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| Environmental Conservation at Sites |
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| Sony is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its business activities and encourage the efficient use of resources, as well as to manage chemical substances appropriately. At the same time, it is working to preserve the natural environment surrounding its sites through such measures as greening and ecosystem protection. |
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions
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Sony has set a target to achieve an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (calculated in terms of CO2) of 7% or more from the fiscal 2000 level by fiscal 2010. To this end, Sony is striving to lower energy consumption and emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and other greenhouse gases.
In fiscal 2006, Sony's emissions of greenhouse gases totaled approximately 2.03 million tons, down 9% from the fiscal 2000 level. Emissions from Sony sites*1 accounted for 1.82 million tons*2, approximately 120,000 tons less than in fiscal 2005. This decline reflected a sharp drop in production of cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions and the implementation of measures to enhance energy efficiency, including shifting from heavy fuel oil to natural gas, and was achieved despite an increase in energy consumption at semiconductor manufacturing sites. Sony sites in Japan accounted for approximately 1.03 million tons*3 of total emissions, an increase of 35,000 tons from fiscal 2005. With production of Blu-ray Discs at its disc plants and production at manufacturing plants in China expected to increase, Sony will evaluate measures implemented to minimize energy consumption at the affected plants and strive to curb greenhouse gas emissions by using more efficient forms of energy.
PFCs and other greenhouse gases are used in the cleaning and etching processes of manufacturing semiconductors and LCD panels. Emissions of PFCs and other greenhouse gases in fiscal 2006 (calculated in terms of CO2) totaled approximately 244,000 tons, down approximately 34,000 tons from fiscal 2005. This decrease was primarily due to the installation of gas removal systems in semiconductor and LCD manufacturing sites. |
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| Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Sites
(Calculated in Terms of CO2) |
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*1 This includes CO2 emissions from fuel use of business vehicles owned by Sony.
*2 Taking into account changes in the CO2 conversion rate for the energy purchased in Japan, the amount of CO2 emitted by the use of energy in fiscal 2006 was approximately 1.92 million tons.
*3 Taking into account changes in the CO2 conversion rate for the energy purchased in Japan, the amount of CO2 emitted by the use of energy in fiscal 2006 was approximately 1.12 million tons. |
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Promoting Efficient Energy Use
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In August 2006, Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation's Kanuma Plant in Japan switched from heavy fuel oil to natural gas—which emits less CO2 and is highly efficient—to power its boilers and deodorization system. At the same time, the plant also switched to a high-efficiency turbo refrigerator. Thanks to the switch in fuels and improvement in energy efficiency, the plant achieved a 20% reduction in energy costs and lowered overall CO2 emissions by 12,000 tons in fiscal 2006.
Sony DADC's plant in Anif, Austria, sought to increase energy efficiency by replacing refrigeration facilities, optimizing air conditioning systems, and inspecting and repairing ductwork. These efforts enabled the plant to realize an 800-ton reduction in annual CO2 emissions. |
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Use of Renewable Energy
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The use of renewable energy*4 is a key part of Sony's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fiscal 2006, the use of the Green Power Certification System and the introduction of solar power generation systems helped reduce Sony's CO2 emissions by approximately 13,000 tons. The Green Power Certification System is a way of promoting the use of electric power produced from renewable energy sources. Even if the user is located far from a power plant, acquisition of a Green Power Certificate signifies recognition that the user is purchasing electric power generated using renewable energy.
In Japan, various Sony Group companies have used the Green Power Certification System since fiscal 2001. In fiscal 2006, Sony Creative Products Inc. began using this system. In April 2007, Sony signed a contract to purchase 10 million kilowatt hours of geothermal power annually, Japan's largest Green Power Certification System contract to date. Including the amount of this contract, the Sony Group currently purchases a total of 20.4 million kilowatt hours of power per year using the Green Power Certification System in Japan. In other countries, companies such as Sony Logistics Europe BV in the Netherlands, Sony France's Alsace plant and Stuttgart Technology Center (STC) also purchase electric power generated using renewable energy. STC also installed a solar power generation system on-site in fiscal 2006.
Sony Chemical Corporation's Kanuma Plant and Sony EMCS Corporation's Service Togane site introduced solar power generation systems.
In fiscal 2006, the ratio of Sony's usage of electricity generated by renewable energy to the total electricity consumption was 1.02% . |
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| *4 Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible, including solar power, wind power and energy from biomass products. |
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The list of the sites introducing the renewable energy (FY2006)
| Green Power Certification. Etc. |
Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation Sendai Technology Center
Hall Network Inc. (Zepp)
Music On! TV Inc.
Sony Music Communications Inc.
Sony EMCS Corporation, CS Front Center EAST
Sony Magazines Inc. (Lingkaran)
Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc., Show Room
Sony Life Insurance Co,. Ltd.
Sony Finance International, Inc.
Sony Creative Products Inc.
Sony Logistics Europe B.V.
Sony Chemicals Europe B.V.
Sony France S.A, Alsace Plant
Sony Espana S.A., EMCS Logistics Europe
Sony United Kingdom Ltd.
