Business and consumer electronics
Products for home (entertainment, kitchen, solar panels) and for business (computers and office equipment).
Company Ownership
Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Sharp Corporation
owns 100% of Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd
JPN
Consumer electronics
Manufacture and sell digital information equipment, health and environment equipment, solar cells, business solutions, LCD and electronic devices.
Products sold in 140 countries. Acquired by Foxconn in 2016.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd
owns 42% of Sharp Corporation
TWN
Electronic manufacturing services
Founded in 1974 by Terry Gou, it is the world's largest Electronic Manufacturing Services company with more than 200 subsidiaries (including more than 40 carrying the Foxconn name) in Asia, the Americas and Europe. It designs and manufactures computers, consumer electronics, communications and other products. Customers include Apple, Microsoft, Dell, Nokia and Sony.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jun 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
APCO member
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice). This company received a packaging performance level of 2 (Good Progress) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report.
Source: APCO
(2024)
Sharp Corporation
Praise
Criticism
Information
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 B
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 B.
Source: CDP
(2023)
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 11.82/100 (retrieved 24 Nov 2023).
Source: IPE
(2023)
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, poor food and/or living conditions, high labour intensity, workplace bullying and verbal abuse, mandatory overtime, and deception.
Source: China Labor Watch
(2023)
31/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 31/100 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.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
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)
Price fixing
In Nov 2008, LG Display, Sharp, and Chunghwa Picture Tubes agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges for participating in a liquid crystal display price-fixing conspiracy and pay $585 million in fines, the U.S. Department of Justice. Sharp were fined US$120 million. [Listed under information due to age of court finding]
Source: news article
(2008)
Price fixing
In 2012 this company has agreed to pay Dell and two other companies US$198.5m to settle a lawsuit for fixing LCD panel prices in Europe and North America. Sharp will settle the lawsuit, filed in November 2009, which was against a group of companies for collusion on prices of LCD panels sold to Dell. The decision was made independent of the other companies. [Listed under information due to age of court finding]
Source: news article
(2012)
Price fixing in Europe
In Dec 2011 this company and five other makers of liquid crystal displays agreed to pay more than $535m to settle consumer and state regulatory claims in the USA that they conspired to fix prices for LCD panels in televisions, notebook computers and monitors. Sharp agreed to pay $115.5m plus state penalties of $6m.
Source: news article
(2011)
38.8% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 38.8/100 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.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
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.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Social and environmental claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website, mainly in the areas of environmental and social activities.
Source: company website
(2020)
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)
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 C for its recycling efforts in the USA.
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]
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.
Source: company website
(2021)
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Employees:
250
(2013)
Contact Details
Address:
1 Huntingwood Drive, Huntingwood, NSW, 2148, Australia
Phone:
02 9830 4600
Website:
Products / Brands
Sharp Australia
Dynabook
Laptops
Sharp
Audio Equipment
Sharp
Televisions
Sharp
Air Purifiers
Sharp
Fridges & Freezers
Sharp
Microwaves