On July 23, 2019, we became the first educational institution in Japan to express its support for the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

We endorse the Task Force on Natural Capital and Biodiversity Financial Disclosures (TNFD), which calls for the disclosure of business opportunities and risks from the perspective of natural capital and biodiversity, and we participate in the TNFD Forum, which was established to help supporting companies build a framework for risk management and disclosure regarding natural capital.

As an organization intending to promote disclosure in line with the TNFD recommendations, we have registered as a "TNFD Early Adopter" on the TNFD website. You can check our registration status below.

Benesse Corporation received SBT certification from the Science Based Targets (SBT) Initiative in May 2021, after its greenhouse gas emission targets for 2030 and 2050 were recognized as scientifically based targets that contribute to the Paris Agreement's goal of "keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and limiting it to less than 1.5°C."
Furthermore, the targets for Scope 1 and 2 have been updated to "1.5°C" and have been recertified by the SBTi. The target for Scope 3 has been set at 2°C.
Using 2018 as the base year, we have set the following reduction targets:

• Scope 1 & 2: 52.8% reduction by 2030, 100% reduction by 2041, and 100% reduction by 2050.
• Scope 3: 14.8% reduction by 2030, 39.4% reduction by 2050.

Benesse Corporation, as part of its voluntary efforts to realize sustainable logistics, endorses the "White Logistics" promotion movement advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and has submitted a declaration of voluntary action to the "White Logistics" promotion movement secretariat. For more details, please see below.

Benesse Corporation supports the "Deco-katsu" initiative, which aims to strongly encourage behavioral and lifestyle changes among citizens and consumers in order to achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality and 2030 reduction targets promoted by the Ministry of the Environment. In addition to energy and resource conservation within the company, Benesse is also promoting environmental education for its employees and staff, as well as providing environmental education and information tailored to the developmental stages of children.

On April 10, 2024, Benesse Corporation was newly certified as an "Eco-First Company" under the Ministry of the Environment's "Eco-First Company System."
The Eco-First system is a system in which companies make commitments to the Minister of the Environment regarding their own environmental conservation efforts, such as measures against global warming and waste management and recycling. The Minister of the Environment then certifies these companies as "Eco-First companies" if they are conducting "advanced, unique, and industry-leading business activities" in the environmental field (environmentally advanced companies in the industry).
For more details, please see below.

Benesse Corporation supports JCI's declaration to "participate from Japan in the world's forefront of decarbonization," and endorses the "JCI Message: Japan also adopts ambitious 2030 targets to realize the Paris Agreement," announced on April 19, 2021. Within the company, in order to leave a beautiful global environment for future generations, we support the Paris Agreement and the Japanese government's decarbonization policies, comply with national climate change-related laws and regulations such as the Act on Rationalization of Energy Use (Energy Conservation Act) and the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures, and conduct environmental activities such as submitting annual reports to the government on energy consumption, achievement of energy conservation targets, and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, in line with the organization's activities, Benesse Corporation raised its Scope 1 and 2 targets to 1.5°C (as of the end of December 2021), continues reduction activities toward achieving the target, and has set a renewable energy introduction ratio target of 100% for the fiscal year ending March 2041. With the aim of decarbonization, we actively participate in the organization's seminars and study sessions, reflecting the information gained in our own initiatives, and considering the use of advanced case studies and technologies from member companies, local governments, organizations, and NGOs. Our activities, including these, can be viewed on the JCI website.
We will continue to work with all stakeholders who are members of JCI to actively make policy recommendations toward realizing a decarbonized society.

Since March 2021, we have endorsed "The Valuable 500," an international initiative promoting the inclusive social participation of people with disabilities. Under our Sustainability Vision, the Benesse Group is working towards creating a society in which people with disabilities can participate in and thrive in social activities, as advocated by "The Valuable 500."