Sony Benelux B.V.
Stuttgart Technology Center
Sony New Zealand Ltd.
Sony Australia Limited
Sony Philippines, Inc. |
| Solar Power Generation |
Sony Chemicals Corporation, Kanuma Plant
Sony EMCS Corporation, CS Front Center EAST
Stuttgart Technology Center |
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Waste from Sites
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Sony has implemented a variety of measures to reduce waste and use materials more effectively in line with its targets to achieve an absolute reduction in waste from Sony sites of 40% or more from the fiscal 2000 level and achieve a reuse/recycle rate of 99% or higher for sites in Japan and 95% or higher for sites outside Japan by fiscal 2010.
In fiscal 2006, waste from Sony sites totaled approximately 193,000 tons, down 18,000 tons from fiscal 2005 and 30% below the fiscal 2000 level. This decline was largely attributable to a reduction in the volume of packaging materials used when shipping parts, a major component of waste generated by production sites.
Sony's waste reuse/recycle rate in fiscal 2006 was 99% for sites in Japan and 87% for sites outside Japan. Both rates were higher than in the previous fiscal year. |
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| Waste from Sites |
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Water Used by Sites
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| In line with its target of achieving an absolute reduction of 20% or more in volume of water purchased or drawn from groundwater for manufacturing purposes at sites from the fiscal 2000 level by fiscal 2010, Sony is taking steps to reduce water used by its sites. In fiscal 2006, Sony sites used approximately 24.18 million cubic meters of water, a reduction of approximately 1.47 million cubic meters from the fiscal 2005 and 16% below the fiscal 2000 level. Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation's Neagari Plant installed recycling facilities for wastewater from production processes. Thanks to such efforts, Sony is making progress on this front. |
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| Water Used by Sites |
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Reusing Water at Sites
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Sony Chemical & Information Device Corporation's Neagari Plant manufactures printed circuit boards and other electronic components. Printed circuit boards must be washed with water during the production process, which requires a significant amount of water. In fiscal 2006, the Neagari Plant introduced a water purification system that allows wastewater from production processes to be reused for industrial purposes.
With the Neagari Plant's new system, water is first chemically and biologically treated and filtered to a point where it satisfies quality standards for effluent water and then is treated further using a new purification system that includes a precision filtration followed by membrane filtration, thereby transforming the wastewater into water suitable for industrial use. This new system enables the plant to reuse 80% of wastewater from production activities. In fiscal 2006, this contributed to a 480,000m3 reduction in water used by the site. |
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Chemical Substances Used by Sites
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The Sony Group has developed a group-wide common approach to the management of chemicals used at sites where the use of these chemicals is controlled by legislation; designated as having a potentially harmful impact on the environment; or used in large quantities.
In line with Green Management 2010, which outlines Sony's targets for chemical substances requiring management, divided into four classes, Sony has implemented measures aimed not only at managing the amount of these chemicals used but also the amount transferred and released into the air, water and soil as emissions or waste. In countries where no legal reporting systems exist for chemical management, Sony sites apply internal standards based on Japan's Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR).
Class 1 chemical substances are those whose use is prohibited. Among Class 1 substances, Sony used 589 kilograms of mercury as an additive in button batteries, as well as a combined total of approximately 2 tons of other Class 1 chemical substances, including lead solder and ethyl cellusolve, which are used in certain exceptional cases.
Class 2 chemical substances are those that are to be phased out by March 2011. In fiscal 2006, Sony used no Class 2 chemical substances.
Class 3 chemical substances are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases. Sony Group's target for 2010 for the atmospheric release of VOCs is to achieve an absolute reduction of 40% or more from the fiscal 2000 level. In fiscal 2006, Sony released approximately 1,085 tons, 41% less than in fiscal 2000. With the start of commercial production at a new semiconductor production facility and an increase in production at LCD plants that is expected to increase the volume of these substances released into the atmosphere, Sony will continue to take steps to achieve reductions. |
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| Release of Class 3 Chemical Substances into the Air |
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| | Volume of Class 1, 2 and 3 Chemicals Used
(Fiscal 2006) |
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Environmental Risk Management at Sony Sites
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| To carry out effective risk management of chemical substances and emergency responses, the Sony Group enacted the Sony Group Standards for Site Environmental Risk Management, which set forth specific accident prevention policies and emergency response procedures. These include prohibiting the burial of tanks and pipes and the prevention of leaks. The Sony Group will continue to prevent environmental accidents through the appropriate management of chemical substances. |
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Environmental Accidents
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In September 2006, Sony Energy Devices Corporation's Koriyama Plant in Japan reported an environmental accident involving the discharge of machine oil. This accident occurred when a drum containing machine oil tipped over during conveyance, resulting in some of the oil from the drum draining into a rainwater tank, from which it was discharged outside the site.
This accident was attributable to two causes. The first was that conveyance of the machine oil drum, which should be carried out by two people, was in fact carried out by only one person. The second was that the rainwater discharge pipe did not have emergency cutoff valves.
