|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Reducing Environmental Impact of Logistics |
|
|
|
| Sony is working to reduce the environmental impact of the logistics supply chain by changing the transportation method of parts and products, improving packing procedures and optimizing transportation efficiency. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Environmental Impact of Logistics
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reducing energy consumption, packaging materials and volume used in the transportation of parts and finished products are crucial in reducing the environmental impact over products' life cycles. Public awareness of the need to lower greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation is also growing.
In fiscal 2006, CO2 emissions amounted to approximately 668,000 tons arising from the activities of Sony Group's global logistics subsidiary, Sony Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. (SSCS), including parts procurement, domestic shipment and global logistics, as well as from the activities of other major subsidiaries in Japan including transportation. As the company responsible for these operations, SSCS is striving to reduce CO2 emissions and the volume of packaging materials in the international shipment of parts and finished products from suppliers and Sony's device sites by, among others, optimizing transport and loading efficiency and shifting to more environmentally conscious modes of transport. |
|
|
| Reduction in CO2 Emissions Due to Modal Shift in Japan |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Promoting Modal Shift in Japan
|
|
|
|
|
|
In order to reduce the environmental impact of transportation, SSCS is promoting a shift in long-distance transport to rail and sea transport, which emit less CO2 than trucks, in a manner that balances lead times and transport costs. SSCS is also continuing to use co-transportation by sharing its railway containers with other companies to maximize transport efficiency. In addition to conventional rail transport, on April 1, 2006, SSCS began using the JR Freight Railway Company's newly launched "Super Green Shuttle freight service," which began to operate in March 2006, becoming the first consignor to load containers on the shuttle daily.
In fiscal 2006, Sony shifted its mode of transport for approximately 17,100 tons of products in Japan, which resulted in reducing CO2 emissions by approximately 2,214 tons from the estimated total for this volume being transported by truck. |
|
|
|
|
|
Reducing the Environmental Impact of Logistics by Re-Use of Packaging
|
|
|
|
|
|
SSCS is increasing efforts to improve packaging and transport procedures in cooperation with Sony's engineering and production teams.
Actions include introducing reusable international shipping containers—introduced in fiscal 2005 for finished products—for shipping parts, to reduce both transportation costs and CO2 emissions. The use of these reusable containers has enabled SSCS to minimize roundtrip shipping costs and at the same time simplify packaging using returnable materials, resulting in the reduction of waste from packaging and transport.
The integrated packing method for television sets introduced in October 2006, and the use of reusable international shipping containers, are expected to result in an annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 255 tons.
In December 2006, SSCS also introduced reusable folding plastic containers for shipping certain digital camera and digital camcorder parts. This move led to a 26.5-ton reduction in the weight of cardboard cartons used in the first three months of 2007. Going forward, SSCS plans to begin using these containers for semiconductors, LCD panels and other large parts worldwide. |
|
|
|
 |
|
| Reusable shipping containers for parts |
|
|
|
|
