Sony scores 7 out of 18 at Rank a Brand: Empowering you to support socially responsible business

Sony Info

Brand Owner: Sony Corporation
Head Office: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Sector: Electronics & ICT Hardware
Categories: Televisions, TV's, Computers, Notebooks, Audio, Video, Cameras, Camcorders, Home Appliances, Game Consoles
Free Tags: Camera, digital, SLR, compact, laptop, PC, sound system, Playstation, console, tv, netbook, desktop

Rank a Brand score:

7 out of 18

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Last Updated: 2 March 2010
Last Verified: 26 February 2010

Sony Score Report

Questions about Carbon Emissions

3 out of 5


1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020?		Sony supports global mandatory cuts of 50% by 2050.	SOURCE
2. Does the brand (company) disclose its carbon footprint produced by its own operations and in the supply / production chain?		Sony produced approximately 26 million tonnes of CO2 in FY2008. This includes at least some emissions from the production chain (see section 'Environmental Indicators and Eco-Efficiency').	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% by the year 2012?		Sony presents a goal of reducing emissions with 7% by 2010 compared to 2000, but recently stated it also wants to reduce its emissions with 30 % by 2016 (compared to FY2000). Not clear what it will be in 2012.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years?		See section "Green Management 2010: Progress Report" where it is stated that Sony achieved a decrease of 17% of GhG emissions from business sites based on the fiscal year 2000 level by 2008.	SOURCE
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)?		Not all new products meet the latest Energy star requirements	SOURCE

Questions about Environmental Policy

2 out of 7


1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?		It seems that Sony wants to eliminate PVC and BFRs in new products by the end of fiscal year 2010.	SOURCE
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products?		Not likely, since it seems that Sony wants to eliminate PVC and BFRs in new products by the end of fiscal year 2010.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012?		Phthalates banned in some products, not all. Beryllium oxide has been banned in some products. Antimony not mentioned (see page 16 of this link).	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products?		Not likely (see remark previous question).	SOURCE
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling?		Sony supports Individual Product Responsibility (IPR).	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold?		Sony offers this service for some products in some countries, but not in a large part of the countries where the products are sold.	SOURCE
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025?		Up until recently information on recycled plastic was provided. This information is no longer available on the provided link.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/Human Rights

2 out of 6


1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labour, no child labour, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?		All standards mentioned on p.2 of the Supplier Code.	SOURCE
2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?		Standard 1 and 3 not mentioned. Working hours and wage only related to law. mentioned (p.2).	SOURCE
3. Does this CoC include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?		No alternatives mentioned where law prohibits bargaining (p.2).	SOURCE
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume?		Sony has auditted 18 suppliers, but it is not clear what the percentage in relation to the production volume is.	SOURCE
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labour conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labour conditions?		Sony is a member of the EICC.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?		Although Sony publishes a report anually, no factory audits or corrective action plans and re-audits could be found.	SOURCE