INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS ENVIRONNMENTAL ETHICS?

Environmental Ethics is the part of environmental philosophy which considers the
ethical relationship between human beings and the natural environment. It exerts
influence on a large range of disciplines including law, sociology, theology,
economics, ecology and geography.

The inspiration for environmental ethics was the first Earth Day in 1970 when
environmentalists started urging philosophers who were involved with
environmental groups to do something about environmental ethics. An intellectual
climate had developed in the last few years of the 1960s in large part because of
the publication of two papers in Science: Lynn White's "The Historical Roots of our
Ecologic Crisis" (March 1967) and Garett Hardin's "The Tragedy of the Commons"
(December 1968).

There are various questions that human beings make with respect to the
environment-these are a directly related to Environmental Ethics:
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 • Should we continue to clear cut forests for the sake of human
consumption?

• Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles?

• What environmental obligations do we need to keep for future

generations?

• Is it right for humans to knowingly cause the extinction of a species

for the convenience of humanity

Environmental ethics became a subject of sustained academic philosophic reflection

in the 1970s. Throughout the 1980s it remained marginalized within the discipline
of philosophy, attracting the attention of a fairly small group of thinkers spread
across the English speaking world.

Only after 1990 did the field gain institutional recognition at programs such as
Colorado State, the University of Montana, Bowling Green State, and the University
of North Texas. In 1991, Schumacher College of Dartington, England, was founded
and now provides an MSc in Holistic Science.

These programs began to offer a masters degree with a specialty in environmental

ethics/philosophy. Beginning in 2005 the Dept of Philosophy and Religion Studies at
the University of North Texas offered a PhD program with a concentration in
environmental ethics/philosophy.

THEORIES

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There are various theories that are aimed to tell us how to
go about environmental ethics, these are:

Libertarian extension:
Marshall’s Libertarian extension echoes a civil liberty approach (i.e. a commitment
to extend equal rights to all members of a community). In environmentalism,
though, the community is generally thought to consist of non-humans as well as
humans.

Andrew Brennan was an advocate of ecologic humanism (eco-humanism), the

argument that all ontological entities, animate and in-animate, can be given ethical
worth purely on the basis that they exist. The work of Arne Næss and his
collaborator Sessions also falls under the libertarian extension, although they
preferred the term "deep ecology." Deep ecology is the argument for the intrinsic
value or inherent worth of the environment – the view that it is valuable in itself.
Their argument, incidentally, falls under both the libertarian extension and the
ecologic extension.

Peter Singer's work can be categorized under Marshall's ecologic extension. He

reasoned that the "expanding circle of moral worth" should be redrawn to include
the rights of non-human animals, and to not do so would be guilty of speciesism.
Singer found it difficult to accept the argument from intrinsic worth of a-biotic or
"non-sentient" (non-conscious) entities, and concluded in his first edition of
"Practical Ethics" that they should not be included in the expanding circle of moral
worth.
This approach is essentially then, bio-centric. However, in a later edition of
"Practical Ethics" after the work of Naess and Sessions, Singer admits that, although
unconvinced by deep ecology, the argument from intrinsic value of non-sentient
entities is plausible, but at best problematic. We shall see later that Singer actually
advocated a humanist ethic.

Ecologic extension:
Alan Marshall's ecologic extension places emphasis not on human rights but on the
recognition of the fundamental interdependence of all biological and abiological
entities and their essential diversity. Where as Libertarian Extension can be thought
of as flowing from a political reflection of the natural world, Ecologic Extension is
best thought of as a scientific reflection of the natural world. Ecological Extension is
roughly the same classification of Smith’s eco-holism, and it argues for the intrinsic
value inherent in collective ecological entities like ecosystems or the global
environment as a whole entity.
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This category includes James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis; the theory that the planet
earth alters its geo-physiological structure over time in order to ensure the
continuation of an equilibrium of evolving organic and inorganic matter. The planet
is characterized as a unified, holistic entity with ethical worth of which the human
race is of no particular significance in the long run.

