Sharp 2010 Annual Report Download - page 29

Environmental Activities
In fiscal 2010 Sharp announced its corporate vision of becoming
an Eco-Positive Company. By working with stakeholders, Sharp
aims to become a company whose positive impact through
contributions to the environment greatly outweighs any negative
impact of environmental load resulting from its business activi-
ties. Sharp has developed an Eco-Positive Strategy for achieving
this aim, which comprises four channels for action: Technolo-
gies, Products, Operations, and Relationships. Sharp is imple-
menting this strategy throughout its entire value chain.
Examples of Initiatives
Photovoltaic power generation
Sharp started its research on solar cells in 1959 and now has
more than 50 years of experience in R&D and promotion of
this technology. We have accumulated a broad base of tech-
nologies and consumer trust. In March 2010 we began opera-
tions at our solar cell plant in GREEN FRONT SAKAI. Then in
April 2010 Sharp’s achievements in the commercialization and
industrialization of solar cells from 1959 to 1983 were recog-
nized as an IEEE Milestone* by the IEEE, the world’s largest
academic society for electrical, electronics, information, and
telecommunications engineering. Going forward, Sharp will
continue to develop the solar cell business around the two
products of crystalline solar cells and thin-film solar cells, and
to promote greater use of photovoltaic power generation.
*Please refer to “Topic” on page 25.
Products and devices with high environmental performance
Sharp’s LED AQUOS LCD TV achieves energy savings of
over 30%* compared with previous models—the result of
combining LCD panels employing UV2A technology that
enhances optical efficiency with a high-efficiency LED back-
light system. Furthermore, the LED AQUOS has a thoroughly
environmentally-friendly design featuring halogen-free resin
cabinets, back cabinets that can be repeatedly recycled, and
a halogen-free power cord and internal wiring.
Our LED lights also have excellent environmental perfor-
mance, as they consume low amounts of electric power, have
long operating lives, and contain no mercury. We offer a large
lineup of LED lights for residential and office use, which con-
tribute to reduced power consumption in homes and offices.
* Comparison of annual power consumption of LC-52SE1 J / 46SE1 J / 40SE1 J (sales
began in February 2010) with that of LC-52DS6 J / 46DS6 J / 40DS6 J (sales began in
June 2009). Annual power consumption amount calculated based on the Energy
Conservation Law in Japan.
Environmental friendliness at plants
Sharp has an environmental certification system based on its
own assessment standards. Plants that are environmentally
friendly are designated as Green Factories (GF) and those with
superior environmental performance receive the Super Green
Factory (SGF) designation. All plants in Japan and overseas
have been certified as GF, while 24 plants among these,
including 10 Sharp Corporation plants, have been certified as
SGF. After being certified as an SGF, a plant pursues the SGF II
level of certification by achieving even higher environmental
performance. GREEN FRONT SAKAI, which began operation
in fiscal 2009, features an environmental conservation system
befitting its status as one of the world’s most environmentally
advanced manufacturing complexes.
Unique environmental technologies
Sharp developed a closed-loop material recycling technology
that has been in use since fiscal 2001. This recycling tech-
nique repeatedly recovers plastic from used electronics prod-
ucts and reuses it in parts of new consumer electronics. Since
then, we have developed and implemented new technologies
to increase the amount of plastic that can be recycled and
expand the use of these plastics. In fiscal 2009, the cumula-
tive amount of recycled plastic used thanks to this technology
reached the 5,050 ton mark. In fiscal 2009, Sharp also devel-
oped a high-performance paint from the glass material dis-
carded from LCD panel plants. We plan to use the paint in
LED security lights.
LED AQUOS featuring high
environmental performance
Eco-Positive
Company
EP
Products
EP
Relationships
EP
Operations
EP
Technologies
Eco-Positive Technologies
Generate new business through one-of-a-kind
environmental technologies.
Eco-Positive Products
Expand contribution to protecting the environ-
ment through creating energy-saving/-creating
products and services.
Eco-Positive Operations
Reduce environmental impacts in product engi-
neering and manufacturing as much as possible.
Eco-Positive Relationships
Enhance corporate value through involvement
with the community.
EP: Eco-Positive
4 domains of Eco-Positive Strategy
Corporate Vision: Eco-Positive Company
Environmental burden
through company’s
operations
<Negative Impact>
Environmental contribution
through products and services
such as GHG emission reductions
<Positive Impact>
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
"
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