Sony Group
Conglomerate
Sony restructured itself in 2021, changing its name from Sony Corporation to Sony Group Corporation. Major business divisions are video games (PlayStation), music and film, electronics products & solutions, imaging & sensing and financial services.

Overall

Owned JPN
Rating D
About the Ratings
Sony Group Corporation
JPN

Company Assessment

(Last updated Jul 2024)
Sony Group Corporation
Praise
CDP Climate Change score of A
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of A.
Source: CDP (2023)
CDP Water Security score of A-
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security score of A-.
Source: CDP (2023)
60.7% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 60.7% (Good).
68/100 in TIME rankings
World's Most Sustainable Companies of 2024 by TIME and Statista recognises the Top 500 most sustainable companies in the world. From a selection of 5,000 of the world's largest companies, non-sustainable businesses were excluded, and the remaining companies were rated on Commitment & Ratings, Reporting & Transparency, and Environmental & Social Stewardship. This company received a total score of 68.1/100, ranking 134th overall.
Source: TIME (2024)
Criticism
Forced labour in China
The Chinese government has facilitated the mass transfer of Uyghur and other ethnic minority citizens from the far west region of Xinjiang to factories across the country. Under conditions that strongly suggest forced labour, Uyghurs are working in factories that are in the supply chains of at least 83 well-known global brands in the technology, clothing and automotive sectors, including brands owned by this company. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's 2020 report estimates (somewhat conservatively) that more than 80,000 Uyghurs were transferred out of Xinjiang to work in factories across China between 2017 and 2019, and some of them were sent directly from detention camps.
Source: ASPI (2020)
Supply chain practices in China
The Green Supply Chain Corporate Information Transparency Index (CITI) evaluates consumer-facing companies that have a sizeable supply chain in China. The evaluation uses government supervision data and public information to assess the environmental management of their supply chains in China. This company received a score of 11.02/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE (2023)
23/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2022 KnowTheChain benchmarked 60 information, communications and technology (ICT) companies on their efforts to identify and tackle forced labour risks in their supply chains. This company received a score of 23/100. The average score was 20/100 and the highest score was 63.
19.0% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 19.0%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.
Smoking in movies
Sony Pictures Entertainment, the studio division of Japan-based Sony Corporation, contributed US$8.9 billion (12%) to the parent company's US$75.2 billion revenue total in 2018. Since 2002, 56 percent of Sony's youth-rated films have featured smoking, the most of any major studio. Sony published its first internal policy on tobacco depictions at the end of 2012. The share of Sony's PG-13 films with smoking dropped below 50%, for the first time, in 2016 but the share of all Sony films with tobacco has since rebounded.
Workers rights in China
A 2023 report by China Labor Watch investigated labour conditions in China's consumer electronics sector using three stages of research: analysis of social media posts, case studies through online research, and in-person factory investigation. Labour abuses in factories supplying this company were identified in multiple social media posts. Labour abuses include excessive working hours, illegal use of student interns, wage theft and wage arrear, poor food and/or living conditions, high labour intensity, mandatory overtime, and deception.
Tax avoidance
This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for the likely use of tax avoidance strategies, and has at least two high risk subsidiaries in tax havens.
Information
US recycling report card
The Electronics TakeBack Coalition's Recycling Report Card evaluates takeback and recycling programs for computer, TV, printer and game console companies. The report card focuses on the programs available to consumers in the US, and relies on publicly available information, as of Sept 2010. This company received a grade of D for its recycling efforts in the USA.
D+ in Guide to Greener Electronics
This company received a grade of D+ in the Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics (Oct 2017), which assesses companies from the electronics industry across three impact areas: energy use, resource consumption, and chemical elimination. Of the 17 companies ranked, this company came ninth. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Fined for data breach
This company was fined STG250,000 (AU$378,000) by Britain's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a data breach that compromised the personal information of millions of customers using PlayStation video games consoles. The ICO fined Sony after it found the cyber attack in April 2011 could have been prevented if Sony's software had been up to date.
Chemical poisoning of workers
The Poisonous Pearl is a 2016 report by Good Electronics which focuses on the experiences of (former) workers in the electronics industry in China who are victims of chemical poisoning. The health of all the workers in the report was damaged by exposure to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and n-hexane. All were working in large or small factories in the Pearl River Delta-region of China, an area well known as being a global hub for the production of consumer electronics (ICT). This company is supplied by factories in the region.
Source: SOMO (2016)
Child labour in gold mining
This 2016 scorecard by SOMO compares electronics companies on their policies and efforts regarding responsible mining and the elimination of child labour, with special attention to the mining of gold. This company is above industry standard on only 2 out of 7 criteria.
Cobalt battery supply chain