Conservation ethics:
Marshall's conservation ethics looks only at the worth of the environment in terms
of its utility or usefulness to humans. It is the opposite of deep ecology, hence is
often referred to as shallow ecology, and argues for the preservation of the
environment on the basis that it has extrinsic value – instrumental to the welfare of
human beings. Conservation is therefore a means to an end and purely concerned
with mankind and intergenerational considerations. It could be argued that it is this
ethic that formed the underlying arguments proposed by Governments at the Kyoto
summit in 1997 and three agreements reached in Rio in 1992.

Humanist theories:
Following the bio-centric and eco-holist theory distinctions, Michael Smith further
classifies Humanist theories as those that require a set of criteria for moral status
and ethical worth, such as sentience. This applies to the work of Peter Singer
who advocated a hierarchy of value similar to the one devised by Aristotle which
relies on the ability to reason. This was Singer's solution to the problem that arises
when attempting to determine the interests of a non-sentient entity such as a
garden weed.

Singer also advocated the preservation of "world heritage sites," un spoilt parts of
the world that acquire a "scarcity value" as they diminish over time. Their
preservation is a bequest for future generations as they have been inherited from
our ancestors and should be passed down to future generations so they can have
the opportunity to decide whether to enjoy un spoilt countryside or an entirely
urban landscape. A good example of a world heritage site would be the tropical
rainforest, a very specialist ecosystem or climatic climax vegetation that has taken
centuries to evolve. Clearing the rainforest for farmland often fails due to soil
conditions, and once destroyed can never be replaced.

Anthropocentrism simply places humans at the centre of the universe; the human
race must always be its own primary concern. It has become customary in the
Western tradition to consider only our species when considering the environmental
ethics of a situation. Therefore, everything else in existence should be evaluated in
terms of its utility for us, thus committing speciesism. All environmental studies
should include an assessment of the intrinsic value of non-human beings.
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Anthropocentrism:
What Anthropocentric theories do not allow for is the fact that a system of ethics
formulated from a human perspective may not be entirely accurate; humans are not
necessarily the centre of reality. The philosopher Baruch Spinoza argued that we
tend to assess things wrongly in terms of their usefulness to us. Spinoza reasoned
that if we were to look at things objectively we would discover that everything in
the universe has a unique value. Likewise, it is possible that a human-centred or
anthropocentric/androcentric ethic is not an accurate depiction of reality, and there
is a bigger picture that we may or may not be able to understand from a human
perspective.

Peter Vardy distinguished between two types of anthropocentrism. A strong thesis

anthropocentric ethic argues that humans are at the center of reality and it is right
for them to be so. Weak anthropocentrism, however, argues that reality can only be
interpreted from a human point of view, thus humans have to be at the centre of
reality as they see it.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

A variety of environmental problems now affect our entire world. As
globalization continues and the earth's natural processes transform local
problems into international issues, few societies are being left untouched by
major environmental problems.

Some of the largest problems now affecting the world are :

• ACID RAIN:

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The term acid rain refers to what scientists call acid deposition. It is caused
by airborne acidic pollutants and has highly destructive results.

Acid rain, one of the most important environmental problems of all, cannot
be seen. The invisible gases that cause acid rain usually come from
automobiles or coal-burning power plants.

Acid rain moves easily, affecting locations far beyond those that let out the
pollution. As a result, this global pollution issue causes great debates
between countries that fight over polluting each other's environments.

The levels of acid rain vary from region to region. In Third World nations
without pollution restrictions, acid rain tends to be very high. In Eastern
Europe, China, and the Soviet Union, acid rain levels have also risen greatly.
However, because acid rain can move about so easily, the problem is
definitely a global one.

CAUESE OF ACID RAIN:

For many years, there was considerable debate and disagreement over what
caused acid rain. Recent scientific work, however, has helped to clarify this

The primary causes of acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
These chemicals are released by certain industrial processes, and as a result,
the more industrialized nations of Europe as well as the US suffer severely
from acid rain.

