On other Energy criteria, Sony gets maximum points for third-party verified disclosure of its reducing GHG emissions, and for its progress reducing them. Sony aims to reduce GHG emissions by an absolute value of 30% from the fiscal year 2000 level by 2015. Having already met this goal, it should now set a secondary goal. Sony has not set a target for renewable energy use. Sony’s strategy for reducing GHG emissions includes energy efficiency and increasing its use of renewable energy, which currently accounts for 10% of the total amount of electricity that Sony purchases globally each year.
On Products, Sony receives top marks for energy efficiency, with all of its TVs meeting or exceeding the latest Energy Star standards. The company uses approximately 8,500 tonnes of post-consumer recycled plastic annually, and has a goal to “reduce utilisation ratio of virgin oil-based plastics in products by 5% from the fiscal 2008 level” by 2015. Sony fails to report on the length of warranty and spare parts availability for its main product lines. Although it has phased out polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC) from many of its products, the scope of its phase-out of brominated frame retardants (BFRs) is limited.
Sony’s performance on Sustainable Operations has improved since last year. Sony escapes a penalty point for instituting a global paper procurement policy, citing the importance of forest conservation in purchasing decisions. Sony should immediately and publicly commit to stop sourcing any paper or packaging from Asia Pulp and Paper. Sony has started to identify certain minerals used in Sony products and in its supply chain, and will identify measures to eliminate such conflict minerals as far as possible. Sony bases its chemicals management on the precautionary principle, but its programme does not fully implement the principle in practice. Sony’s inheritance of Sony Ericsson’s mobile recycling programme greatly improves its take-back programme. Sony reports on its compliance with India’s new e-waste rule, and provides data on the quantities of e-waste collected.
Sony's performance in detail: Download the company’s Scorecard here