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Sony
Background - 27 April, 2010
Summary 34/100
Sony has most consistently focused its climate initiatives on reducing its own energy impacts, but has little to offer under solutions. Sony uses renewable energy credits to meet 10 percent of its electricity needs with renewable energy, which could be improved upon by demonstrating the additionality of these purchases. However, Sony did enter the power market in order to generate its own renewable energy, and this demonstrates a long-term commitment to increasing its use of renewable electricity to power its operations.
The company also stands out for advocacy in support of the EU’s 30 percent greenhouse gas reduction target, which few companies stepped out to actively support as Sony Europe did.
Climate Solutions
Current Savings Calculations
Sony offers no case studies or examples of GHG savings from its products or services.
Public Metrics
Sony details methodology and assumptions to explain how digital film could save GHG emissions compared to the use of conventional film.
Investment
Sony lists its investment in environmental technological development as well as environmental compliance. The company should outline more specifically what clean tech investments and IT climate solution investments the company is making.
Future Savings Goal
no future savings goal.
Energy Impact
Reduction Target
Sony has committed to an absolute reduction of 30% over 2001 levels by 2016 and scores maximum points. Sony is committed to reducing emissions from business sites by 7% or more by 2010, using emission data from 2000 as baseline.
Mitigation
Renewable energy accounts for only 10% of the total amount of energy that Sony purchases worldwide each year, though it is the leading RE purchaser in Japan. The company does purchase a number of renewable credits with no additional information about the additionality of the electricity, though the company has entered into the power market in order to generate its own renewable energy.
Supply Chain Footprint
Sony discloses GHG emissions, including the use phase of their products, totalling approximately 26 million tons in fiscal 2008, of which 2.072 million tons are Sony’s own emissions. Sony needs to include more of its external suppliers in this measurement. Sony excels in conforming to recent Energy Star stands for PCs and TVs, though the company needs to report on compliance for TVs released outside of the US.
Political Advocacy
Speech
In expressing support for an ambitious GHG reduction target, Sony VP Serge Foucher stated, “[Sony] fully supports the manifesto being delivered to the European institutions. To move beyond a 20% by 2020 target will demonstrate leadership and stimulate greater action and innovation in tackling the environmental challenge across Europe. We believe that this will in turn help develop long-term sustainable economic development and job creation.”
Political Policy
Sony signed a strong letter of support for the European Union to adopt a greenhouse gas reduction target of 30% by 2020, a policy priority, which broke with the position of other companies in Business Europe. Along with Google, Sony sets the bar for Policy Advocacy with this letter.
Repetition Bonus
No applicable examples of advocacy repetition.
Negative Lobby Penalty
Sony is part of the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA), which opposes the Japanese 25% greenhouse gas reduction legislation being debated in the Diet. Sony needs to publicly and explicitly express support in favor of the 25% legislation in Parliament, publicly distancing itself from JEITA on this matter.
Sony's scores to date
| Leaderboard | Score |
|---|
| Version 1 |
7 |
| Version 2 |
10 |
| Version 3 |
16 |
| Version 4 |
34 |