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| Sony is strongly committed to using its unique talents in developing new and innovative approaches to help maintain a sustainable society for the next generation. |
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Sony is now in the third year of its strategic revitalization program. Over the past two years, we have implemented significant structural and business changes to make the company a highly focused organization that defines clear priorities company-wide and pursues these priorities with relentless discipline and energy. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the key priorities for our company. I hope this report will illustrate that CSR is both a core value and a passion of Sony, its management and its employees worldwide. In this message, I would like to highlight two aspects of our corporate social responsibility programs.
Upholding Sound Business Practices Sony clearly recognizes that sound business practices are a fundamental aspect of corporate social responsibility. As a global company, we have set forth worldwide standards and initiatives to strengthen corporate governance, ethics and compliance, product safety and quality, internal controls, and supply chain management. Sony is committed to observing the highest standards of ethical business behavior, as set forth in the Sony Group Code of Conduct, and as frequently reinforced through training courses and other awareness programs.
Beyond striving to manage our own global operations in a sound manner, collaboration in the supply chain is also essential for us to create high quality and socially responsible products and services. As we have expanded our operations worldwide to meet our customers' needs and to increase competitiveness, our supply chain has also become more global and more complex. We are working cooperatively with our suppliers to ensure social responsibility in the supply chain. In fiscal 2005, Sony introduced and distributed to its electronics suppliers the Sony Supplier Code of Conduct, a global standard of conduct based on the Electronic Industry Code of Conduct (EICC). In fiscal 2006, Sony worked closely with fellow EICC members to develop common methods for efficient and effective implementation.
It is Sony's responsibility not only to develop innovative high-technology products but also to do so while maintaining the highest standards of business conduct. Sound business practices are a foundation of Sony's success, allowing the company to more effectively drive corporate social responsibility programs for current and future generations. |
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Initiatives for the Next Generation Sony is committed to working toward a sustainable society for the next generation. As we know, the world is facing such serious challenges as climate change, poverty, disease and educational needs. It is our generation's responsibility to address these issues—to create a better society and maintain the global environment for the next generation. As a global company, we at Sony recognize our responsibility to play an important role in achieving these critical objectives, both on our own and in partnership with others.
As part of our efforts to help address the issue of climate change, Sony joined the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)'s Climate Savers Program in fiscal 2006 and committed to a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by Sony sites worldwide. We also agreed to further develop energy-efficient products through the application of innovative technologies such as that used to increase energy efficiency in our popular BRAVIA line of liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions. In addition, we are collaborating with the WWF on communicating to consumers how they can reduce energy consumption when using our products.
Sony is also applying its advanced technologies in support of scientific research to benefit current and future generations. For example, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. began to collaborate with Stanford University's Folding@home™, a distributed computing project, in fiscal 2006. Through this collaboration, users of the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) —the next-generation computer entertainment system— may sign up to share the powerful computing capacity of their PS3 consoles with Stanford researchers who are investigating serious diseases afflicting our society. As a result of a remarkable response from PS3 users, this program has greatly increased the computing capacity available to Folding@home™, thereby significantly speeding its research efforts.
In developing countries, in addition to diseases and the impacts of climate change, there are of course other serious issues, including poverty and educational needs. I believe there are many ways that Sony can contribute through methods utilizing its special expertise. For example, in addition to prior cash donations to the victims of the Pakistan Earthquake, Sony cooperated with UNICEF in fiscal 2006 to help children affected by the earthquake. We donated digital cameras to the children, supported workshops that taught them how to take photographs, and then encouraged them to communicate creatively through their photos. The result was a touching exhibit of their photographs that was shown in Islamabad, New York and Tokyo. In viewing the exhibit, I was particularly moved by the way these children, whose lives were devastated by natural disaster, were still eager for new experiences, and demonstrated in their photos their hope for the future. I was also very proud that Sony products had helped these children to express their creativity, and also played a role in connecting them and their messages with the rest of the world.
These are just a few examples of what we are doing. We at Sony are utilizing our businesses, our technologies, and the talents of our employees throughout the company in a coordinated manner to reduce our impact on the environment, to develop and market high-quality, innovative products that contribute to cultural and social progress, and to support local communities.
I sincerely hope that this report will provide you with a greater understanding of our efforts and our commitment.
Howard Stringer
Chairman and CEO
Representative Corporate Executive Officer
Member of the Board
Sony Corporation |
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