Climate Change

Risk Management

Climate-related risks are identified, assessed, and managed as part of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Rakuten Group’s risk management framework, by the Environmental Management Promotion Department.
For more details on Rakuten’s ERM, visit the Risk Management page.

Metrics and Targets

To manage the risks and opportunities posed by climate change to our company, we are pro-actively managing environmental impact data, including greenhouse gas Scope 1 emissions (direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the company itself), Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions accompanying the use of heat, steam, and electricity supplied by other companies), and Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions other than Scope 1 and Scope 2).
Data for each metric is updated in the ESG Databook around June every year.

As a step towards realizing a decarbonized society, the Rakuten Group achieved carbon neutrality, or net-zero*¹ greenhouse gas emissions*², from all Group business operations, including consolidated subsidiaries, in 2023. Please see our press releasefor more information.

Starting in 2024, Rakuten Group's greenhouse gas emission reduction targets are outlined in the table below. These targets have been certified as Science Based Targets (SBT) by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi*³), which is an international climate change initiative. Please see our press releasefor more information.

*1 We promoted energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption groupwide for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offset remaining emissions by using carbon credits and investing in reduction activities
*2 Total of Scope 1 emissions (direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the company itself) and Scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions accompanying the use of heat, steam, and electricity supplied by other companies), with third-party verification obtained and estimated in accordance with the GHG Protocol, the international standard for estimating and reporting GHG emissions volume
*3 The SBTi is an international climate change initiative jointly established by the United Nations Global Compact, CDP (an international NGO tackling climate change and related issues), WRI (World Resources Institute), and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).

Rakuten’s Efforts

In Our Own Operations

Over 98% of Rakuten's energy usage is electricity, 95% of which is consumed in our mobile network, data centers and offices.

Improving the efficiency of our facilities' electricity usage and managing the sources of the electricity we use are the necessary first steps towards greener operations and minimizing our environmental impact. We promote various measures across the Group by raising our employees’ environmental awareness through e-learning courses and Asakai (weekly all-hands morning meetings).

• Mobile Network

  Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony demonstrated energy savings of up to 25% in 4G and 5G Open RAN test environments, utilizing RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) that manages and controls RAN using AI.
  This enables flexible configurations adjusted to network traffic patterns, leading to enhanced Open RAN performance and more efficient, energy-saving network operations.

  * Depends on traffic patterns and RIC application scope

• Data Centers

  At our domestic data centers, we cool down our servers efficiently by filling in the gap between the server racks with blanking panels and separating the hot air zones from the cold air zones. Without the panels, the hot air emitted from the servers can recirculate back to the server racks, making the fans work more to compensate for the increased temperature. This results in a negative loop of inefficient cooling, leading to higher energy consumption. By adding blanking panels and separating the air, we can ensure that the hot and cold air does not mix, raising the overall temperature. Blanking panels are one of the fundamental ways to ensure good airflow in our server rooms.

• Offices

  Some Rakuten offices are housed in green buildings. Our Japan headquarters, Rakuten Crimson House, is situated in the Futakotamagawa Rise complex, one of Japan's few LEED-Gold-certified* commercial facilities.
  We turn off monitors, lights, and electronic in-office appliances during non-working hours to conserve energy and avoid standby power. One of Rakuten Card's offices in Fukuoka prefecture introduced a rule for in-office temperature settings. We believe that even small steps are essential for progress toward a brighter future.

  * "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" - A framework established by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council, providing ratings for the world's greenest buildings.

• Sports Facilities

  We are promoting the use of LEDs to improve lighting energy efficiency at sports stadiums. Approximately 5,800 lights used for home games, events, and daily operations at Vissel Kobe’s Noevir Stadium, including the pitch lighting, various rooms, corridors, and concourses, have been converted to LEDs.

• On-site Power Generation

  At Rakuten Crimson House West, our branch office in California, we have installed rooftop solar panels with a total capacity of 92.4kW that have continuously provided part of the office's electricity needs since mid-2020.
  The Rakuten Fulfillment Center Matsudo in Japan has over 4,300 solar panels installed, making it the first Rakuten Group warehouse with solar panels.

Overall Value Chain

• Engaging Users

  Creating a greener future requires community efforts that go beyond Scope 1 and Scope 2. Companies must provide environmentally responsible options and encourage consumers to choose those in their daily lives.
  In 2022, Rakuten launched the "Go Green Together" project, aiming to realize a sustainable society by providing users with more environmentally responsible lifestyle choices through the various Group services. The "Go Green Together" website provides practical tips and content for tackling climate change and other environmental problems.
  In May 2024, we also launched the “Rakuten Green Empowerment” website in Japanese, which introduces users to how they can reduce their environmental impact by using Rakuten services.

  

• Product Delivery Options

  The "last-mile" journey is a critical step in the package delivery process, as e-commerce has become a primary means of shopping in consumers' daily lives. Product re-deliveries carry significant environmental costs as they result in increased carbon emissions compared to when the delivery is completed on the first attempt. In Japan, re-deliveries are estimated to generate additional CO2 emissions of approximately 254,000 tons* per year. Rakuten is working with couriers and customers to improve delivery efficiency. For example, Rakuten Ichiba offers customers several alternative delivery options; customers can pick up their packages at the closest convenience store, post office, or HAKO POST locker. Customers can also select their preferred delivery date and time to ensure they are home to receive their packages.

  * Data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Partnerships & Initiatives

Rakuten participates in both domestic and international partnerships and initiatives to collaborate with stakeholders on achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and tackling climate change.
The Environmental Management Promotion Department regularly reviews and monitors Rakuten’s participation in these partnerships and initiatives to ensure that they are consistent with our environmental policy/initiatives and the Paris Agreement. The alignment assessment result is reported in accordance with the management system. In case of misalignment, we will further investigate to consider whether we should remain in or withdraw from the organization.

• RE100

  

  Rakuten Group, Inc. joined the international initiative RE100 in December 2019. We committed to switching to 100% renewably sourced electricity through the initiative for all Rakuten Group, Inc. business operations. In FY2023, we successfully achieved adopting 100% renewable electricity for all Group operations.

• TCFD

  

  We officially supported the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in December 2019 to adopt TCFD's recommendations in our risk mitigation strategies. We consider a range of scenarios and map out the risks across our businesses.

• Japan Climate Initiative

  

  The Japan Climate Initiative (JCI) is a network of Japanese private organizations actively engaged in climate action. We joined JCI in December 2019, pledging to stand at the forefront of society’s decarbonization as envisioned in the Paris Agreement.

• CDP

  

  CDP is widely recognized as the global standard for climate-related information disclosure, with over 23,000 respondents worldwide. We have been responding to the CDP Climate Change survey since 2017.
  See our response to CDP.

• JANE: Carbon Neutral Working Group

  

  Ever since the foundation by Rakuten’s CEO, the company has been an active member of the carbon-neutral working group of JANE, the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE).
  JANE is a trade association, and its working group provides opportunities for dialogue and information-sharing among JANE's member companies. Rakuten holds regular study sessions and makes policy proposals incorporating other member companies' voices.

• Decokatsu

  

  “Decokatsu” is a “National Movement for New and Prosperous Lifestyles toward Decarbonization” led by the Ministry of the Environment to realize 2030 emission reduction targets and carbon neutrality in 2050. Rakuten made its “decokatsu declaration” in August 2023. As a “Positive Action Initiative”, Rakuten is working on the level design of environmental actions, creating standards for CO2 reduction impacts, and visualization of environmental actions and CO2 reductions for individual consumers and the nation as a whole.