Environmental Initiatives
We, Sony Financial Group, recognize environmental conservation as one of the top priorities common to humankind. We determine “Sony Financial Group Environmental Policy” and carry out environmental initiatives through our day-to-day activities.
Sony Financial Group Environmental Policy (Operation Commencement Date: April 1, 2022）（PDF215KB）
Reducing CO2 Emissions by Switching to Paperless Contract Procedures and Electronic Issuance of Documents
Sony Financial Group has been striving to conserve paper resources and cut down on CO2 emissions related to postal mailings by shifting to paperless documentation for certain contract procedures and transactions.
Sony Life has adopted paperless approach across the whole contract process from buying policies through undergoing post-contract procedures and filing insurance/benefit claims. The company has also created a special website on which customers can view pamphlets and other documents, thus significantly reducing CO2 emissions and use of paper associated with mailing of printed documentation. By adopting remote interviews and processes, Sony Life contributes to reducing employees’ transport-related CO2 emissions when visiting customers. In the office, the company has adopted electronic workflow software to reduce paper use by stopping paper-based document circulation, signature seals, and storage.
Sony Assurance has made it possible to apply for automobile insurance policies, fire insurance policies, medical insurance policies and overseas travel insurance policies online, thereby avoiding the need for printing and mailing of insurance application forms and other documents. Also of note, Sony Assurance promotes reduction in the use of paper resources, exemplified by a “paperless insurance certificate discount” of up to ¥500 on automobile and fire insurance premiums when customers who buy a policy online opt not to have certificates of insurance and other documents printed and mailed.
As an Internet bank, Sony Bank promotes paperless transactions by principally providing information on web pages and using electronic document delivery for delivering transaction slips, passbooks, explanations of products and delivery of forms to customers. In addition, if a customer submits documents related to an official screening for a mortgage by uploading them, Sony Bank donates 50 yen per application to World Wide Fund for Nature Japan (WWF Japan), thereby working with its customers on environmental initiatives and in reducing the use of paper resources.
Initiatives for the “One Blue Ocean Project”
Sony Financial Group participates in the “One Blue Ocean Project,” a project involving the whole Sony Group to continually address the issue of ocean plastics pollution, and is engaged in the following activities.
Usage reduction
・ Reduce or eliminate the use of disposable plastics at automatic vending machines and meeting rooms on the company premises
・ Reduce the use of plastic products in offices, and actively use recycled materials
Collection and cleaning
・Clean-up activities at rivers, coastlines and in the community
Donating to the Sorabear Foundation
Solar panels donated by Sony Assurance
Automobile insurance, one of Sony Assurance's mainstay products, supports the automotive lifestyles of its customers. While automobiles add affluence and convenience to our lives, exhaust gases emitted while driving are a cause of global warming. For this reason, Sony Assurance considers promoting initiatives to prevent global warming, even a little, is its social responsibility. Teaming up with the Sorabear Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes the spread of renewable energies and environmental education, Sony Assurance has carried out a program to install solar power generators at kindergartens since 2009, donating solar panels to kindergartens, nursery schools, and child centers nationwide as well as holding events.
Since 2010, Sony Life has also participated in the activities of the Sorabear Foundation, making donations equivalent to some printing expenses, etc., which has been reduced with the introduction of the CD-ROM version (2010~2020) and the website version (since 2017) of "guidebook/policy conditions of insurance contracts."