Released in November 2020, Sony's latest video game console, the PlayStation 5, is causing a stir in the gaming world. Highly anticipated, the game console is subject to shortages on store shelves. But the Japanese manufacturer was keen to highlight a completely different feature of its new product: the packaging.
"Today, we want to tell you more about our progress at Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and why the new PlayStation 5 console packaging might be different from the previous PlayStation," said K ieren Mayers, director of environment and technical compliance, in a statement.
Although "we know that there is still work to be done," "the materials used for the PS5 console and accessory packaging are designed to be fully recyclable. The PS5 packaging per unit is overall 93-99% plastic free by weight (depending on the product)." he explains.
To achieve this, Sony has implemented a number of improvements. It avoided expanded polystyrene or plastic trays by replacing them with cardboard inserts and pulp cushion supports. He has also swapped plastic cable ties for paper ones. Where possible, the plastic protective bags used for cables and instruction manuals are being eliminated. The windowed packaging of PS5 accessories is substituted with closed cardboard boxes. Sony also preferred foldable hanging clips rather than glued to the outer packaging.
And this year, Sony will test the inclusion of recycled polypropylene from post-industrial waste in physical game cases in the European market.
Since 2010, the Japanese firm has been committed to achieving a zero environmental footprint by 2050 in all stages of the life cycle of its products and business operations. To achieve this, Sony plans to eliminate the use of plastic in packaging for newly designed small products by 2025 and reduce the amount of plastic packaging by 10% for other products.
Sony also points out that over the past 50 years, the use of plastic in the world has increased twenty-fold, while recycling rates are about 9% (according to Sony One Blue Ocean Project).
