Updated on August 29, 2019
Sony's Green Management 2020 environmental mid-term targets, which extend through fiscal 2020, include the following targets for raw materials and component procurement and for contract manufacturers. Under these goals, Sony is working even more closely with component suppliers and contract manufacturers to reduce environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of its products and services.
| Climate Change | Request suppliers dealing in component categories that create high environmental impact and/or suppliers involved in large business transactions to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, establish their own targets and implement reduction measures |
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| Resources | Request suppliers dealing in component categories that create high environmental impact and/or suppliers involved in large business transactions to monitor water consumption, establish their own targets and implement reduction measures |
| Chemical Substances |
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| Biodiversity | Request that consideration be given to biodiversity |
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| Chemical Substances |
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| Biodiversity | Encourage manufacturing outsourcing contractors the environmental contribution activities (including conservation activities at Sony's sites) respecting the needs of local communities |
As part of its efforts to reduce environmental impact across the supply chain, Sony has been working with key component suppliers and manufacturing outsourcing contractors since fiscal 2016 to reduce their environmental footprint. For example, Sony has asked its manufacturing outsourcing contractors to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and reduce water use intensity by 1% per year, while asking component suppliers to set voluntary reduction targets. Sony also collects data on greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption relating to the manufacturing and shipping of products and components delivered to Sony. In fiscal 2018, Sony obtained answer to the questionnaire about these data from component suppliers which account for approximately 79% of the total transaction value and from manufacturing outsourcing contractors which account for approximately 90% of the total transaction value.
Sony offers a wide variety of network services including gaming, Internet, and streaming services for movies and music. These services rely on data centers with facilities and components for transmitting large volumes of data to ensure seamless services for users. The amount of electricity consumed by data center equipment and facilities is increasing with the growth of network businesses. Sony's environmental mid-term targets include the target of prioritizing the use of energy-efficient data centers. Sony has been working on this by developing guidelines in fiscal 2016 that have been put into effect since fiscal 2017.
Having set internal standards for green purchasing, Sony chooses environmentally conscious products when procuring nonproduction materials such as printing paper, stationery and office equipment in Japan. At the same time, in principle, Sony carefully examines needs, amounts to be used and stock levels to purchase appropriate quantities. In addition, when choosing products to be purchased, Sony prioritizes select recommended products in consideration of environmental impact at all stages of a product's life, from resource extraction through to production, distribution, use and disposal. Information on recommended products is included in Sony's purchasing system of nonproduction materials, making it possible for individuals in charge of purchasing decisions to give priority to environmentally conscious products.
