About the Sony Blog
When you come across a brand’s blog, your first thought may be that it’s all one-way chat and corporate marketing speak. This isn’t that kind of blog. Instead, we are here because we want to hear from you.
Through these pages you’ll also come across an array of writers with their own perspectives on everything from how we make our products, to what goes into the making of a Sony commercial. We’ll keep you up to date on product announcements and software upgrades as well as share with you tips and trips for making the most of your products. And you’ll also see posts inviting you to discuss your experiences with us. But most importantly, we want to cover what you’re looking to read because you are what matters.. So as we power up, we hope you enjoy listening to us, because we look forward to listening to you
Rules of the Game
We’re going to talk about a lot of different topics and we encourage you to participate.
We’d just like to take this opportunity to cover the rules of the road. It’s basic stuff around being respectful so it shouldn’t be anything you didn’t already learn in pre-school or haven’t already seen on other sites. Besides when you are respectful, people listen more.
RATED PG No adult content or obscenities. Consider our blog rated PG.
And last but not least, should you see people using #teamsony to share this blog’s content across the social sphere; those are our dedicated employees. They often help us spread the word and we want to make sure you know that they are part of our team.
Sony Electronics Overview
For more than 40 years, North America has had a love affair with the Sony brand. During that time, Sony has created numerous products and technologies that have helped make consumers’ lives easier, more enjoyable and more productive. At the same time, the company has earned a solid reputation for quality, reliability, innovation and stylish design. In fact, the Harris Poll has identified Sony as a top brand in America, as the company has held the top three positions over the past 12 years including the number one position for nine years.
Sony Electronics is the largest component of Sony Corporation of America, the U.S. holding company for Sony’s U.S.-based electronics and entertainment businesses. Sony’s principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., and Sony Music Entertainment.
Headquartered in San Diego, Sony Electronics is a leading provider of audio/video electronics and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, design, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony is noted for a wide range of consumer audio-visual products, such as the BRAVIA® LCD and 3D high-definition televisions, Cyber-shot® digital camera, Alpha Digital SLR camera, Handycam® camcorder and Walkman® personal stereo. Sony is also an innovator in the IT arena with its VAIO® personal computers Reader devices and Sony Tablets; and in high-definition professional broadcast equipment, highlighted by the XDCAM® HD and CineAlta™ lines of cameras and camcorders, and the SXRD™ 4K digital projector.
Things You Didn’t Know About Sony
Sony Links
Sony Electronics and the Environment
Sony Electronics is dedicated to protecting and improving the environment in all areas of its business operations. Conserving resources, eliminating hazardous chemicals, increasing energy efficiency, reducing pollution and offering green products and convenient recycling opportunities to customers are among many areas that Sony is committed.
Since 1991, Sony Electronics established a corporate-wide environmental policy to address waste minimization, waste management and consideration of environmental impact when evaluating new products, projects and operations. This leads to the establishment of Sony’s Environmental Vision and mid-term Green Management targets. Sony measures the green credentials of its product throughout their life cycle — that means product design, procurement, manufacturing, transportation, use, and end of life product management. Sony sets clear targets to minimize Sony’s impact to the planet with a goal of zero waste and zero environmental impact. This green initiative is called “Road to Zero,” a long-term commitment to building a sustainable future.
Green Management 2015 under the Road to Zero goals provides mid-term guidance, direction and progress measurement systems for environmental initiatives for global Sony group operations. The plan creates a framework to uphold “green” policies and procedures in the creation, design, manufacture, packaging, transport, sales and service of products and in all areas of operation in order to achieve these targets.
All Sony North American manufacturing plants and all non-manufacturing operations larger than 100 employees are ISO 14001 certified under the Sony’s global environmental management system program. This certification recognizes that Sony Electronics operations meet the international standard for environmental management requirements and for many areas. Sony is committed to minimizing environmental impacts well beyond what is needed for certification.
For more information on Sony’s green initiative, please visit www.sony.com/green.
