Our customer "Sony Corporation" has established "Sony Environmental Vision" which started from ideas and materialized into "commitment" and "motive power".

Sony developed the "Green Partner Program" with business partners who supply components, devices and materials. Under the "Green Partner Program" Sony and its business partners adhere to a common set of environmental standards outlined in the SS-00259, Sony Technical Standards.

Sony sees global environmental conservation as one of the most critical issues for mankind in the 21st century. Sony, as a good corporate citizen, has therefore established the Sony Environmental Vision to form the basis for aggressive actions to conserve the environment and create a sustainable society.

Sony's ultimate goal is to design, manufacture and supply products that have no environmental impact. The manufacture of such products means the use of parts and materials that take into account environmental considerations. Naturally, the cooperation of suppliers is essential in this area.

Procurement of parts and materials used in Sony products

Sony designates suppliers that cooperate in the production of environmentally sensitive products as Green Partners. Sony established the Sony Green Partner Standards in July 2001 with the aim of encouraging suppliers to introduce Green Partner environmental management systems. In March 2002, Sony established a set of "Management regulations for environment-related substances to be controlled which are included in parts and materials". Environment-related substances to be immediately banned or reduced were identified, as well as their applications. The regulations were enforced the following July. Together with this action, items required of suppliers under the Sony Green Partner Standards were further clarified by introducing the "Green Partner Environmental Quality Approval Program."


Under this program, Sony auditors visit suppliers to check environmental management activities. If suppliers meet Sony's standards, they qualify as Green Partners.

Please refer to the Sony Green Partner Activities PDF file to learn more about the "Green Partner Environmental Quality Approval Program" and environmental quality assurance activities.

Regarding both"Environment-related Substances to be Controlled"that should be reduced or that must not be used at all and their purposes, please refer to "Management Regulations for the Environment-related Substances to be Controlled which are included in Parts and Materials."

From April 2003, Sony will procure parts and materials for its products solely from suppliers that have qualified as Green Partners. This qualification will be one requirement for suppliers wishing to both start and continue doing business with Sony. Furthermore, Green Partner suppliers are required to work continuously to maintain and upgrade their environmental management systems. Specifically, suppliers are required to reduce and eliminate environment-related substances as prescribed in the management levels listed by substance and application in Sony's "Management regulations for environment-related substances to be controlled, which are included in parts and materials". Suppliers must renew their Green Partner approval every two years.

Procurement of office and other supplies

When procuring office and other supplies, Sony places priority on selecting green products ("eco" mark products.) The entire Sony Group is working to create a unified procurement system for office and other supplies. Under this system, a catalog containing a considerable number of recommended items has been produced for use by Sony companies. As of February 2003, the catalog distributed in Japan listed approximately 5,500 items bearing the "eco" mark, serving as an effective tool in speeding up the procurement of green products