Environmental Standards & Policies
Find out how which practices and regulations Sharp adheres to manage their environmental impact.
Sharp first crafted its Environmental Policy in 1992 of “Creating an Environmentally Conscious Company with Sincerity and Creativity,” and has been upholding environmental responsibility for a long time. In 2019, Sharp unveiled the SHARP Eco Vision 2050, aligning with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal. Sharp follows global standards like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), adheres to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, and ISO26000.
RoHS
RoHS – Restriction on Hazardous Substances - is an EU directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Suppliers must also submit analysis data on the 10 substances regulated under the EU RoHS Directive* (lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBB, PBDE, DEHP, BBP, DBP, and DIBP) for confirmation of compliance with the regulatory requirements.
SCIP
Sharp has also been registered with the SCIP (Substances of Concern in Products) database since January 2021. SCIP is one of the EU’s measures aimed at building a circular economy.
Managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that stores information on substances of concern in products. The database was established under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) of the European Union (EU). The database's goals are to:
• Reduce waste containing hazardous substances
• Increase transparency into product composition
• Monitor the use of substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in articles
RBA
Sharp joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) in December 2021. This alliance of companies pursues social, environmental, and ethical responsibility across global supply chains. Its members (and their Tier 1 suppliers) adhere to a stringent Code of Conduct and its vision and mission are applied throughout the entire Sharp Group.
New Alliances and Environmental Initiatives
Sharp is joining new environmental initiatives, including the 30by30 Alliance, which is dedicated to biodiversity conservation. In addition, Sharp is intensifying its collaboration with existing networks, such as the TCFD and the GX League, to further enhance the disclosure of climate-related risks. Sharp has also joined the international initiative "RE100" (Renewable Energy 100), which aims to utilize 100% renewable energy in its operations with the aim to achieve 100% renewable energy use for its business activities by 2030.
TCFD
In August 2022, we declared our support for the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) recommendations. We are expanding and improving the disclosure of information related to climate change, in accordance with the framework set by the TCFD.
PSTI
The UK Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 came into force on 29 April 2024, affecting ALL manufacturers, integrators, distributors and importers of network connected devices.
The PSTI Act introduces new regulatory requirements for all connected products. The legislation aims to improve the security of internet-connected devices in the UK by setting minimum security standards for manufacturers. The law applies to all new and existing products that have not yet been sold to consumers.
- Protects citizens, networks, and infrastructure from cyber threats
- Supports the rollout of 5G and gigabit-capable broadband networks
- Improves the UK's resilience to cyber-attacks
Safety Data Sheets
A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) describes the properties of a chemical substance as well as emergency measures for dealing with that chemical—or a product containing that chemical—in the event of an accident. This helps to ensure that the chemical's properties are correctly understood and that products containing that chemical can be used safely.
Recycling - Directives & Initiatives
We encourage recycling and reuse throughout our supply chains because we believe in minimising the harmful environmental effects of waste and promoting the benefits of a circular economy.
EU WEEE
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) encourages the recycling and reuse of your waste to minimise the harmful effect these products have on the environment.
Each manufacturer is responsible for collecting and recycling products shipped within the EU. Each Sharp European sales base (Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Poland, Hungary, Austria) collaborates with reputable recycling entities in the EU sales region to meet this requirement. Efforts are also made to reduce the volume of landfill waste by taking into account regulations governing packaging materials and batteries.
Packaging Regulation
For the purposes of identifying and classifying packaging, producers are required to indicate the nature of the packaging materials used.
For example, most of the desktop displays conform to the TCO Display standard, which has significant requirements on ease of dismantling, material coding of plastics, limited variety of plastics. For Displays we have an on-going program to reduce the quantity of packaging materials and carton collaterals, whilst maintaining effective transport safety.
Energy Efficiency
Our products are energy efficient by design and comply with EU directives and legislation, with features and benefits such as sleep mode and reduced power consumption recognised by various prominent eco labels.
Blue Angel
There are various eco-labels that highlight the different levels of environmental awareness of a product. The Blue Angel is a recognition of environmentally friendly products that meets several criteria. This includes reduced energy consumption, low chemical, lower noise emission levels and an environmentally friendly product design.
The requirements for receiving an environmental seal are very high. A number of Sharp MFP- products are certified with Blue Angel eco-label in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, France and Italy.
Energy Labelling of Products
Audio Visual equipment such as desktop displays and digital signage displays, will be labelled on an energy efficiency scale that ranges from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The new labels will also show the efficiency of a product when it shows content in HDR, as it can consume twice as much energy as other settings.
ISO Certifications
ISO 14001 is an internationally agreed standard that sets out the requirements for an environmental management system. It helps organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste.
All our factories and most of our offices comply with the ISO 14001 standard; a framework that specifies the requirements for environmental management systems. (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Italy, Spain)
ISO 45001 is a management system for managing occupational health and safety risks and improving occupational health and safety. (Sweden)
ISO 9001 is a management system that is based on a number of basic requirements to improve quality work within our own operations. We start from the customers' needs and review the internal working methods. (Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Italy)
ISO 27001 is an information security management system. (Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Spain)