Sony 2006 Annual Report Download - page 46

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Corporate Social Responsibility
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The Sony CSR Policy
The core responsibility of the Sony Group is to pursue enhancement
of corporate value through innovation and sound business prac-
tices. The Sony Group recognizes that its businesses have direct
and indirect impact on the societies in which it operates. Sound
business practices require that business decisions give due
consideration to the interests of Sony’s stakeholders, including
shareholders, customers, employees, parts and raw materials
suppliers, business partners, local communities and other
organizations.
To fulfill our commitment to CSR, we are pursuing Groupwide
initiatives on a number of fronts, including strengthening our
corporate governance, compliance and quality management
structures; maintaining sound labor and employment practices
and a healthy work environment; conserving the environment by
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, raising resource
productivity, improving chemical substance management and
protecting nature; and contributing to our communities through
social contribution programs. In March 2003, a group responsible
for CSR was established to formulate policies, introduce relevant
frameworks and formulate rules concerning our responsibilities to
society and communication with stakeholders.
In June 2005, we established the Sony Supplier Code of
Conduct, which outlines our basic policies on compliance,
environmental conservation, occupational health and safety,
respecting human rights and ensuring a healthy work environment,
as part of an effort to include suppliers in our CSR activities.
Compliance System Improvements
Ethical business conduct and compliance with applicable laws and
regulations are a fundamental aspect of Sony’s corporate culture.
In 2001, we established the Compliance Office, charged with
exercising overall control over compliance activities across the Sony
Group, to emphasize the importance of business ethics and
compliance with applicable laws, regulations and internal policies.
The Compliance Office establishes compliance policies and structures
for the Group and performs crisis management functions.
Sony CSR Report 2006 http://www.sony.net/csr/
Please refer to the Sony CSR Report 2006 for full details of our CSR activities.
In July 2003, we set up regional compliance offices (for the
Americas, Europe, Japan, East Asia and Pan-Asia). These offices
are charged with exercising regional control over compliance
activities.
Sony Group Code of Conduct
In May 2003, Sony adopted the Sony Group Code of Conduct, which
sets the basic internal standards to be observed by all directors,
officers and employees of the Sony Group in order to emphasize
and further strengthen corporate governance, business ethics and
compliance systems throughout the entire Sony Group.
This Code of Conduct sets out, in addition to legal and compliance
standards, the Sony Group’s basic policies concerning ethical
business practices and activities, including respect for human rights,
safety of products and services, environmental conservation and
information disclosure.
Following the implementation of the Sony Group Code of
Conduct, we have centralized development and management
of key internal rules to help ensure consistent compliance with the
provisions of the code.
Internal Hotline System
With the adoption of the Sony Group Code of Conduct, Sony also
established the Sony Group Compliance Hotline, as a resource for
employees to report concerns or seek guidance about possible
violations of laws or internal policies, and to allow the Sony Group
to respond speedily to potential risks of such violations. The Sony
Group Compliance Hotline is available in the Americas, Europe,
Japan, East Asia and Pan-Asia, and is ready to receive the concerns
of any Sony Group employee in any part of the world by phone,
e-mail or letter.
In addition to periodic reports to senior management and
the Audit Committee summarizing the Hotline calls, important
Hotline calls are reported individually to the Audit Committee as
appropriate. Calls received are handled in line with established
procedures. Anonymous reports are also accepted, and callers
who report issues in good faith are protected from any possibility
of recrimination.