Recycling Waste Rinse Liquid at a Semiconductor Plant
 A mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide is widely used to rinse silicon wafers in semiconductor manufacturing processes. The waste rinse mixture is treated with large amounts of water and chemicals, generating large volumes of sludge and wastewater.
 Sony discovered that by adding a trace of nitric acid, the residue of hydrogen peroxide in the waste mixture decomposed into oxygen and water effectively. Using this phenomena Sony developed a technology to extract highly concentrated sulfuric acid containing no hydrogen peroxide from the waste mixture. Sony Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation has been using this technology at their plant since 2001, and the extracted concentrated sulfuric acid is being put to good use as a neutralizer for wastewater treatment within the plant.
 This process does not require heating or cooling and so contributes to savings in the energy consumed by the recycling equipment. In addition, the introduction of this equipment has reduced the volume of chemicals required for treating wastewater and it has also led to quality improvements of the treated water.

Creating Recycled Plastics from Discarded CDs
 In March 2006, Sony's optical disc manufacturer Sony DADC Japan Inc. (formerly Sony Music Manufacturing) introduced a method that recycles discarded CDs into plastics used for product casings and components. Sony DADC Japan Inc. developed a proprietary automated system that removes the surface coating by crushing, washing and drying the discarded CDs, which are then recycled into polycarbonate plastic. A resin manufacturer working with Sony on this project then blends the recycled polycarbonate with additives so that it can be used for Sony products. One of the additives is a new environmentally conscious flame retardant (bromine- and phosphorous-free) developed by Sony. Polycarbonate plastic containing this additive has high flame retardant and thermal resistant properties, and is used for the optical block inside Sony's rear-projection televisions. This is yet another example of the Sony Group's effective use of technology and resources to actively promote resource conservation within its manufacturing activities.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Research
 Sony is engaged in research on dye-sensitized solar cells, which use photosensitive organic dyes adsorbed on the porous electrode surface to convert light energy to electrical energy. Unlike conventional silicon-based solar cells, dye-sensitized solar cells do not require a large vacuum process machine in fabrication. Also, because they use a coating and a printing process, these cells allow low-cost fabrication and exert less of an impact on the environment due to the fact that they require fewer materials and less energy. Dye-sensitized solar cells have the additional advantage of providing excellent power generation especially in low-light situations, such as indoors or under cloudy skies. Depending on the dye color, these cells can even provide color variations. Owing to these advantages, dye-sensitized solar cells are viewed as one of the most promising next-generation solar cell technologies.
 Sony has achieved world-leading results in terms of electric power generating efficiency of the experimental module in dye-sensitized solar cells.. Sony will continue to conduct research in this area to further enhance electric power generation efficiency and ensure reliability with a view to future commercialization.

Bio Battery Research
 Sony is conducting research on a bio battery that generates electricity from sugar (glucose) by utilizing enzymes through a method that mimics power generation principles found in living organisms. As a substance produced by plants through photosynthesis, glucose is a regenerative energy source that exists in large quantities all over the earth. Glucose has a high energy density-a piece of bread (100g) contains glucose energy as much power as a 64 AA-size alkaline dry cells. R&D efforts are currently focused on improving power-generating efficiency to bring out of glucose potential energy. A prototype produced in spring 2009 boasted twice the cubic output of its predecessor, produced in summer 2007-once again setting a new record. Sony will continue to promote the development of artificial high-activity enzymes, as well as of technologies for an enzyme immobilization and electron mediators (electronic conduction materials). It will also focus on efficiently supplying oxygen to the electrode and ensuring that the appropriate water content is maintained at the electrode to further enhance power output and durability, with a view to realizing practical applications for bio batteries as eco-conscious energy devices of the future.

Organic Transistor Research
 Sony is conducting research on an organic transistor that uses an organic material for the semiconductor layer material. The advantages of an organic transistor compared with a conventional silicon-based transistor are: (1) its ability to form directly onto plastic film or other flexible substrate materials using a low fabrication temperature; (2) the ability to make large devices using an inexpensive thin-film process that uses coating and printing solutions; and (3) its durability against impact, breaking and bending thanks to the softness of the material. Also, the technology has great potential as an environmentally conscious method that reduces the amount of materials and energy required during the manufacturing process. By applying organic transistors in the flat panel display backplane circuits called an organic thin film transistors(TFT) made on the flexible substrates, flat panel displays can be much thinner, lighter, and more flexible than the flat panel displays using a-Si TFT on the glass substrates, while maintaining mechanical strength, and reduce the need for protective frame materials.
In May 2007, Sony succeeded in developing the world's first full-color organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display driven by an organic TFT on a flexible plastic film. In January 2009, Sony demonstrated the organic TFT driven full-color flexible OLED display driven by an organic TFT at a major consumer electronics show (International CES) in Las Vegas, in the United States. This flexible OLED display played full color video while it's flexible display panel are automatically bending.
 Sony aims to achieve the future commercialization of "thin, light and soft" electronic paper and a flexible film display by enhancing reliability and continuing with its research into the mechanisms of organic transistors, organic materials and device processes.