Sony UK TEC continue efforts in the fight against climate change

Sony UK Technology Centre (UK TEC) continue to make a difference in the fight against climate change directly from their Pencoed manufacturing facility.

World leaders from across the globe gathered last year to look towards a more sustainable future at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. As a result, the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’ was agreed. This aims to reduce the worst impacts of climate change. COP President, Alok Sharma, will outline the UK’s Presidency year priorities at Chatham House in London on 24 January 2022.

Being a socially aware business, UK TEC recognise the responsibility it has in minimising its impact on the environment. So, in a bid to see real and tangible change, they have implemented a host of strategies and activities into the day-to-day processes of the facility to ensure its environmental footprint is as small as possible.

In an effort to achieve environmental targets, e.g., 10% reduction in energy and waste usage by 2025, and to become carbon zero by 2050, the site recently launched an energy-saving campaign, pledging to reduce CO2 emissions by 157 tonnes. They also plan to gradually increase the installation of solar panels.

Another GEMS target that has been set by the company is to promote environmentally conscious food activities. Educating staff on sustainable foods and how to limit the negative impact the foods they consume have on the environment and the communities that produce them. With their COVID19 roadmap, the facility hopes to re-open its on-site canteen in the near future, and so, will be working with food supplier contractors to ensure that environmentally-conscious meals are provided for staff.

In a bid to ensure waste materials are responsibly managed, UK TEC is in the process of establishing a recycling strategy for the 600-800 surface mount device (SMD) reels that are discarded daily in the manufacturing process.

The team have also looked to involve local schools in their environmental work with the ‘Forest Schools Project’. Working in partnership with Tanio, previously known as ‘Valley & Vale Community Arts’, they have created a new programme available to the children of staff members. The ‘Spring Forward’ programme successfully took place during both the 2021 Summer and October half terms, in which children became more engaged with nature and more confident in themselves and the outdoors. UK TEC hope to work with Tanio again in the future to deliver more learning programmes.

In recognition of their efforts, the Pencoed facility has been approved by Alcumus ISOQAR for being compliant with the requirements of ISO 50001: 2018 Energy Management, and Bureau Veritas ISO:14001 Environmental Management.

Sony UK TEC Compliance Manager Ian Prescott said: “We are committed to making a real difference in the fight against climate change. We recognise that we play an instrumental role in our local community, and we are working closely with our Team Players, local schools, and suppliers to see how we can collaboratively make positive changes.

“COP26 has highlighted just how important it is to take action now before it is too late, and we at Sony UK TEC are working tirelessly to improve our processes and facilities so that we as a company have as minimal impact on the environment as possible.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements so far, but we know our work is far from over. We will continue to work hard to ensure our facility gives back to both our local communities and environment and that we are making positive contributions to the global efforts to combat climate change.”