Most sulfur dioxide comes from power plants that use coal as their fuel.
These plants emit 100 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 70% of that in the world.

Though human causes are primarily responsible for acid rain, natural causes
exist as well. Fires, volcanic eruptions, bacterial decomposition, and
lightening also greatly increase the amount of nitrogen oxide on the planet.
However, even the gigantic explosion of Mt. St. Helens released only about
what one coal power plant emits in a year.

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EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN:

Acid rain is having harmful effects both on people and on the natural
ecosystems of the world. Scientists today are convinced that acid rain is
severe in many areas, and that it is having an adverse effect on the
environments of those locations.

The problem of acid rain is rapidly spreading. Because it is mainly caused by

industrial processes, automobiles, and power plants, those countries that are
developed have the most severe acid rain problems. However, as the
undeveloped nations begin to industrialize, acid rain will increase greatly.
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SOLUTIONS OF ACID RAIN:

Debate over acid rain and ways of preventing it have raged between
environmentalists and corporations. Businesses such as power companies
and car makers oppose controlling acid rain because they fear the effects on
their profits.

Policy makers and environmental experts are now looking into the best
methods to limit acid rain.

Individuals can help by conserving energy or driving their cars less.

Governments can pass laws restricting pollution levels, or can use a variety
of methods such as tradable emission permits to reduce acid rain. Whatever
way it is done, acid rain will certainly have to be limited in the future.

• AIR POLLUTION:

Every day, the average person inhales about 20,000 liters of air. Every time
we breathe, we risk inhaling dangerous chemicals that have found their way
into the air.

The sources of air pollution are both natural and human-based. As one
might expect, humans have been producing increasing amounts of pollution
as time has progressed, and they now account for the majority of pollutants
released into the air.

Because it is located in the atmosphere, air pollution is able to travel easily.

As a result, air pollution is a global problem and has been the subject of
global cooperation and conflict.
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CAUSES OF AIR POLLUTION:

Among the many types of air pollutants are nitrogen oxides, carbon
monoxides, and organic compounds that can evaporate and enter the
atmosphere.

Though some pollution comes from these natural sources, most pollution is
the result of human activity. The biggest causes are the operation of fossil
fuel -burning power plants and automobiles that combust fuel. Combined,
these two sources are responsible for about 90% of all air pollution in the
United States.

Some cities suffer severely because of heavy industrial use of chemicals that
cause air pollution. Places like Mexico City and Sao Paulo have some of the
most deadly pollution levels in the world.

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION:

Air pollution is responsible for major health effects. Every year, the health of
countless people is ruined or endangered by air pollution.

Many different chemicals in the air affect the human body in negative ways.
Just how sick people will get depends on what chemicals they are exposed
to, in what concentrations, and for how long.
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Studies have estimated that the number of people killed annually in the US
alone could be over 50,000.

Older people are highly vulnerable to diseases induced by air pollution.

Those with heart or lung disorders are under additional risk. Children and
infants are also at serious risk.

SOLUTIONS OF AIR POLLUTION:

There are two main types of pollution control.

Input control involves preventing a problem before it occurs, or at least

limiting the effects the process will produce.

Five major input control methods exist. People may try to restrict population
growth, use less energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce waste, and move
to non-polluting renewable forms of energy production. Also, automobile-
produced pollution can be decreased with highly beneficial results.

Output control, the opposite method, seeks to fix the problems caused by air
pollution. This usually means cleaning up an area that has been damaged by
pollution. Input controls are usually more effective than output controls.
Output controls are also more expensive, making them less desirable to tax
payers and polluting industries.

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Current air pollution control efforts are not all highly effective. In wealthier
countries, industries are often able to shift to methods that decrease air
pollution. In the United States, for example, air pollution control laws have
been successful in stopping air pollution levels from rising. However, in
developing countries and even in countries where pollution is strictly
regulated, much more needs to be done.

• GLOBAL WARMING:

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Global warming, also known as the greenhouse effect, immediately received
international attention. Scientists, environmentalists, and governments
around the world took an interest in the subject.

