Sony Going Green With Blu-ray, DVD Packaging

All future Blu-ray and DVD titles from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will be sold in more sustainable packaging.

Sony has pledged to reduce carbon emissions associated with its DVD manufacturing by 2 million pounds in North America by 2010.

The packaging, which uses less plastic and more recycled paper, makes its debut in the Blu-ray release of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.”

Sony worked with Asheville, NC-based environmental non-profit Dogwood Alliance to review its packaging. The Southern U.S. produces 25 percent of the world’s virgin paper, the release stated.

Sony is not the first DVD manufacturer to adopt more sustainable packaging.

In March 2008, independent film studio LionsGate adopted green DVD packaging.

And April Third Studios offset the entire carbon footprint of its DVD, Elusion.

Going forward, all single-disc Sony standard definition DVDs will use paper made from 30 percent post-consumer waste, according to a press release. Previously, the firm used 100 percent virgin paper.

Ultra-light discs will contain 20 percent less plastic and will be covered with plastic shrinkwrap that is 20 percent lighter.