By Sustainability team
2nd May 2012.
16:51
Blog Archives
In March we announced the release of +U, a revolutionary Android mobile app that sets out to deliver real world, bite-size volunteering opportunities to a new, socially motivated audience. It aims to make one-off volunteering quicker, easier and more social. It works by combining geolocation with social networking and gaming to do just that.
From the very beginning when we launched the C901™ GreenHeart™ in 2009, our intention has always been to broaden GreenHeart™ across the portfolio. For us GreenHeart™ is not simply a competition to produce the greenest products, it is an initiative to improve the green credentials of our entire portfolio. We want to ensure that every phone and accessory we create includes GreenHeart™ credentials and step-by-step we are working towards this goal.
This is one of the things that you can read about in our brand new 2011 Sustainability report just published on our website. In the report you will find more information about our GreenHeart™ credentials, how we work with critical substances, our carbon footprint, Lifecycle Analysis, Community Engagement activities and much more.
Two weeks ago UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) hosted a SAICM*-meeting in the historic city of Belgrade, Serbia. SAICM stands for Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and is part of UNEP. The meeting was held in preparation for next year’s International Conference of Chemicals Management (ICCM-3) which will address toxic substances. (more…)
Today Greenpeace released the 17th version of its Guide to Greener Electronics. In the guide they have ranked 15 manufacturers of personal computers, mobile phones and TVs according to the following categories; Energy and Climate, Greener Products and Sustainable Operations. Sony Ericsson was ranked 6th place, scoring 4.2 out of 10, placing us at the top amongst the Android™ smartphone players.
In this edition, Greenpeace has changed the scoring system, introduced tougher requirements and updated many criteria. New criteria were also added, raising the bar for the manufacturers. Overall, the new ranking has stronger focus on energy and climate issues. (more…)
As we wrote in our earlier blog post, Sony Ericsson China invited 10 students from the Sony Ericsson Hope Schools to visit Beijing and participate in the Beijing Marathon.
At 9 o’clock in the morning on the day of the Marathon, the ten students and Sony Ericsson employees including Magnus Ahlqvist, President of Sony Ericsson Greater China, set off in the race. Many Sony Ericsson employees had gathered to cheer for the runners and held up banners for them on both sides of the road. (more…)
The sustainability work of Sony Ericsson does not only revolve around substance control and reducing our environmental impact, it also includes community engagement. That is why we thought it was about time to post something a bit less “technical”.
As you may know, Sony Ericsson is involved in the development of education in China through the Hope School project. In 2009 and 2010, Sony Ericsson funded the building of two Hope Primary Schools, one in the Sichuan Province and one in the Shanxi Province. In 2011, we continue to support the Hope School project by funding another Hope School! This time in the Hebei Province. (more…)
Did you know that by replacing the paper manual in a million of our phones with an electronic version we saved 350 tonnes of paper, which is the equivalent of 13,000 trees and 75,000 cubic meters of water?
In our recently published Sony Ericsson 2010 Sustainability Report you can find out more about what we are doing to lower carbon emissions, drive forward GreenHeart™ and improve our supply chain CSR.
Greenbang, the sustainable business consulting and research organisation, recently announced the winners of ‘The 2010 Greenbang Awards’. The awards were launched this year to identify the most forward-thinking, and innovative companies that are helping to create a sustainable business future.
We are proud to tell you that Sony Ericsson won in the Best cross-organisation sustainability effort category for our GreenHeart initiative! Especially since it is such a cross organisational effort behind the products. All the small steps intergrated across the portfolio makes a much bigger difference than a single feature in a niche product that very few people are interested in.
We were commended for our drive to eliminate paper phone manuals, significantly reduce packaging, phase out hazardous substances in our products and recycle phones to recover valuable resources all as part of the initiative.
GreenHeart has had a tremendous year. In addition to this award, we have also been recognised in the GreenPeace Guide to Greener Electronics, and topped the O2 Eco Ratings with the Sony Ericsson Elm™ being named as the most sustainable handset. We know we are on the right track and now more and more people outside our organization also learn about it. We hope to continue the momentum into 2011 and beyond!
Yesterday the European Parliament voted for a compromise with the European Commission and the Council of Ministers regarding the review of the RoHS directive. The RoHS review include a new methodology for identification of substances for future restrictions. However, EU was not ready to take the step to include BFR (Brominated Flame Retardants) and PVC.
The new method for inclusion of substances is a step forward because from now it is stated that considerations also shall include the waste and end-of-life phase.
According to a recent statement from 150 scientists BFR and PVC produce hazardous dioxins and furans when they are incinerated at insufficiently high temperatures e.g. in sub standard recycling conditions. This was also one of the reasons for us to start the now concluded phase out of BFR and PVC from our products.
As far as I can understand this will inevitably will lead to inclusion of BFR and PVC into restrictions under RoHS the question is only when…..