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING:

Global warming has a variety of causes. One of the largest factors

contributing to global warming is the general problem of overpopulation and
its many effects.

The most common gas is carbon dioxide, accounting for about 50% of all
greenhouse gases. Other gases, including methane, CFCs, nitrogen oxides,
and ozone, also contribute to forming the greenhouse layer.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING:

To know just what the effects of global warming will be in the future is
extremely difficult, if not impossible. .

The climate changes that will result from global warming are extremely
difficult to predict. The weather is determined by so many factors that it is
often compared to chaos by scientists. Changing the temperature will likely
have some effect on the planet's weather, but just what that effect will be is
nearly impossible to predict.

If temperatures do indeed rise significantly, the most important result would

be that some portion of the polar icecaps would melt, raising global sea
levels. .

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SOLUTIONS OF GLOBAL WARMING:

The problems that cause global warming include overpopulation,

deforestation, ozone depletion, garbage dumping, and many others. These
all have unique solutions which are now being promoted by
environmentalists.

Some policies could successfully reduce global warming. Raising fossil fuel
prices, taxing emissions, and encouraging people to take environmentally
friendly action through such activities as planting trees will all help. Family
planning services actually help in the fight against global warming.Education
is a key method of reducing the greenhouse effect.

Widespread media attention to the global warming problem is also increasing

awareness. This is causing both individuals and governments to act more
responsibly towards the environment.

• HAZARDOUS WASTE:
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In addition to releasing gases and particles into the atmosphere, humans
produce waste that is dumped on the environment. Often, this waste is
hazardous and dangerous to both nature and human life.

The levels of dangerous wastes continue to grow. Industries and individuals

continue to be largely unaware of this major environmental problem.

As a result, many people and industries are failing to prevent the creation of
hazardous waste or to limit the negative effects it produces.

Individuals often throw out goods without realizing that they are headed for a
landfill and could be dangerous for the environment. No matter where
people put these hazardous waste materials, there is always a chance that
they could find their way into the ground, and eventually into our bodies. .

Around the world, hundreds of millions of tons of hazardous waste are

produced annually. Rather than cleaning up or storing waste more carefully,
one method of reducing the hazardous waste problem may be to simply stop
producing so much of it.

Some countries, including many in Europe, are working to reduce waste

levels. A great deal of success is being achieved in eliminating this serious
problem.

• OZONE DEPLETION:

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The ozone layer protects the Earth from the ultraviolet rays sent down by the
sun. If the ozone layer is depleted by human action, the effects on the
planet could be catastrophic.

Ozone is present in the stratosphere. The stratosphere reaches 30 miles

above the Earth, and at the very top it contains ozone. The suns rays are
absorbed by the ozone in the stratosphere and thus do not reach the Earth.

CAUSES OF OZONE DEPLETION:

Only a few factors combine to create the problem of ozone layer depletion.
The production and emission of CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons, is by far the
leading cause.

EFFECTS OF OZONE DEPLETION:

The environment will also be negatively affected by ozone depletion. The life
cycles of plants will change, disrupting the food chain. Effects on animals
will also be severe, and are very difficult to foresee.

The planet's climate could also be affected by depletion of the ozone layer.
Wind patterns could change, resulting in climatic changes throughout the
world.

Despite the difficulties, international action has been taken to limit CFCs. In
the Montreal Protocol, 30 nations worldwide agreed to reduce usage of CFCs
and encouraged other countries to do so as well.

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• SMOG:

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In many areas around the word, smog has reached extraordinary levels. Some
governments have quickly reacted with severe measures in response to the
problem. Smog causes a smoky dark atmosphere to arise over cities. It decreases
visibility, and creates a haze throughout the area.

Despite government action to reduce them, smog levels remain very high in many
cities. Even those areas that do successfully reduce smog may be the victims of
smog blown in from other locations.