A 2017 report by Amnesty International, 'Time to Recharge' ranks major electronics and car companies on how much they have improved their cobalt sourcing practices since January 2016. The report found that while a handful of companies have made progress, many are still not doing enough to stop human rights abuses entering their cobalt supply chains, even though their products could be linked to child labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This company was rated 'minimal action taken'. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Conflict Minerals Ranking
In November 2017 the Enough Project published Demand the Supply, which ranked consumer electronics and jewelry retail companies on their efforts to develop conflict-free minerals supply chains from Congo. Companies were ranked on reporting; sourcing conflict-free minerals from Congo; supporting the artisanal mining communities in Eastern Congo; and conflict-free minerals advocacy. This company received a score of 33.5/120. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Price fixing in Taiwan
Taiwan's Fair Trade Commissioner has given fines totalling US$1.8m to four electronics makers, including Sony Optiarc, for fixing prices of optical disc drives. The companies exchanged information through email, telephone and meetings regarding quotations and information provided during open-bid competition for optical disc drives held by computer makers Dell and Hewlett-Packard from 2004 to 2009. Sony Optiarc received a fine of US$170,000.
Most controversial companies of 2015
This company appeared seventh on RepRisk's top ten "Most Controversial Companies of 2015". Companies on the list were severely criticised during 2015 by the world's media, governments and NGOs. Criticisms of Sony include human rights abuses and corporate complicity, anti-comptetitive practices, corruption, discrimination and OHS issues. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
39.1% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 39.1/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target; commit to 100% renewable power.
Responsible Business Alliance member
This company is a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition), a non-profit coalition of electronics companies which supports the rights and wellbeing of workers and communities worldwide affected by the global electronics supply chain. RBA members commit and are held accountable to a common Code of Conduct and utilize a range of RBA training and assessment tools to support continuous improvement in the social, environmental and ethical responsibility of their supply chains.
Source: RBA (2022)
Responsible Minerals Initiative member
This company is a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (formerly the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative), which helps companies address conflict minerals issues in their supply chains. The RMI provides information on conflict-free smelters and refiners, common tools to gather sourcing information, and forums for exchanging best practices on addressing conflict minerals. Membership is open to companies that use or transact in tantalum, tin, tungsten or gold (3TG). Founded in 2008 by members of the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative.
Source: RMI (2019)
CSR claims
This company has Corporate Social Responsibility claims on its website including the areas of ethics and compliance, respect for human rights, environment and responsible supply chain.
Repairability of devices
Engineers from ifixit.com disassembled and analysed a range of smartphones, tablets and laptops, awarding each a repairability score between one and ten. Ten is the easiest to repair. A device with a perfect score will be relatively inexpensive to repair because it is easy to disassemble and has a service manual available. Points are docked based on the difficulty of opening the device, the types of fasteners found inside, and the complexity involved in replacing major components. Points are awarded for upgradability, use of non-proprietary tools for servicing, and component modularity. Products released by this company between 2016 and 2017 scored 5 points.
Military involvement in Gaza
Press TV claims that evidence found from the war in Gaza in July 2014 showed that Sony provided Israel with cameras and high-tech control boards to equip its missiles.
Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
C grade at Behind the Barcode
C grade in the Baptist World Aid Australia's Behind the Barcode 'Ethical Electronics Guide 2016', which grades companies on their efforts to mitigate the risks of forced labour, child labour and worker exploitation throughout their supply chains. Assessment criteria fall into four main categories: policies, traceability & transparency, monitoring & training and worker rights. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
9/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 9/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
41/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 41/100 in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 18 Nov 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
42.8% in Digital Inclusion Benchmark
The 2023 Digital Inclusion Benchmark ranks 200 companies on their responsibility to advance a more inclusive digital society. The companies were assessed using four measurement areas: access, skills, use and innovation. This company ranked #55/200, with a total score of 42.8/100.

Company Details

Type:
Public company
Founded:
1946
Revenue:
81.1 billion USD (2020)
Employees:
109,700 (2020)
Subsidiaries:
Sony Australia Ltd
Electronics wholesaler
Products imported include home entertainment, portable audio, car and marine entertainment, computers, digital imaging, gaming, business solutions, and broadcast and production.
Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc
Video games
Sony's video games division, responsible for Playstation hardware and software. Owns numerous gaming studios around the world who primarily make video games exclusively for Playstation consoles.

Contact Details

Address:
Tokyo, Japan
Website:
www.sony.com

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