Sony 1999 Annual Report Download - page 29

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Sony Corporation Annual Report 1999
produced and sold in Europe. In addition, during the year, Sony succeeded in
developing multi-layer PWBs that do not use a halogenated flame retardant and
will install these PWBs in DVD-Video players to be introduced in Japan, the United
States, and Europe. These technologies will be applied to a growing range of prod-
ucts in coming years.
In the United States, Sony Electronics Inc. (SEL) is committed to increasing the
number of products that meet the Energy Star standard for energy conservation, a
standard in the Energy Star program conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA). Some of SEL’s color TVs, for example, consume less than one
watt of power in the standby mode, far below the three-watt minimum required for
Energy Star certification. Due to its efforts, SEL won the EPA’s Energy Star Home
Electronics Partner of the Year Award in March 1999.
ISO-14001 Certified Sony Manufacturing and Non-manufacturing Bases
EUROPE
Manufacturing: 11/12
Non-manufacturing: 6/9 ASIA (excluding JAPAN
and CHINA)
Manufacturing: 18/22
Non-manufacturing: 7/16 JAPAN
Manufacturing: 38/38
Non-manufacturing: 5/42
NORTH AND
LATIN AMERICA
Manufacturing: 20/28
Non-manufacturing: 0/19
(As of April 1999)
CHINA, AUSTRALIA
Manufacturing: 4/6
Non-manufacturing: 0/2
Newly developed multi-layer
PWB that does not use a
halogenated flame retardant
BUILDING ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE BUSINESS PROCESSES
Sony is striving to build an environmental management system based on the ISO-14001 international
standard in order to reduce its environmental impact systematically and efficiently. As part of this
initiative, Sony is working toward obtaining ISO-14001 certification, and as of April 1999, 109
locations worldwide have gained certification under this standard. Sony plans to obtain such certifi-
cation at 204 locations, covering all major bases in the world, by the end of March 2001.
Sony has set up environmental audit programs in Japan, North America, Latin America, Europe, and
Asia and is conducting environmental audits. In the area of environmental risk management, Sony has
already accumulated know-how in the United States and is applying this know-how in other regions.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommended that the Japa-
nese government implement the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). In response, the
Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) issued a series of guidelines. During the
year, Sony conducted surveys at 40 locations in Japan and reported the results to Keidanren. Further-
more, Sony business sites in the United States annually submit a toxic chemical material release
inventory to U.S. government authorities in accordance with the EPA’s Toxics Release Inventory system.
Sony intends to conduct surveys and disclosure activities in other regions. Looking ahead, Sony will
continue to work on reducing releases and transfers of pollutants and take other steps to bolster its
global environmental risk management capabilities.
KEEPING THE PUBLIC WELL-INFORMED
Sony discloses its environmental record in line with its conviction that companies have an account-
ability to explain their environmental activities to the public. Sony’s third Environmental Report was
published in April 1999. Starting May 1999, Sony will display the results of selected environmental
conservation initiatives at the Sony Eco Plaza exhibition space, which is located at its head office.
* Key: Certified locations/Total number of locations targeted for certification
WORLDWIDE
Manufacturing: 91/106
Non-manufacturing: 18/98
Total: 109/204