• WATER POLLUTION:

Attention for water pollution exploded in the 1980s. The oil spill of the Exxon
Valdez showed many around the world just how horrible the effects of water
pollution could be.

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However, even the Exxon Valdez spill barely touched the surface of the
problem of water pollution. The ship spilt only 5% of the oil spilt that year,
and oil is just one of many pollutants that people dump into the water every
year.

Every year, 14 billions pounds of sewage, sludge, and garbage are dumped
into the world's oceans. 19 trillion gallons of waste also enter the water
annually.

The problem of ocean pollution affects every nation around the world. This is
especially true because water is able to transport pollution from one location
to another.

For many years, chemicals were dumped into bodies of water without
concern. While many countries have now banned such behavior, it continues
to go on today.

As the world has industrialized and its population has grown, the problem of
water pollution has intensified. The simple fact that millions of people live
along coastlines and near rivers means that these bodies of water are likely
candidates for heavy and destructive pollution.

It is hard to know now what our oceans will look like in the future. Just how
damaged they will be by pollution is uncertain.

One of the reasons that the water pollution problem is so severe is that it is
not actually illegal to dump pollutants into water bodies.

Sewage, sludge, garbage, and even toxic pollutants are all dumped into the
water. Often, governments either do not care or simply look the other way.

Across the world, about half of all sewage is dumped into water bodies in its
original form. No efforts are made to disinfect the sewage or to remove
especially harmful pollutants.

Even if sewage is treated, problems still arise. Treated sewage forms sludge,
which is sent out into the sea and dumped.

Many cities and countries dump sewage out at sea. Often, they place it not
far from their own coastline, often killing all the sea wildlife in the dumping
area.

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In addition to sewage, chemicals dumped by industries and governments are
another major source of water pollution.

Oil, such as that spilled by transport ships, has been dumped into the water
since the US Civil War. Every year, between 1 and 10 billion tons of oil are
spilt, killing many species and destroying the ecosystem in the area.
Cleanup efforts have been weak, as only about 10% of the oil is removed by
the most successful efforts.

EFFECTS OF WATER POLLUTION:

The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on what chemicals are
dumped and in what locations.

Boston Harbor is a strong example of how badly pollution can damage bodies
of water. The water is filled with toxic waste and sewage, and routinely
receives more waste when rainfall pushes it into the harbor.

Many bodies of water near urban areas are highly polluted. This is the result
of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally or
illegally dumped by industries.

The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills life that inhabits
water-based ecosystems. Dead fish, birds, dolphins, and many other animals
often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat.

Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such as lead and
cadmium are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by
fish and shellfish, and the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher
levels.

Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get
diseases such as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned.

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Ecosystems can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many
areas are now being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution
is coming back to hurt humans.

SOLUTION OF WATER POLLUTION:

Many laws have been created to restrict industries from dumping materials
into the water. However, many laws remain weak, and many countries do
not restrict water pollution.

In the United States, the Clean Water Act was written to completely put an
end to all dumping of pollutants into water. The law has not been that
effective in many areas, but in other locations, it has achieved its goals.

Since the Clean Water Act, other legislation has been enacted as well. Now,
eleven different federal government agencies and 21 federal government
programs all monitor the quality of water and regulate pollution.

The world has spent tremendous sums of money trying to clean up water.
From 1972-1990, the US spent over $250 billion.

Many non-governmental projects are also being carry out in an effort to

clean up the water. Industries are beginning to reduce the amount of
chemicals they dump into water, and environmental groups are participating
in cleanup projects.

The plastics industry, blamed for some of the worst pollution of the water, is
making its products degradable. However, many environmentalists think
this is hardly enough.

Public reaction to the water pollution problem has also been influential.
Governments have responded when public anger has risen, such as after the Exxon
Valdez acciden

• OVERPOPULATION:

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The world's population has been booming for years. The population is now
threatening to reach the stage where there are simply too many people for
the planet to support.

Around 1850, the world population reached one billion. By 1987, it was at
five billion and still rising rapidly. . The populations of Third World countries
are expected to continue to boom.

