Brand owner: Microsoft Corporation
Head office: Redmond, WA, USA
Sector: Electronics
Categories : Game Consoles
Free Tags: X-Box, X-Box 360, Windows Operating System, MS Office Suite, Mouse, Keyboard, Webcam, Software
| 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? |
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Microsoft does not communicate the support of these goals on its website. | Source |
| 2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain? |
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Microsoft reports its carbon footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). However, Microsoft's 2010 data is not permitted to view yet on the CDP website. Microsoft's 2009 carbon footprint is visible on the CDP website. The total carbon emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) in 2009 were 1.3 million metric tonnes (see Citizen Report, page 41). | 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? |
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Although Microsoft has set a goal to reduce its carbon emissions per unit of revenue by at least 30% compared to 2007 levels by 2012, it is not clear what Microsoft's total carbon emissions reduction target is (See "On The Topic, Climate Change"). | Source |
| 4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years? |
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Microsoft's carbon emissions information is fragmented and communicated through several webpages. Microsoft has reduced its carbon footprint from 1,34 in 2008 (see page 41 of Citizen Report, see link Climate Change Question 2) to 1,30 in 2009 (see paragraph 28.1 in Supply Chain Response 2009 on CDP website in link). This is a reduction of only 2,9%. | Source |
| 5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)? |
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Microsoft has set up a policy to make sure that all computers that are bought for employees meet the Energy Star requirements (see page 45 of Citizen Report). However, it is unclear whether all new products meet the requirements. | Source |
| 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? |
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PVC was already eliminated from packaging in 2005 and is eliminated in some notebooks (see link next question). Microsoft plans to phase out the use of BFRs by the end of 2012. It's unclear if they have plans for a complete phase-out of PVC or not. (Source: Precautionary Principle for Consumer Electronics.doc). | Source |
| 2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? |
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See remark for environmental policy question 1. | 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? |
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Microsoft plans to phase-out phthalates by the end of 2012, but does not provide additional information on the other 2 chemicals. (Source: Precautionary Principle for Consumer Electronics.doc). | 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? |
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Not likely, see remark for environmental policy question 1. | 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? |
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Microsoft support IPR (click 'Our Recycling Philosophy'). | 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? |
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Yes. Microsoft has stated on their website that they support "the collection and recycling of consumer electronics as funded by individual producer". In 2009, Microsoft provides nearby collection sites for consumers in all of the regions where their 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? |
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Microsoft does not communicate the percentage of recycled plastics or a timeline to increase it by 25% by 2025 on its website. However, 2 of their products (Microsoft Streets and Trips GPS case) are made out of recycled plastic.(source: Sustainability Fact sheet 2008). | Source |
| 1. Does the brand (company) have a policy that excludes smelters of conflict minerals by only sourcing minerals from conflict free areas or by only sourcing minerals from conflict areas when human rights are respected and where contributing to conflict is avoided? |
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Microsoft is working together with EICC to help the entire industry’s supply chain be free of conflict minerals, but does not communicate a clear policy that excludes suppliers of conflict minerals. | Source |
| 2. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for both its own factories and those of its suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? |
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All standards are mentioned in Microsoft's Vendor Code of Conduct. | Source |
| 3. Does the brand’s (company’s) CoC include at least 3 of the following workers rights: 1. a formally registered employment relationship 2. a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. a sufficient living wage 4. form and join labor unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means? |
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1. Not mentioned; 2. No, maximum work week is set at 60 hours, but the maximum overtime hours are not specified; 3. No, wages must comply with applicable wage laws but does not mention a living wage; 4. Not mentioned. | 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? |
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Microsoft does not publish a list of its direct suppliers on its website. | Source |
| 5. Is the brand (company) a member of a multi stakeholder initiative (MSI), wherein independent NGO’s or labor unions are represented, that collectively aims to improve labor conditions and that carries out independent audits? Or does the brand (company) significantly purchase its supplies from factories certified by such MSI’s? |
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Microsoft is a member of GeSI, but civil society organizations do not have a decisive voice in this initiative. | Source |
| 6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? |
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Microsoft mentions having an auditing process but the results of this is not communicated on the website. | Source |
| 7. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? |
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See remark for Labor Conditions question 6. | Source |