Company Profiles

Sharp

Japan

With a campaign titled "Let's Go Ecology Class with Sharp," this consumer and industrial electronics company demonstrates its focus on products with superior environmental performance. Sharp's "Super Green" technologies and green products, like solar cells, exhibit energy efficiency, resource efficiency and ease of recycling. Sharp is the world's largest producer of solar cells and has been for five years running. President Katsuhiko Machida's two primary goals for Sharp are expanding its solar cell and LCD (energy-efficient displays) businesses. The company is also one of just a few industry leaders to support a national solution to e-waste in the U.S. and was actively involved in the development of several model systems to encourage design-for-environment throughout the industry. On a local level, Sharp has also been an active supporter of legislation, including Oregon's SB740, which attaches an advance recycling fee to certain electronics to support reuse and recycling throughout Oregon. Portfolio 21 commends Sharp for its work to reduce its release of chemical substances but also encourages the company to provide more information about specific efforts to eliminate and/or phase out identified chemicals.

To the best of our knowledge the above information is accurate and was obtained from sources we believe to be reliable. Neither the information presented above nor any opinion expressed shall be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy the security. The views expressed are those of portfolio management as of 1/31/07 and may not reflect current opinions or subsequent events.