In 1968, Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb. The book described
how the world population had risen, citing the discovery of agriculture as the
cause. The book predicted that population growth would result in
widespread famine and even nuclear war. While some of his predictions
turned out to be false,famine did occur at high levels in later years.

• RAIN FOREST DESTRUCTION:

The atmosphere and oceans are not the only parts of the environment being
damaged. Rain forests are being quickly destroyed as well, and their
survival is questionable.

E.O. Wilson, a biologist at Harvard, called the depletion of rain forest areas
"the greatest extinction since the end of the age of dinosaurs."

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Unlike some environmental issues, rain forest depletion has fortunately
received significant public and media attention.

According to some estimates, 50 million acres of rain forest are cut down
every year. The United Nations says the figure is closer to 17 million acres.
The World Life Fund says that every minute, 25 to 50 acres are cut or burned
to the ground.

The world's growing population has been a primary cause of rain forest
destruction. More people need land to live on and wood products to
consume. Limiting populatio growth may be the first in a series of steps
that would limit the destruction of the rain forests.

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23
WHAT STEPS HAS THE PAKISTANI
GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO MEET THESE
CHALLENGES
For the sake of the above mentioned topic we
are attaching the original print of a document
taken from the pakistani environment protection
agency’s website which is:
www.environment.gov.pk

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WAYS IN WHICH BUSINESSES CAN HELP THE
ENVIRONMENT

Companies need to move towards environmental sustainability. They need to

have structures, processes and incentives in the business which support
environmental management. Companies who work to help the environment
are sometimes called green companies and proactive green companies can
take the following steps:

Top managers with environmental responsibilities

One step companies can take is to give environmental tasks to its managers.
Many firms now have a vice president for environmental affairs with a direct
reporting relation with the CEO.

Dialogue with stakeholders

Green companies can also get into dialogue with external stakeholders such
as environmental organizations. The company can take advice from
environmental organizations on how they can help the environment.

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Take suggestions from employees

Employees can suggest ways to improve processes and make them less
damaging to the environment for example:

Where recyclable material can be used

Where to use renewable energy

Where to use energy efficient machines

Codes of environmental conduct

Green companies should put their commitment in writing, often in the form
of a code of conduct which basically states the environmental goals of the
company. A survey result suggested that employees at firms with well
communicated environmental policies were much more likely to come up
with suggestions for helping the environment.

Rewards and incentives

Employees and business people are most likely to consider the

environmental impacts of their actions when their organizations
acknowledge and reward this behavior. Green companies can link pays of
employees to environmental achievement and take steps to recognize these
achievements publicly.

Environmental audits

Green companies can track their progress toward environmental goals.

Companies can have environmental audits that review initiatives taken to
help the environment. National Semiconductor Corporation initiated a new
audit that scored company facilities in areas such as air pollution control,
hazardous waste management and ground water protection.

Interorganizational alliances

Firms can form alliances with other firms to promote mutual environmental
goal and work a bigger scale. Oil companies, for example, can form alliances
to asses how they are damaging the environment and they should work
towards helping the environment.
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Technological innovation

Green companies are often technological leaders. Companies can find new
ways and methods for reducing pollution and increasing efficiency. These
innovations can also be used by other companies.

Examples of innovation

Industrial ecology refers to designing factories and distribution systems as

if they were self contained eco systems. Businesses can save materials
through closed loop recycling, use wastes from one process as raw material
for others.

Design for disassembly means that products are designed so that at the
end of their useful life they can be disassembled and recycled. Volkswagen
designs cars for eventual disassembly and reuse.

Life cycle analysis involves collecting information on the life long

environmental impact of a product, all the way from extraction of raw
material to disposal of products. The aim is to minimize the impact of a
product at all stages. Dell has redesigned one of its lines of PC’s with
recyclable chassis and offers incentives to customers to return their old PC to
be taken apart and rebuilt with new internal parts. This redesign has reduces
a lot of waste.

