to reduce emissions and other environmental impacts, the company also increased its commitment to using green buildings. Both Sony Electronics’ new headquarters in California and Sony Pictures Entertainment office and studio site achieved gold status from the United States Green Buildings Council certification scheme, entitled Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Other operational improvements include global waste reduction from Sony offices and factories from 2000 levels by 54 per cent, compared its target of 40 per cent, and a 41 per cent reduction in water usage (the original target was 20 per cent) at the same sites.
Sony’s China operations achieved the most notable of the company’s water reductions through an industrial wastewater treatment system that allows water from manufacturing processes to be recycled. Within that region, where there was a significant increase in production over the five-year evaluation period, water use was reduced by 800,000 tonnes, or about 42 per cent.
The firm, however, did not meet its target of a 40 per cent reduction in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, which are a major cause of indoor air pollution. The company noted in the report that it attained a 35 per cent reduction, and that increasing semiconductor production had hindered progress. It further noted that it would continue to seek alternatives for VOCs and would explore VOC treatment technologies.
Across all regions, the company is working on reducing the life cycle impacts of its products through initiatives on e-waste, sustainable packaging and the electricity consumption of its products.
In Europe, Sony is a founding member of a 12 country network, the European Recycling Platform (ERP), which manages collection and recycling of electronics waste.
Sony Korea is working with the South Korean government, local recycling companies and the National Council of Green Consumers Network on a campaign to eliminate electronics, or e-waste, from the waste stream through recycling programmes.
Other environmentally-friendly design features in Sony products include plastics made from recycled materials and presence sensors that automatically turn off equipment in empty rooms.
The company will face tougher conditions going forward. In its recently released quarterly results for the current fiscal year, Sony slashed it projected earnings for the year by 25 per cent. The company said the move was largely due to a decrease in production caused by the March tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
