Sony scores 7 out of 18 at Rank a Brand: Compare how transparent, green and fair your favorite brands are

Sony Info

Rank a Brand score:

7 out of 18
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Brand Owner: Sony Corporation
Head Office: 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

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Last Updated: 19 July 2011
Last Verified: 19 July 2011

Sony Score Report

Questions about Climate Change/ 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. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain?	Sony reports on its own GHG emissions and includes those of its suppliers.	SOURCE
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years?	Sony plans a 7% emissions reduction by 2010 compared to 2000 emission levels. Sony also recently stated that it plans for a 30% reduction by year 2016 compared to FY 2000. It is however not clear what this reduction translate to in year 2012.	SOURCE
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated 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 Sony 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?	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 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.	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. Phthalates banned in some products, not all. Beryllium oxide has been banned in some products. Antimony not mentioned.	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 offer extensive recycling services across the globe it is however the ease of access to this services and whether they offer any take back services is unclear from their website.	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?	Sony does use recycled plastic streams it is however unclear what percentage of their total plastics requirement comes from recycled plastic streams.	SOURCE

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

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 in Sony Supplier Code of Conduct (see page 2).	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?	Sony's code of conduct makes provision for each of the three worker rights mentioned. It however extends its responsibility to the law of the land and hence does not specifically mention the set limits and targets mentioned herein.	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?	Sony specifically cautions its suppliers to respect workers rights and freedoms for association. It, the CoC, however does not make provision for situations where these rights are restricted under law.	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?	No published list of suppliers was available on Sony's website.	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 EICC.	SOURCE
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labour conditions policy?	Although Sony publishes a report annually, no factory audits or corrective action plans and re-audits could be found.	SOURCE