Rakuten Achieves Carbon Neutrality Group-wide in 2023

Tokyo, May 31, 2024 - Rakuten Group, Inc. today announced it achieved carbon neutrality, or net-zero greenhouse gas emissions^*1, from Rakuten Group business operations, including all consolidated subsidiaries, in 2023. To commemorate the achievement, the company launched the Rakuten Green Empowerment website, introducing ways for Rakuten members to live a more environmentally conscious lifestyle through the Rakuten Group’s services.

As a global technology company offering services to 1.8 billion members worldwide through more than 70 businesses, Rakuten is committed to fulfilling its responsibility to the environment. To achieve carbon neutrality, the company implemented a comprehensive strategy of energy efficiency activities and renewable energy adoption at each Group company^*2, which includes:

• Establishing a system of rules for central control of air conditioning temperature and operating hours in its Tokyo head office, Rakuten Crimson House, and the Rakuten Card branch office in Fukuoka to improve energy efficiency.
• Optimizing the cooling efficiency of its data center servers by adjusting server racks to improve airflow.
• Transitioning to 100% renewable energy for the Rakuten Eagles, Vissel Kobe, select FinTech Group companies, Rakuten France and other subsidiaries^*3, driving adoption of renewable energy throughout the Group.
• Installing solar power facilities at its Rakuten Crimson House West office in San Mateo, California, in addition to Rakuten’s fulfillment center in Matsudo City in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

For remaining emissions that could not be eliminated through these measures, the company invested in carbon offset projects^*4.

Rakuten joined the international RE100 initiative^*5 in December 2019, and in 2021 the company realized 100% renewable energy adoption for electricity used in Rakuten Group, Inc. business operations. Following this, in April 2022, the company launched the Go Green Together project to promote environmentally conscious living via lifestyle and shopping options to customers. Over 1.1 million people have joined the project as of May 2024 and the initiative has raised over 5.3 million yen for WWF Japan’s environmental conservation initiatives. In September 2022, Rakuten announced its goal of achieving carbon neutrality Group-wide in 2023^*6, including consolidated subsidiaries, and this achievement was officially verified by Ernst & Young today.

Going forward, Rakuten Group is currently preparing to set new emissions reduction targets including scope 3 emissions and have them validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a climate action organization enabling emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement goals. With its mission to contribute to society by creating value through innovation and entrepreneurship, Rakuten will continue to work together with its customers, partners, communities, employees and all its stakeholders to realize a sustainable society.

Notes
*1 Total of scope 1 emissions (direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the company itself) and market-based 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 Rakuten Group, Inc. and consolidated subsidiaries
*3 Select companies used the FIT Non-Fossil Certificate, which certifies the renewable energy attributes of electricity used, to effectively achieve 100% renewable energy usage.
*4 Carbon offsets were used for scope 1 emissions, totaling 2,991 tons of CO2, which accounted for 0.9% of the Rakuten Group's total greenhouse gas emissions from business operations when calculating scope 1 emissions + location-based scope 2 emissions. (Market-based scope 2 emissions totaled 0 tons.)
*5 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.
*6 Press release: Rakuten Announces Goal to Achieve Carbon Neutrality in 2023 https://global.rakuten.com/corp/news/press/2022/0928_01.html

*Company, product and service names appearing in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies.

About Rakuten Green Empowerment
Official site: https://corp.rakuten.co.jp/event/green-emp/
Launch date: May 31, 2024
Overview: Rakuten Green Empowerment introduces Rakuten Group's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality and opportunities for users to reduce their environmental impact through the use of Rakuten services.

About the Go Green Together Project
Official site: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/event/gogreen/
Launch date: April 22, 2022
Overview: The Go Green Together Project aims to raise awareness of environmental issues and sustainable consumption through Rakuten’s services and other consumer touchpoints, helping shape a sustainable society that is environmentally, socially and economically conscious.