Rakuten : Announces Goal to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in 2023

September 28, 2022

• Rakuten Group, Inc.

Rakuten Announces Goal to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in 2023

- Toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from Rakuten Group business operations.

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Tokyo, September 28, 2022 - Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced its goal of achieving carbon neutrality, or net-zero greenhouse gas emissions^*1, from Rakuten Group business operations, including consolidated subsidiaries, in 2023.

Rakuten has already put significant effort into adopting and expanding the use of renewable energy. The company joined the international RE100 initiative^*2 in December 2019, and in 2021, realized 100% renewable energy adoption^*3 for electricity used in Rakuten Group, Inc. business operations, and achieved an overall renewable energy rate of 20.6% for the Group ­including consolidated subsidiaries. Furthermore, in 2022, Rakuten completed the transition to 100% renewable energy for electricity used in its business operations at the each sports stadiums managed by Group companies Rakuten Baseball, Inc. and Rakuten Vissel Kobe, Inc.

Rakuten will further improve the efficiency of energy use and promote the transition to renewable energy in order to achieve carbon neutrality in 2023. An initial priority will be energy transition for facilities owned by the company and facilities where Rakuten Group has direct power contracts. From 2023, it plans to gradually expand the number of Rakuten Mobile mobile network base stations that receive electricity from solar powered-generated renewable energy sources by utilizing off-site PPA^*4. Plans also include the operation of distribution warehouses equipped with solar panels. In addition to these efforts, Rakuten will also work to continue steadily reducing greenhouse gas emissions at its offices and data centers.

• Scope 1+2 greenhouse gas emissions volume across Rakuten Group, including consolidated subsidiaries in 2021 (left), and steps toward reducing emissions.

Additionally, Rakuten will work alongside its partners to strengthen initiatives that support the realization of a decarbonized society by providing eco-friendly lifestyle and shopping options to consumers through the Group's diverse portfolio of services. Rakuten will also work to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions from its supply-chains^*5.

*1 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.
*2 Abbreviation for "Renewable Electricity 100%." An international collaborative initiative managed by international environment NGO The Climate Group in partnership with the NGO CDP, which promotes the disclosure of climate change information.
*3 Realized 100% transition to renewable energy, using the FIT Non-Fossil Certificate that certifies the renewable energy attributes of electric power.
*4 Power Purchase Agreement: A mechanism in which the power generator sets up dedicated renewable energy generation facilities for electricity users in remote locations, and transmits the power generated to facilities requiring power via transmission and distribution networks over a long period of time. For details, please refer to theRakuten Mobile press release.
*5 Scope 3 emissions (indirect emissions other than Scope 1 and Scope 2) with third-party verification obtained and estimated in accordance with the GHG Protocol, as in *1.