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Sony Aims for Zero Environmental Impact by 2050

04/08/2010
SustainableBusiness.com News

Sony Corporation (NYSE: SNE) announced a goal to reduce its environmental impact to zero by 2050.

The global company's Road to Zero environmental plan also includes environmental targets for the next five years in line.

Sony's definition of zero environmental footprint is not only limited to the neutralization of carbon emissions, but also extends to waste and use of finite materials such as oil-derived virgin plastics.

The company said it set targets based on four environmental perspectives--climate change, resource conservation, control of chemical substances and biodiversity. The targets include all product lifecycle stages, from research and development to recycling.

The five-year targets will be implemented globally beginning in fiscal year 2011 (April 2011), and will extend through the end of fiscal year 2015 (March 2016), at which time new targets for the following 5 years will be set.

The five-year targets include:

30% reduction in annual energy consumption of products (compared to fiscal 2008)
10% reduction in product mass (compared to fiscal 2008)
50% absolute reduction in waste generation (compared to fiscal 2000)
30% absolute reduction in water consumption (compared to fiscal 2000)
14% reduction in total CO2 emissions associated with all transportation and logistics (compared to fiscal 2008)
16% reduction in incoming parts packaging waste (compared to fiscal 2008)
Increase of waste recycle ratio to 99% or more
5% reduction in utilization ratio of virgin oil-based plastics in products (compared to fiscal 2008)Assessment of impact of resource procurement and facility construction on biodiversity, and promotion of biodiversity programs such as groundwater cultivation
Minimization of the risk of chemical substances through preventive measures; reduction in use of specific chemicals defined by Sony; and promotion of use of alternative materials

Sony's European sites already have reduced their CO2 emissions from electricity use and facility heating by approximately 93% since 2000.

In the U.S., Sony Electronics (SEL) was the first consumer electronics manufacturer to institute a nation-wide Take Back Recycling Program in 2007 through which consumers can recycle any Sony-branded product free of charge.

Sony's fiscal year 2015 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and power consumption per product were reviewed and approved by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a renewal of the company's Climate Savers Programme commitments. Sony has been a member of the WWF Climate Savers Programme since 2006. The Programme was organized by WWF International to mobilize companies to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Website: sony.net/SonyInfo/csr/eco/RoadToZero