Thin and light notebooks are better for the environment.
Major improvements in product miniaturization have been made over the last few years, and the creation of portable computers is a great example. By creating smaller and lighter Sony VAIO notebook PCs, the consumption and depletion of materials per product is reduced significantly. Our newly developed products consume less energy during their lifetime than conventional models, while their performance has shown great improvement.
ENERGY STAR 4.0 certified Sony VAIO PCs.
Several VAIO? computers are ENERGY STAR 4.0 compliant. These include the Z Series, SR Series, BZ Series, TZ Series, LT Series and select models of the FW Series computers. This means that they use less power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting very strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. By meeting these strict energy guidelines, these computers not only lessen the impact they have on the environment but also help to preserve and protect it.
What is EPEAT and how is Sony participating?
EPEAT, the ?Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool,? is a procurement tool designed to help institutional purchasers in the public and private sectors evaluate, compare and select desktop computers, laptops and monitors based on their environmental attributes. Sony is a committed participant of EPEAT where various VAIO laptops have been registered as a result of Sony?s efforts to reduce PC power consumption and the use of hazardous materials. For a list of registered VAIO models, visit www.epeat.net.
Trade-in and recycle with Sony.
Notebook Trade-in Program
Sony does not want anything to go to waste which could potentially harm the environment if improperly disposed. At the same time, Sony wants to make recycling beneficial and convenient for you. That's why we offer the Sony Notebook Trade-in Program. We'll not only dispose of your notebook in an environmentally safe manner, we'll also give you credit towards a new VAIO PC.
See how much Sony credit you can receive for your old notebook
Take Back Recycling Program
At Sony, we support the recycling of our products with the same respect we have when creating them. Teaming up with Waste Management, we've built a recycling program that makes it easy to dispose of electronics in an environmentally-safe way. Bring your no-longer needed Sony product to any participating Waste Management eCycling drop-off center and recycle it for free.
Sony Take Back Recycling Program
Battery Recycling Program
In addition to our Trade-in and Take Back Recycling programs, we also make recycling your old Sony rechargeable batteries easier. To dispose of an old rechargeable battery from Sony, simply drop it off at a Sony Style store near you and we'll make sure it's recycled in an environmentally appropriate manner. In fact, starting in early 2008, we will begin introducing dedicated battery recycling bags with some of our VAIO PCs to make recycling old batteries even more convenient-just put the battery in the bag and drop it off at the Sony Style store drop box near you.
All Sony VAIO computers are RoHS compliant
The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive restricts the use of certain substances, such as lead and mercury, in electronic products. By restricting the use of these hazardous materials, RoHS aims not only to help prevent harmful materials from leeching into our ecosystem through landfills, but also to minimize the exposure workers have to these materials during the manufacturing process. By adhering to the RoHS guidelines to restrict and limit our use of the designated harmful substances, Sony is making a positive commitment to enact business practices that help preserve and protect our environment.
Ongoing research improves product performance and environmental awareness.
Sony is very proactive on environmental issues. We strive to develop products that improve our lives while preserving our world for future generations. In line with Sony?s corporate environmental policy, we incorporate environmental considerations when we design, manufacture, distribute, sell and service our products. Sony uses Environmental Management Systems certified to ISO 14001 as an instrument to assess, manage and reduce the environmental impacts in these various activities.
For example, Sony Japan continues to use vegetable-based plastics made from corn starches. The latest VAIO model sold in Japan has a PC card slot insertion made from this vegetable-based plastic. Sony is making a strong effort to employ this procedure in the United States.
Sony VAIO PCs: Eco facts at a glance
Below are some key environmental facts about Sony VAIO computers:
- All VAIO PCs are produced in manufacturing facilities that are certified to ISO 14001
- Packaging for VAIO PCs utilizes recycled paper or FSC certified paper
- Select models utilize non-volatile organic compounds in the ink used on packaging
- Select VAIO models feature a special powder coating on the casing that utilizes non-volatile organic compounds and is a great alternative to traditional paints
- Select VAIO models feature easy-to-recycle magnesium alloy casing
- Select models make use of mercury-free LED backlights in their LCD displays
- In all VAIO PCs, plastic parts greater than 100g are made of a single material or an easily separable material
- In all VAIO PCs, plastic cover/housing parts greater than 25g are halogen-free
- In the majority of VAIO PCs, circuit boards (not including components) greater than 25g are halogen-free