By Sustainability team
14th February 2012.
12:26
Tag Archives: Sony Ericsson
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…)
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…..
Sony Ericsson in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Netherlands is currently running (October 11 – 18) a “GreenHeart Week” on Facebook and Twitter to coincide with the launch of Cedar in the countries (for anyone understanding German language). The activity includes tips and tricks on ecological topics as well as the GreenHeart application.
The GreenHeart week is hosted on Facebook and Twitter in German speaking countries. Users can click on our Green Heart and, during GreenHeart Week for each click we will donate €1.00 to Plant for the Planet. Founded by nine year old German Felix Finkbeiner in 2007, Plant for the Planet has the goal “Let’s plant million trees worldwide – a million in each country!” Felix has recently become a United Nations Environment Programme junior board member and the program has been rolled out all over the world with great success.
Now the latest addition to the GreenHeart family is on the way out to the shops. Cedar has all the same features as the rest of the 2010 GreenHeart phones.
In 2009 there were two GreenHeart models. In 2010 we double up to four models including the first smart phone, Aspen. Also the majority of new accessories meet the same requirements. Moving on to 2011 the plan is to continue to make a much wider portion of the new products meeting the same stringent requirements.
When we launched GreenHeart last year we also promised that the most important GreenHeart features would spread into the wider portfolio. You may wonder if we deliver on this promise. To give one example, in parallel to Cedar, Xperia X8 the most affordable Android product from Sony Ericsson (or any other major supplier for that matter) is on the way to the shops. Infact, X8 meet most of the GreenHeart requirements such as the small box, reduced paper in shipment (in-phone manual), no CD (in-phone software), no PVC, no Brominated flameretadants, efficient charger to name some of the major environmental improvements.
To find out in what markets Cedar will be sold please follow link and click “local availability”.
Sony Ericsson Elm™ Tops New Green Chart from O2
London 24 August 2010 – The Sony Ericsson Elm™ phone has been named the most sustainable handset on the market. The UK’s first sustainable rating system for mobile phones, O2’s Eco rating, awarded the Sony Ericsson Elm™ phone 4.3 out of 5 for its green credentials and companies good sustainability work. For more information information on how phones rank visit the O2 site “think big”. (some problems to access the rating outside UK)
Amongst 65 mobile phones, from six manufacturers*, the Sony Ericsson Elm™ phone was measured for its environmental impact, how it helps people lead more sustainable lives and Sony Ericsson’s ethical performance as a manufacturer. 5 out of the top 10 models in the rating come from Sony Ericsson with three models on the second highest score: Zylo, X10 mini and X10 mini pro.
Have a look at the Sony Ericsson press release
It’s finally here!
Sony Ericsson’s Sustainability report for 2009.
Click on the image below to check it out!
Today Sony Ericsson announced two new Bluetooth head sets the VH110 and VH410 both meet our GreenHeart requirement on smaller packaging, PVC/BFR free, recycled plastics, water borne paint etc. This show our intention of driving the whole portfolio towards our GreenHeart requirements.
The step up is a real improvement where our new packaging will make a real difference both from environmental perspectives but also from user friendliness. I think most of us have experienced problems in opening these “blister packs” from hangers. With help from green innovation once again user experience and better environmental performance goes hand in hand.
It is amazing to see the creativity how you can let go of “old truths” when you give a team a task and tell them that we need to improve from environmental perspective.
I am impressed with the packaging team of the accessories unit.
Yesterday the environmental committee (ENVI) in the European Parliament voted on the amendments in the revision of the RoHS directive.
The result was that no new substances are proposed to be banned immediately when the directive enters into force (i.e. no substances are included into Annex IV of the directive). However, a number of substances, including brominated flame retardants (BFR) and PVC, are proposed to be evaluated for a possible future ban.
Sony Ericsson has worked for an extended ban of BFR and PVC and even if we are dissapointed with the outcome of the votings and that there will be no immediate bans, the proposal from the environmental committee gives a strong signal to the market that these substances are problematic.
Once again this shows that Sony Ericsson did the right thing when decided to phase out BFR and PVC more than five years ago! We also encourage the rest of the industry to do so, where this is possible.
So, what will happen next? The European Parliament will vote on the amendments in Plenary in July and then the Commission, the Council and Parliament have to agree on a common ground for the legislative texts. If everything goes smoothly, the directive could be adopted during the autumn 2010.
To demonstrates that it is technically and economically feasible to replace brominated flame retardants (BFR) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) the environmental organization ChemSec‘s has prepared and published “Electronics without brominated flame retardants and PVC- a Market Overview“. This Market Overview lists over 500 products free from these substances.
Sony Ericsson was leading the way in this transition already the first Sony Ericsson product T68i was free from BFR in in boards, casings and chargers. We are now very pleased to see that many other companies are following and this makes it easier for consumers to make greener choices.
Let’s hope they also follow through on the other substances we have and are very close to phase out such as beryllium, antimony and all organic brominated and chlorinated compounds i.e. not only flame retardants and PVC.