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Underlying Philosophy
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(Updated on September 5th, 2008)
In recent years, stakeholder interest in corporate social responsibility has risen sharply not only as a measure of the quality of a company's finished products, but also as a measure of its overall responsibility for its products, including human rights, labor conditions and work environments for the individuals on its production lines. In particular, as supply chains have expanded to include developing countries, this interest has broadened to encompass not only the company's own production lines, but also those of the companies that supply it with parts and materials and the companies to which it subcontracts work.
While working together with other companies in the industry to develop a common framework, Sony is seeking to introduce "CSR procurement," namely CSR management programs through our supply chain that include legal compliance, employment, occupational health and safety, and environmental protection. |
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Electronic Industry Alliance, Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC)
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(Updated on September 5th, 2008)
Supply chain overlap in the electronics industry is considerable, with multiple manufacturers of finished products sharing the same subcontractors and parts suppliers. Accordingly, there are fears that the introduction of independent, company-specific standards for socially responsible management will cause confusion and constitute a significant burden on companies in the supply chain.
The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC*1) was established in 2004 by a coalition of electronics industry companies with the intention of developing an efficient and effective approach to this problem while assuring that suppliers conform to basic standards of social responsibility. The EICC formulated a basic code of conduct and is working to develop the tools and Web-based system, as well as skills development programs for suppliers, necessary to create a framework for ensuring the code is upheld. To this end, the EICC engages nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), socially responsible investors and other stakeholders to solicit opinions.
As of June 2008, the EICC consisted of 42 participating companies from Europe, the United States, Asia and Japan, including IBM and Sony. Members include manufacturers, OEM suppliers and retailers. In cooperation with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) Supply Chain Working Group, mainly formed by European telecom sector and other electronics industry organizations, the EICC is currently promoting social responsibility across the global supply chain. |
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| *1 Introduced in 2004, the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct Group was incorporated in 2007, when its name was changed to the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition |
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Sony Supplier Code of Conduct
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(Updated on September 5th, 2008)
Against this backdrop, in June 2005, Sony established the Sony Supplier Code of Conduct, which is based on the EICC code of conduct, to ensure that suppliers understand Sony's expectations in more detail.
In fiscal 2005, Sony informed all suppliers for our electronics businesses about our supplier code of conduct and requested their compliance with it. In an effort to assess supplier compliance, in fiscal 2007, we introduced a supplier self-assessment program and also held seminars for suppliers. Supplier self-assessment has been implemented to all of our approximately 3,500 suppliers region by region globally. The overall findings from supplier self-assessments conducted in the Japan and China regions in fiscal 2007 were that suppliers are generally in the process of developing the organizational infrastructure, including the establishment of labor and ethical management systems, needed to fully and consistently comply with the code of conduct standards. We will continue to work with our suppliers to help ensure that they improve their systems. |
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EICC Joint Supplier Audits
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(Updated on September 5th, 2008)
Under the EICC, joint audits are conducted based on standards set out in the EICC code of conduct. Reflecting input from stakeholders, member companies are conducting these joint audits, starting with suppliers in regions deemed to be high risk. By April 2008, 18 of Sony's suppliers* had undergone joint audits. Audit results thus far have identified some issues in the categories of Labor-and-Ethical-Management System, Health and Safety, and Labor. Sony continues to work in partnership with our suppliers and help them improve their activities.
* Suppliers in Mainland China under scope of region for EICC joint audits. |
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Results of EICC Supplier Joint Audits
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(Updated on September 5th, 2008) |
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Findings from Supplier Joint Audits
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| * Based on EICC Joint Audit of 18 suppliers. |
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| The EICC also keeps a watchful eye on common issues facing the industry. In response to heightened stakeholder interest, it investigates such issues, as workers' human rights and the environmental impact of extraction of rare metals essential in the manufacture of electronics products. The EICC is studying options for an industry approach to these issues. |
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