Case Studies

Sony, a multi-national Japanese electronics company, has adopted the Road to Zero, a global environmental plan setting the company’s course to achieve a zero environmental footprint throughout the life cycle of its products and business activities by 2050.

The Road to Zero pursues a series of medium term goals based on four environmental perspectives and six life cycle stages. The four environmental perspectives are curbing climate change, conserving resources, promoting biodiversity and controlling chemical substances. The six product life cycle stages include: research and development, product planning and design, procurement, operations, logistics, and take-back and recycling.

In each of the environmental perspectives areas Sony has set a 2015 target. Highlights of the 2015 targets include:

• 30 % reduction in annual energy consumption of products (compared to 2008 levels);
• 10 % reduction in product mass (compared to 2008 levels);
• 30 % reduction in water consumption (compared to 2000); and
• 50 % reduction in waste generation (compared to 2000).

Commenting on the company’s zero carbon plan, Sony’s chairman and chief executive officer, Sir Howard Stringer said: “From the development of new materials and energy-efficient technologies, to the introduction of better processes in manufacturing and production we will work aggressively to meet the ambitious targets we are setting for ourselves and, at the same time, establish a model for others in our industries to follow.”

As of its 2012 Fiscal Year Sony had exceeded many of its targets. The use of these medium term goals will help Sony reach its 2050 goals which include zero emissions of greenhouse gases and eliminating the use of valuable virgin resources such as oil and copper.

The company’s chair and CEO comments further: “We believe it is impossible for business to flourish in a degraded environment.  We are committed to using our technological ability and know-how to reduce our impact on the planet, and to help our customers reduce their impact at home.”