COMPANY UNDER STUDY:

“SONY works to be green”
The following are taken from Sony sources to prove what they as an
organization are doing in order to help the environment.

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Reducing energy consumption. Increasing Harnessing the power of the Sony Group.
enjoyment. Working toward efficiency, All sites working together,greatly
Sony style. reducing greenhouse gases.

Efficient products are attracting attention as
one way people can reduce CO2 emissions by
conserving energy at home. Sony seeks out
efficient technology for products that save
energy.
Working toward a target of reducing total
emissions of greenhouse gases, calculated in
terms of CO2, by 7% or more in 2010 relative
to 2000 levels, Sony business practices cut
greenhouse gas emissions.

Efficient products are not the last word in Not just another pretty face. The
environmental stewardship. Saving surprising environmental performance of
energy throughout product life cycles is OLED televisions.
the way.

OLED televisions are renowned for beautiful

From production of parts and materials to picture quality. But OLED technology is not
product manufacturing, distribution, use, and only good for superior images--it saves energy
final processing. Sony promotes energy and resources.
conservation throughout product life cycles.

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Monitoring chemical substances in Not a scrap of waste overlooked. Sony
product materials. Sony's own brand of pursues environmentally conscious
chemical substances control is practiced packaging materials.
worldwide.

Lightening our environment impact, even

in distribution. Reusable international
shipping containers help conserve energy
and reduce packaging.

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30
Returning water Sony uses to the
groundwater supply. Groundwater
recharge, an answer for a thirsty world.
To improve groundwater recharge, Sony
Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation's
Kumamoto Technology Center works with the
community, environmental NGOs, farmers, and
agricultural cooperatives.
Eco-transmutation: turning used power
cords into metal resources. Sony's
involvement in copper reuse.
People in Japan are now more conscious of
home appliance recycling since the Home
Appliance Recycling Law took effect in 2001.
Sony recovers copper from used power cords
as a valuable resource.
Next phase in plan started more than a
decade ago. Sony's commitment to using
recycled plastic.
For more than a decade, Sony has been
involved in development focused on recycled
plastic. We seek to reduce our consumption of
limited new resources as much as possible,
and we promote the use of recycled plastic in
products.
From Ishikawa Prefecture: an advanced
plant wastewater recycling system.
A recycling system for wastewater from
production processes was introduced at Sony
Chemical & Information Device Corporation's
Neagari Plant in 2006.
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Tomorrow's batteries, powered by Truly smart smart cards,
sugar. Today's research points popularized by Sony first in 2006.
the way to production of bio Non-contact smart cards of
batteries. vegetable-based plastic.

Sony is moving ahead in R&D for bio Vegetable-based plastics help reduce
batteries powered by sugar, a consumption of oil resources and CO2.
substance synthesized by plants from
sunlight in photosynthesis.

Making moves to introduce Success at Togane Site, Chiba Prefecture.

renewable energy from power Renewable energy now powers 16% of
sources that do not generate CO2. the entire facility.

Dominant fossil fuels such as oil have
a big impact on higher CO2 emissions.
Sony is moving aggressively to
introduce renewable energy free of
these emissions.
The solar power system installed at Sony
EMCS Corporation's Service Togane Site can
generate 200 kW, enough for a neighborhood
of 50 homes.

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Afforestation that started more than A park, where the community can
30 years ago. Kohda TEC in Aichi take a break and have fun. The
Prefecture is behind "Sony Forest." founding concept of Sony Shionoka
Park.
Creating a green industrial park has been an
objective of Sony EMCS Corporation's Kohda TEC Sony Shionoka Park, on the grounds of Sony
since the establishment of this site, where Semiconductor Kyushu Corporation's Oita
greening has long been practiced. Technology Center, is free for the public to enjoy.

To protect deer, foxes, and other

wildlife, some 48,500 m2 on the
facility grounds are now protected as
a wildlife sanctuary.

A wildlife sanctuary was set aside at the Sony

DADC plant in Pitman, New Jersey, in agreement
with the state of New Jersey in 2006.

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