Sony's Green Initiative

The Japanese market is the first in the world to actually be manufacturing lead-free assemblies. The Japanese Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEMs) lead-free initiatives are more mature than any other segment of the electronics industry. Sony and other key Japanese OEMs have technology roadmaps committing themselves to lead-free processing.

The Sony initiative is designed to phase out materials containing certain materials classified as hazardous. Littelfuse is working with Sony and other vendors to meet the requirements of the Sony initiative.

Sony Products Covered

• Sony products that are designed, manufactured, sold or distributed by the Sony group.
• Sony products being sold or distributed with the Sony group's logos on them, whose design and production are subcontracted to third parties.
• Third parties' products whose design and production are subcontracted to the Sony group (except when the parts and materials are specified by the third parties).

Compounds Covered (Relative to Electronic Components)

• Cadmium and cadmium compounds
• Lead and lead compounds
• Mercury and mercury compounds
• Hexavalent chromium compounds

Sony's Time Frame for Elimination of Substances

In most cases, with some exceptions, affected products must be considered free from the above substances by January 1st 2005 to meet Sony's requirements.