Sony 2007 Annual Report Download - page 55

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Sony CSR Policy
The core responsibility of the Sony Group is to pursue enhancement of corporate value
through technological innovation and sound business practices. We recognize, however,
that our businesses have direct and indirect impact on the societies in which we operate.
Sound business practices require that business decisions give due consideration to the
interests of our 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 group-wide initiatives on a number of
fronts, including strengthening our corporate governance, compliance and quality control
structures; maintaining sound employment practices and a healthy work environment;
conserving the environment (through global warming countermeasures, efficient resource
utilization, chemical substance management and protection of the natural environment);
and contributing to our communities through social contribution programs.
Sony and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) Indices
SRI indices and funds have emerged around the world in recent years to reflect the need to
analyze and rate corporate activities from the perspective of social, ethical and environmental
performance, as well as by using traditional financial indicators.
Sony is recognized around the world for the excellence of its CSR activities, reflected by
its inclusion in the key SRI indices shown to the left (as of April 1, 2007).
Compliance
We believe that ethical business conduct and compliance with applicable laws and regulations
are fundamental aspects of Sony’s corporate culture. Sony has established and maintains a
compliance system, through which we repeatedly communicate the importance of corporate
ethics throughout the Sony Group.
As a part of this system, we have 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, and have established and maintained other important internal policies and
rules to be commonly applied across the Sony Group. The 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.
We have also established and maintain the “Sony Group Compliance Hotline,” an internal
hotline system implemented throughout the Sony Group that encourages employees to
report concerns or raise questions about possible violations of laws or internal rules.
In order to promote such activities, Sony Corporation’s compliance division and regional
compliance divisions established in the Americas, Europe, Japan, East Asia and Pan-Asia
have been cooperating with each other to ensure a comprehensive global compliance structure.
Improving Product Quality
Sony strives to enhance its customers’ trust, confidence and satisfaction by improving product
and service quality from the customer’s perspective. We see it as our ultimate goal, as well
as our obligation, to be a highly trusted partner on whom our customers can rely. To instill
this philosophy more firmly, in January 2007 we formulated the Sony Pledge of Quality,
Corporate Social Responsibility
“Dow Jones Sustainability Index”
Developed jointly by Dow Jones Indices (United
States), STOXX Limited (Switzerland) and the SAM
Group (Switzerland)
“FTSE4Good Global 100 Index”
Developed by the FTSE Group, a joint venture
between the Financial Times Ltd. (United Kingdom)
and the London Stock Exchange plc
Sony CSR Report 2007
http://www.sony.net/csr/
Please refer to the Sony CSR Report
2007 for full details of our CSR activities.