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Sharp sustainability score report

Last edited: 28 February 2012 by Imke
Last reviewed: 28 February 2012 by Imke

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

2 out of 5
1. Does the brand (company) clearly support global mandatory cuts of carbon emissions of at least 50% by 2050 or 30% by industrialized countries by 2020? Sharp mentions several objectives to reduce greenhouse gases, but none of these objectives are focused on 2050 or 2020. Therefore it is not sufficient for a yes. Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual carbon footprint of its 'own operations' and of the supply / production chain? Sharp has published the carbon footprint for its own operations and that of at least a portion of the supply chain / or product lifecycle (see link). Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce its ‘own operations’ carbon footprint by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Sharp does not mention a target to reduce its own operations, if its available, on its website. Source
4. Has the brand (company) already reduced or compensated its 'own operations' carbon footprint by at least 10% in the last 5 years? Sharp has reduced 31,3% in CO2 emissions since fiscal 2007 (see link). Source
5. Do all new products of the brand meet the latest Energy Star requirements (where applicable)? 100% of Sharp TV's and Multifunction Printers are Energy Star rated. No information is provided for other appliances. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 7
1. Has the brand (company) eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? If not, does the brand give a timeline for achieving this by 2012? Sharp previously mentioned that it aimed to ban PVC's and BFR's, but these chemicals are still approved for some applications (see link). Source
2. Has the brand (company) already eliminated PVC and BFRs in all new products? Sharp still uses PVC's and BFR's in some of its products. Source
3. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates) in all of its new products? If not, does it give a timeline for achieving this by 2012? Sharp previously mentioned that it aimed to ban beryllium, antimony and phthalates, but these chemicals are still approved for some applications (see link). Source
4. Has the brand (company) already eliminated at least 2 of the 3 groups of suspect chemicals (beryllium, antimony and phthalates)in all of its new products? Sharp still uses beryllium, antimony and phthalates in some of its products. Source
5. Does the brand (company) support the principle of Individual Producer Responsibility (IPR), meaning that brands are responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their own products, including take back and recycling? Sharp gives support to the idea of IPR and to the goals of the WEEE. Source
6. Does the brand (company) provide free and easy take back and recycling services for its discarded products in many of the countries where its products are sold? Sharp provides recycling programs, but this does not account for 90% of the countries where their products are sold. Source
7. Does the brand (company) source at least 5% of its plastics from recycled plastic streams and does it give a clear timeline to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025? Sharp provides information about how much recycled plastic Sharp uses in tonnes. However, it is unclear what percentage of total this represents. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

1 out of 7
1. Does the brand (company) have a policy that excludes smelters of conflict minerals by only sourcing minerals from conflict free areas or by only sourcing minerals from conflict areas when human rights are respected and where contributing to conflict is avoided? Sharp started asking suppliers in 2011 whether conflict minerals "are contained in products and materials supplied to Sharp, and, if so, what is their country of origin", but Sharp does not state that it excludes smelters of conflict minerals. Source
2. Does the brand (company) have a Code of Conduct (CoC) for both its own factories and those of its suppliers, which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace? All standards are mentioned Sharp's Code of Conduct. Source
3. Does the brand’s (company’s) CoC include at least 3 of the following workers rights: 1. a formally registered employment relationship 2. a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. a sufficient living wage 4. form and join labor unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, to develop parallel means? 1. No, Sharp has not a formally registered employment relationship; 2. No, Sharp has not specified a maximum working week and overtime is not mentioned. 3. Yes, Sharp comply with the relevant wages; 4. No, Freedom of association is mentioned, but nothing found about situations in which this right is restricted by law. (Page 87). Source
4. Does the brand (company) have a published list of direct suppliers that have collectively contributed to more than 90% of the purchase volume? Sharp does not provide a significant published list of direct suppliers on its website. Source
5. Is the brand (company) a member of a multi stakeholder initiative (MSI), wherein independent NGO’s or labor unions are represented, that collectively aims to improve labor conditions and that carries out independent audits? Or does the brand (company) significantly purchase its supplies from factories certified by such MSI’s? Sharp does not mention membership in a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions or purchasing its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions. Source
6. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Sharp formulated its own Green Procurement Guidelines for its suppliers. But besides that, Sharp does not provide an annual report of its labor conditions on its website. Source
7. Has the brand’s labor conditions policy resulted in a ‘compliance level’ of at least 30% of the purchase volume, or a ‘monitored level' of at least 80%? See remark for labor conditions question 6. Source