Sony Ericsson has announced today that it plans to achieve reductions in CO2 emissions of around 20 percent across the entire company by 2015. In addition, the mobile phone maker also intends to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent on the entire life cycle of its products (including mining, production or consumer usage) by 2015.

The first step in achieving these goals was made through the launch of new GreenHeart pioneer products, including two pioneer mobile phones, C901 GreenHeart and Naite, and green headset, the MH300. Other products will be added to the company's portfolio in the near future, allowing it to reduce the environmental impact of its offering.

The C901 GreenHeart and Naite have been developed based on the company's ‘green core,’ the result of eliminating hazardous chemicals from its devices. In addition, the new phones come with an e-manual to reduce paper usage, a smaller packaging, 80 percent reduced CO2 emissions from transportation, recycled plastics and a low-consumption charger.

“Since the start of the joint venture in 2001, Sony Ericsson has strived to exceed industry standards in the removal of harmful substances and energy efficient chargers. We have implemented a full life cycle approach to sustainability in order to build phones with a green core as well as reducing CO² emissions from the product in use and ensuring sustainable end-of-life treatment.” said Dick Komiyama, president, Sony Ericsson. ”Today’s announcement on emission reduction targets and the new GreenHeart™ pioneer products is the next step in building a more sustainable business and a key pillar in our invigorated product portfolio strategy.”

At the same time, the company has also announced that it will increase the volume of phones it collects through the global TakeBack initiative, and that it aims at gathering no less than 1 million handsets every year from its own system starting with 2011, while also providing more locations and information about the TakeBack initiative.

“Information and communications technologies can have a major role to play in delivering a low carbon world,” states Peter Madden, chief executive, Forum for the Future. “ We’re really pleased to be working with one of the leading manufacturers – Sony Ericsson – as they commit to making the carbon reductions necessary to avoid climate change and ensure their business can prosper in the low carbon economy of the future.”