Immediately following the accident, an on-site task force was set up and emergency measures were promptly implemented, namely, installing an oil fence in the nearby Gohyakugawa river to prevent the oil from flowing into the river. The accident was reported to the relevant local authorities, as well as to Sony headquarters in Tokyo and the business group with which the plant is affiliated. Fortunately, because the amount of machine oil discharged was small and the oil fence effective, this accident did not result in significant damage to the environment.
Permanent measures implemented in response to this accident included a review of conveyance equipment and procedures and the installation of emergency cutoff valves at the mouths of all 13 discharge pipes within the site. In addition, information regarding the accident and follow-up procedures was shared among Sony Group sites with the aim of preventing a recurrence elsewhere. |
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Response to Soil and Groundwater Contamination
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| Up until the end of fiscal 2006, through voluntary assessments, Sony had identified incidents of soil and groundwater contamination at four Sony Group sites—three in Japan (Sony Corporation's Haneda Technology Center, Sony Haneda Corporation's Technologistics Center and Sony EMCS Corporation's Inazawa TEC) and one in the United States (Sony Magnetic Products Inc. of America's Dothan Plant, in Alabama). Sony provides regular reports to the relevant authorities and continues with remediation work at all four sites. |
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Progress of Soil and Groundwater Remediation
Site |
Date Confirmed |
Substance(s) Detected |
Cause |
Response |
| Sony Corporation Haneda Technology Center (Japan) |
March 2006
(Result of assessment conducted in line with Tokyo bylaws) |
Fluorine
Lead |
Cause determined |
Petition filed in line with Japan's Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law |
| Sony Haneda Corporation (Japan) |
September 2004
(Result of assessment conducted in line with Tokyo bylaws |
Fluorine
Boron
Lead
Trichloroethylene |
Leak in area where substances had previously been used |
Pumping of groundwater began in July 2005.
•Petition filed in line with Japan's Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law |
| Sony EMCS Corporation Inazawa TEC (Japan) |
June 2001
(Result of voluntary assessment) |
Fluorine |
Leak from crack in drainage pipe |
•Drainage pipes equipped with sensors to detect leaks installed
•Decontamination and monitoring continue
Degree of contamination has been reduced to 2mg/l, from peak level of 58mg/l. |
| Sony Magnetic Products Inc. of America, Dothan Plant (United States) |
1990
(Result of voluntary assessment) |
Organic solvents |
Contamination in area where substances had previously been used (cause indeterminate) |
•Decontamination completed
•Groundwater pumped, aerated and then transported to the city of Dothan's water decontamination plant. Degree of contamination has been reduced to a level where monitoring is no longer required. |
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Promotion of Green Spaces
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Since its establishment in April 1985, Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation's Oita Technology Center has carefully preserved a valuable wooded area on its site containing trees more than 100 years old, as well as the area's natural environment, striving through maintenance and management to ensure the forest can be enjoyed by subsequent generations.
In June 2003, the Oita Technology Center made use of a green belt on its site to establish Sony Shionoka Park, a public park that is open to use by local residents. A barrier-free space designed and maintained for easy, safe use, Sony Shionoka Park is a favorite choice of a wide range of visitors, including preschool children and residents of local care facilities, and welcomes between 1,000 and 3,000 visitors monthly. The park also features a green belt with a biotope zone and areas for observing plants and animals. Plans are to further expand the park in the future.
In recognition of the Oita Technology Center's efforts, the facility was awarded the Excellent Stage 3 mark of certification under the Social and Environmental Green Evaluation System (SEGES) of the Urban Green Space Development Foundation—the highest certification given under SEGES. In 2005, Sony EMCS Corporation's Kohda TEC was also awarded Excellent Stage 3 certification, and the facility continues to uphold this level of excellence. |
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| The Oita Technology Center's Sony Shionoka Park |
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Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary
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| In 2006, Sony DADC's plant in Pitman, New Jersey, signed an agreement with the state of New Jersey to transform a portion of the site into a wildlife sanctuary. The area, a piece of forested land approximately 48,500m2 containing several ponds, is home to wild deer, foxes, birds and pond life. Recently, the presence of coyotes has also been confirmed. The Pitman Plant pledges to maintain the area in the condition it was at the time of the agreement and will undergo periodic audits by the state. |
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| The Pitman Plant's wildlife sanctuary |
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Tree Planting
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| In fiscal 2006, Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation's Kumamoto Technology Center launched a tree planting activity on areas adjacent to its site. This effort was undertaken in collaboration with the Broadleaf Forest Project currently being promoted by the town of Otsu, Kumamoto Prefecture, where the Kumamoto Technology Center is located. Plans are to plant 7,500 Yamazakura (Prunus jamasakura) and Japanese maple (Acer japonicum) trees within five years. Two plantings have been completed, totalling 3,000 trees, through the participation of 450 employees and family members. With the cooperation of local authorities, employees of the Kumamoto Technology Center will continue working toward the creation of a "Sony Forest" that wears different colors every season. |
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| Tree planting by employees of the Kumamoto Technology Center |
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