Rakuten achieves carbon neutrality across all subsidiaries

It implemented energy efficiency measures and adopting renewable energy across its subsidiaries. 

Rakuten Group, Inc. has announced its achievement of carbon neutrality across its business operations and all consolidated subsidiaries in 2023.

To mark this milestone, Rakuten unveiled the Rakuten Green Empowerment website, offering guidance for its 1.8 billion global members on adopting environmentally conscious lifestyles through Rakuten'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," the group said in a statement.

The company reached carbon neutrality by implementing energy efficiency measures and adopting renewable energy across its subsidiaries. 

Key strategies include establishing central control systems for air conditioning temperature and operating hours at Tokyo's Rakuten Crimson House and Fukuoka's Rakuten Card branch to enhance energy efficiency, improving cooling efficiency by adjusting server racks for better airflow in data centers, and shifting to 100% renewable energy for Rakuten Eagles, Vissel Kobe, select FinTech companies, Rakuten France, and other subsidiaries.

Additionally, the group also installed solar power facilities at Rakuten Crimson House West in San Mateo, California, and the fulfillment center in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. 

To offset any remaining emissions, Rakuten invested in carbon offset projects. 

Since joining the international RE100 initiative in December 2019, Rakuten has made significant strides, achieving 100% renewable energy for its business operations by 2021. 

In April 2022, Rakuten launched the Go Green Together project to promote sustainable living through lifestyle and shopping options, engaging over 1.1 million participants and raising over 5.3m yen for WWF Japan's conservation efforts by May 2024. 

Ernst & Young officially verified Rakuten's carbon neutrality achievement on 31 May, following the company's September 2022 announcement of its goal to achieve group-wide carbon neutrality by 2023. 

Looking ahead, Rakuten is preparing to set new emissions reduction targets, including scope 3 emissions, to be validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative.