Sony has announced plans to encourage its key component suppliers to use 100% renewable energy in their production processes by the fiscal year ending March 2031. According to Nikkei Asia, this goal is part of Sony's new environmental action guidelines, which include mid-term targets from fiscal 2026 to 2030.
Currently, Sony does not mandate its suppliers to fully transition to renewable energy by 2031, but the initiative is expected to impact mainly first-tier suppliers. The policy allows for the use of wind, solar, hydropower, and carbon credits obtained through greenhouse gas emission trading schemes to count toward emission reduction goals. However, Sony has not disclosed any penalties or consequences if suppliers fail to meet these targets.
In contrast to Sony's approach, some US companies like Apple have set firmer deadlines, calling on their suppliers to transition completely to renewable energy by specific dates. It remains uncertain whether Sony will impose mandatory requirements on its supply chain by 2030. Nevertheless, the Japanese firm's longer-term ambition is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire supply chain, including suppliers, by the fiscal year ending March 2041.
Sony's sustainability initiatives continue despite political challenges such as the weakening of carbon reduction policies under the Trump administration and the withdrawal of some financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and HSBC, from international decarbonization programs. The company sees environmental action as a way to enhance its corporate value.
Earlier, Sony had aimed for all its product-related suppliers to fully adopt renewable energy, but later narrowed the goal to focus on its direct product supply chain for feasibility reasons. To meet its renewable energy objectives, Sony plans to install solar panels on factory rooftops in Japan and the US.
Since joining the international RE100 initiative in 2018, Sony has set ambitious environmental targets, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and eliminating environmental impact entirely by 2050.
Article edited by Jack Wu
