To ensure that high-end audio-visual products with extremely high material requirements can also use environmentally friendly materials, Sony and Mitsubishi Corporation launched a large-scale project.Transnational InitiativeTogether with 14 chemical and materials companies, including Chi Mei Corporation and Formosa Chemicals & Fibre, they are building a brand new "transnational recycled plastics supply chain".
Solving the pain point that "high-end home appliances cannot use recycled materials".
In the past, the use of recycled plastic in consumer electronics has often faced two major challenges:
• Unstable quality:Impurities in recycled materials are difficult to control, making them unsuitable for products with high appearance requirements.
• Insufficient physical properties:High-end audio-visual products often need to have high flame retardancy or specific acoustic and optical properties, but traditional recycled materials are difficult to meet these standards.
The core objective of this collaboration is to break down this limitation. Through this new supply chain, Sony hopes to create high-performance recycled plastics that are "comparable in quality to virgin materials" and use them in its high-end televisions, audio equipment, and cameras.
Introducing the "Quality Balance Method" and Supply Chain Visualization
To ensure quality and environmental benefits, these 14 companies will adopt the "Mass Balance Approach." Simply put, this involves mixing "biomass raw materials" (such as waste cooking oil and vegetable oil) or "chemically recycled raw materials" with traditional petroleum raw materials during the production process, and then using a certification system to "allocate" the proportion of environmentally friendly materials to the final product.
At the same time, all parties will establish a "supply chain visualization model". From the upstream raw material refining and midstream polymerization processing to the downstream mold forming, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data of each link will be transparent and verifiable, allowing Sony to accurately calculate the carbon footprint of its products.
Taiwanese manufacturers play a key role
Taiwanese manufacturers were not absent from this list of 14 companies seeking cooperation.
• Upstream raw materials:Renewable feedstocks (such as biomass naphtha) are supplied by companies like Neste.
• Midstream processing:Raw material processing is carried out by major Japanese and South Korean companies, including Idemitsu Kosan, Mitsui Chemicals, ENEOS, and SK Geocentric.
• Materials production:Chi Mei Corporation and Formosa Chemicals & Fibers of Taiwan play a key role in the subsequent material polymerization and fiberization stages, transforming these raw materials into high-quality plastic pellets or fibers.
Analysis of viewpoints
This collaboration reflects a significant shift in the ESG trend: from "doing it is good enough" to "high quality and traceability".
In the past, many brands would mix small amounts of recycled materials (PCR) into their products to claim environmental friendliness, but this was often only used in remote controls or internal parts because the appearance and texture were simply not good. Sony's ambition this time is to ensure that flagship soundbars or BRAVIA TVs that sell for tens of thousands of dollars can still maintain a high-end feel even with environmentally friendly materials used in their casings.
Of particular note is the participation of Taiwanese manufacturers. Chi Mei Corporation has focused heavily on recycling technologies for optical-grade light guide plates and high-performance plastics in recent years, while the Formosa Plastics Group is also actively transforming and promoting green manufacturing processes. Being able to enter Sony's multinational supply chain, which emphasizes "ultimate quality," represents that Taiwanese chemical material manufacturers' technical strength in "high-end recycled materials" has been recognized by leading international manufacturers.
For consumers, buying new Sony products in the future might bring less guilt and more appreciation for the materials and craftsmanship—of course, hopefully this won't become a reason for price increases.
