Sony Electronics Receives Distinguished e-Stewards Enterprise Designation
/Seattle, WA. February 12, 2019. e-Stewards® today announced that Sony Electronics has joined as a member of a growing number of e-Stewards Enterprise companies. These corporations and institutions are committed to using the most globally responsible recycling companies that are certified to the e-Stewards standard. The e-Stewards standard disallows exporting hazardous electronic waste to developing countries and employs the most rigorous criteria to prevent data breaches from discarded hardware. Besides being a leading manufacturer of consumer electronic products, Sony Electronics is committed to designing with the environment in mind and helping to eliminate externalities throughout the supply and disposal chains. Beyond its efforts with regards to recycling, Sonys vision is to aim for a zero environmental footprint by 2050 to conserve resources and curb climate change.
“We joined the e-Stewards program not just because of its terrific recycling standard, but also because it offers a full life-cycle environmental stewardship program complete with a community of partners that supports an OEM’s broader sustainability goals and interests,” said Doug Smith, director of environment, safety and health at Sony Electronics. “For that reason, it is a natural fit for Sony.”
e-Stewards Certified recyclers undergo rigorous third-party audits annually to ensure they do not export hazardous byproducts to developing nations or dump in municipal landfills. To further verify strict conformity with proper recycling, e-Stewards recyclers agree to be subject to unannounced inspections at any time, as well as unannounced use of GPS trackers to track e-waste flows downstream. Further, e-Stewards Certified recyclers ensure that confidential personal and business data is securely and completely sanitized, and that their operations protect workers and the environment.
Besides being the gold standard for ethical recycling, e-Stewards offers a package of partnership programs including the e-Stewards Digital Equity program, which fosters re-use for community good by refurbishing computers for the needy, and the recently announced partnership with NAID (National Association for Information Destruction) to enhance responsible data management. Last year, e-Stewards also began offering Enterprise companies the EarthEye™ GPS tracking program as an adjunct program to ensure downstream due diligence.
“It is particularly rewarding to see Sony, a leading expert and manufacturer of electronic products, after many years of close observation, choose to support e-Stewards in its efforts to improve stewardship of the entire electronics industry and marketplace,” said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of Basel Action Network – the organization that founded e-Stewards. “As they are electronics industry pioneers, their embrace speaks volumes.”
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For more information contact:
Jim Puckett, Executive Director of BAN,
email: jpuckett@ban.org,
phone: +1 (206) 652-5555
Information about Sonys commitment to environment sustainability is available at: https://www.sony.com/electronics/eco/sustainable-development
About e-Stewards® Certification
The e-Stewards® Initiative is a market-based solution to help individuals and organizations identify and promote electronics recyclers who ensure that used electronics are managed with the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility. e-Stewards Certified Recyclers are audited and certified to ensure highest levels of responsibility and e-Stewards Enterprises are major corporations, municipalities, nonprofits or institutions that agree to make best efforts to make use of e-Stewards Certified Recyclers. For more information about the e-Stewards Initiative visit: www.e-Stewards.org
About the Basel Action Network
Founded in 1997, the Basel Action Network (BAN) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization of the United States, based in Seattle, WA, is the founder of the e-Stewards program. BAN is one of the world’s foremost advocates for environmental justice and sustainable production. Their programs on electronic waste are leading forces to turn global industries away from cheap and dangerous design and disposal methods to socially and environmentally just alternatives that are practical and also minimize business risk and liability. BAN campaigns to prevent the export of toxic waste to developing countries, promotes a toxics-free future by advancing green design and responsible consumption, and advocates for the right to a pollution-free environment for everyone. For more information, visit: www.ban.org