The Sony Group's Green Management 2010 mid-term environmental targets included targets for the reduction of annual energy consumption, resource conservation, the management of chemical substances and the implementation of life cycle assessments. Sony sets targets and conducts product environmental assessments for each of its existing products, while at the same time striving to develop new products that are more environmentally conscious.
CO2 emissions over the lifetime of Sony products sold in fiscal year 2010 amounted to approximately 2.17 million tons, up about 10% from those for products sold in fiscal year 2009. For products sold in fiscal year 2010, Sony used approximately 1.19 million tons of resources, around 2% more than in fiscal year 2009, and approximately 100,000 tons of reused/recycled materials.*1 As a consequence, Sony's reused/recycled materials utilization rate was approximately 8%, short of its mid-term target of 12%.
The bulk of reused/recycled materials Sony uses are from cardboard packaging. Thanks to efforts aimed at, among others, shrinking the size of packaging, the volume of cardboard used declined substantially, hampering the reused/recycled materials utilization rate. Looking ahead, Sony will continue to promote the use of such materials.
Sony also understands the importance of recovering and reusing the resources of end-of-life products. As a manufacturer, Sony acknowledges its responsibility for ensuring the appropriate disposal and treatment of end-of-life products, and promotes the collection and recycling of its products in compliance with the laws and regulations of countries and regions around the world. In fiscal year 2010, Sony recovered approximately 164,000 tons of resources from end-of-life products. This includes resources recycled from televisions and PCs collected in Japan, the reuse/recycling rate*2 for which was approximately 108%. Owing to the end of analog broadcasting, as well as to Japan's eco-point scheme, recovery of used televisions rose significantly.
