News Releases

April 18, 2024

Using Kaneka's environmentally conscious biodegradable biopolymer, Green Planet(TM)

Sony is the first company in the industry to eliminate the use of polystyrene foam cushioning material for large TVs, affecting BRAVIA 9, the 85-inch 4K Mini LED TV to be introduced in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Instead of polystyrene foam, Kaneka Green Planet, a biomass-derived biodegradable biopolymer made by Kaneka Corporation, will be used for cushioning material. This material has biodegradability in a variety of environments, decomposing and returning to CO2 and water not only in soil but also in seawater, thereby contributing to solving the problem of environmental pollution caused by plastic.

Cushioning materials are molded into complex shapes to match the product design and maintain the impact resistance of large and heavy TVs during transportation. In order to adopt Green Planet, Sony created a mold structure according to the characteristics of the material which differs from polystyrene foam, thus achieving both design that maintains impact resistance and stable production. At the same time, Sony leveraged its packaging design expertise cultivated over the years and simulation technology for endeavors, such as realizing simplifying the cushioning material shape and reducing the number of parts.

Please see more details on sustainability in BRAVIA TVs here. https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/eco-tv

Sony Group is working towards an environmental plan called "Road to Zero" with the aim of achieving zero environmental impact by 2050*3, and is striving to achieve this goal by setting medium-term environmental targets in stages.

Sony will continue to promote efforts to reduce the environmental impact through the development and adoption of environmentally conscious materials.

*1In packaging for TVs. Based on research by Sony Corporation and Kaneka Corporation (as of April 17, 2024).

*2For the 85-inch 4K Mini LED TV "BRAVIA 9" for Hong Kong and Taiwan.

*3We have accelerated our goal of achieving carbon neutrality across the entire value chain, including Scopes 1 to 3, by 10 years from 2050 to 2040, and our goal of using 100% renewable energy in our own operations by 2030 from 2040.

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