Recycling
As a leader in the consumer electronics industry, Sony has made environmental responsibility a top priority. The Sony Take Back Recycling Program was launched on Sept. 15, 2007 providing a nation-wide network of electronics collection and recycling opportunities for consumers. To encourage consumers to recycle and dispose of electronic devices in an environmentally sound manner, Sony is working with various recyclers and retailer locations to allow consumers, including businesses, to recycle all Sony-branded products for no fee at eCycling drop-off centers throughout the U.S. The program is also open to all makes of consumer electronics products, recycling any non-Sony product at market prices. For drop off locations and more information about the trade-in and recycling program, please visit www.sony.com/ecotrade. Sony has participated in a similar recycling program in Minnesota since 2000. Based on the success of this program, Sony strives to offer convenient Take Back Recycling program with a goal to have enough drop-off locations within 20 miles of 95 percent of the U.S. population. The company’s overall goal is to make recycling of Sony products as easy and convenient as it is to purchase, and recycle one pound of old consumer electronics equipment for every pound of new products sold.
As of January 2008, Sony was the first company to sign the “Manufacturers’ Commitment to Responsible E-Waste Recycling,” a pledge with key watchdog environmentalists that all waste collected through its partnership with Waste Management will be managed responsibly. In July 2011, Sony was one of three companies that signed the commitment with EPA supporting the EPA’s National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship to promote the use of certified recyclers. Sony is abiding by the highest environmental standards for end-of-life product solutions by ensuring their recyclers meet a strict set of standards, including not exporting the toxic waste to developing countries and the third party certification program.
Sony Electronics is also a board member of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation and labels all of its rechargeable batteries with recycling information. With help from the RBRC, there are now more than 50,000 convenient recycling drop-off points throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to regular rechargeable battery collection boxes currently available in all Sony Style stores, Sony distributes individual collection bags in specific product packaging.
Sony Electronics has been instrumental in using recycled resources including plastics into new products, supporting the recycling of materials, as well. This initiative has led to the annual consumption of more than 52,800,000 pounds of recycled plastics.
Sony Philanthropy
Since Sony came to North America in 1960, its employees have actively supported charitable causes in communities where the company has a significant presence. The community affairs department coordinates Sony Electronics’ corporate philanthropy with a focus on education in the classroom, K-12 and ecology.
Employees help Brand Sony in the community and live out our values of giving back to others. Sony Electronic employees participate annually in civic initiatives and strongly support educational programs such as Back to School drives, toy drives, food drives, National Coastal Cleanup Day, beach cleanups, and Junior Achievement to name a few. Community Involvement Councils at different sites coordinate programs to give back to their local communities.
Sony in 1972 launched the Sony USA Foundation, becoming the first Japanese company to establish a private, non-profit philanthropic foundation in the United States. Through the Sony USA Foundation annual scholarship, Sony employees can send five children to a travel and study program in Japan. The foundation also funds the Sony USA College Scholarship program for college-bound children of Sony employees.
Grant Application Procedure
Sony’s Corporate Giving Program is dedicated to supporting the communities in which our employees work and live through impactful product donations. Sony’s focus is to support education in the classroom, K-12 & ecology.
Sony welcomes requests for support throughout the year within the guidelines and program areas set forth.
There is no grant application form. Requests must be submitted in writing should include the following information:
A brief, one to two page written description of the organization on its official letterhead, including its legal name, history, activities, purpose and proof of 501©3 status (copy of IRS documentation) as an organization that is not a private foundation.
Please indicate if a Sony employee is involved with this nonprofit organization and what their role is.
History of previous support from Sony.
The amount of money or product being requested.
A description of the purpose for which the grant is requested. We do not support raffle or auctions to raise funds.
Review and Evaluation of Grant Requests
Sony carefully reviews requests and supporting materials.. Our review cycle takes six to eight weeks in order to assure your request receives the attention it deserves. We will reply to all requests.
Mail donation requests to:
Sony Electronics Inc.
Attention: Community Involvement Council MZ 1028
16530 Via Esprillo
San Diego, CA 92127
Contact: SelCommunityAffairs@am.sony.com
