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Growing green

A look at the steps Sony has taken, and is taking in the future, to be an earth-friendly operation

by MARC SALTZMAN

Sony Electronics has created everything from audio products and cameras to televisions and laptops. It released the first portable music player (Walkman) and CD player, co-developed the DVD format and is behind one of the biggest brands in video games: PlayStation.

You may already know all this, but what you might not be aware of is Sony’s commitment to operating sustainably. Balancing economic growth and caring for the environment is no simple task—especially when manufacturing electronics.

According to a list of core values on its website, Sony has committed to “deliver kando [satisfaction, excitement] and anshin [reliability, safety] to people and societies around the world through the pursuit of technology and new challenges.”

Here’s a short summary of Sony’s sustainability efforts:

Recycling. Sony has developed a new recycled plastic for its components, in an effort to reduce the use of virgin plastics for products and packaging. This includes a special flame-retardant plastic resin developed by Sony in 2014 called SORPLAS, which features up to 99% recycled content and is used in some BRAVIA TV models, sound bars, wireless speakers and various cameras.

Less packaging. A reduction in packaging size improves shipping efficiencies and requires less plastics and other materials. Small product packaging at Sony, including headphones and smartphones, is now plastic-free, except for labels and adhesives. Sony is meeting its Green Management 2025 targets, which include the total elimination of plastic from the packaging of newly designed small products. Some items also feature environmentally conscious packaging, created with an original-blend material made from bamboo, sugarcane fibers and post-consumer recycled paper.

A better future. Along with a commitment to 100% renewable electricity in its operations by 2030, Sony has announced an ambitious carbon neutrality goal by 2040, throughout the entire process of designing, testing, manufacturing, packaging and shipping products. The goal was originally set up for 2050, but Sony announced last year that it would work to accelerate its commitment by an entire decade.

Honouring Sony Electronics’ commitment to sustainable materials management and responsible electronics recycling, the company has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a distinguished Gold Tier Award winner in its annual Sustainable Materials Management Electronics Challenge.

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