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Environment

Our Response to Climate Change

Our Response to Climate Change

The Benesse Group aims to contribute towards the goals of all SDGs by working on the 4th SDG: education. For our environmental initiatives, we offer environmental educational services that match children's developmental stage, promoting action towards understanding and taking measures against climate change. The Benesse Group has also established goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for 2030 and 2050 to work towards decarbonization and is advancing plans to transition to decarbonization.

TCFD logoIn 2019, Benesse Group became the first education provider in Japan to express its endorsement of the TCFD's recommendations. We are conducting scenario analysis for our domestic education business in line with the TCFD recommendations and deepening our analysis of the impact of climate change risks and opportunities on our business. in April 2022, our main subsidiary, Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, also disclosed information based on the TCFD recommendations.
Benesse is involved in the following activities to leave behind a beautiful global environment for the children of the future.

Please see below for more information on disclosure in line with the TCFD

Action Plans

Based on our Group Environmental Policy, the Benesse Group promotes an understanding of and measures against climate change through environmental education and transition plans for decarbonization in companies.

Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Governance

Benesse advances initiatives for climate change, sustainability, and ESGs through the following framework.

●Representative Director and President, CEO of Benesse Holdings:
Chief executive for climate change and other ESGs
●Sustainability Promotion Committee:
The Committee is chaired by the Executive Vice President in charge of Sustainability and consists of full-time directors, including the President, CEO, and the heads of business units, and discusses ways to enhance the Benesse Group's sustainability activities (the Committee meets several times a year or as needed depending on the agenda).
The activities of the Committee are supervised by the Board of Directors and matters discussed by the committee are regularly reported to and discussed by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.
In addition, outside directors, corporate auditors, and the chairperson's designee may participate as observers at each meeting.
Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

The Impacts of the Risks and Opportunities of Climate Change on Business

In the past, the Benesse Group has presented information related to climate change through its integrated reports and its customer data platform. The Group deepened its analysis of the effects of the risks and opportunities of climate change on its business after declaring its approval of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) in 2019, the first for an educational company in Japan. Analysis of the risks and opportunities that affect Benesse is conducted on two key points: probability of occurrence and level of influence.

Analytical Estimation of Risks and Opportunities

  • ●Trasition Risks:A negative impact on business activities is anticipated through sharp increases in the price of energy due to decarbonization, the influence of regulations related to educational materials delivered monthly, materials used in teaching equipment, and government measures for the environment. Further, it is anticipated that ethical consumption and green consumption will progress due to an increase in environmental awareness through changes in the market and there will be a reputation risk for plastic packaging and mail materials used in sending educational materials.
  • ●Physical Risks:A negative impact on business activities is anticipated as there may be an impact on our value chain through an increase in the occurrence of serious disasters and infectious diseases, leading to difficulties in stably delivering educational materials to our customers monthly.
  • ●Opportunities:It is anticipated that ethical consumption and green consumption will progress due to an increase in environmental awareness through changes in the market, and with that, corporate value will increase through the development of products and services through technological innovation in environmental functionality and digitization, initiatives to preserve the global environment, and the public release of the results of these activities.
Items that have a great impact on Benesse

Future Strategies and Initiatives

Benesse will advance the following strategies and initiatives in the future based on the results of our climate change-induced risk-opportunity analysis.

  • ●Trasition Risks:Alternative materials to reduce CO2 emissions, resource recycling initiatives (recycling), reduction of delivery costs by establishing digital teaching materials, reduction of GHG emissions through energy conservation and other office activities, setting targets for the introduction of renewable energy and promotion of initiatives, etc.
  • ●Physical Risks:Reduction in risks through the decentralization of production bases, securement of alternate means of transport, strengthening of flood control measures at logistics hubs, etc.
  • ●Opportunities:The promotion of new environmental education, and reflecting innovations in environmental technology, etc. ,on products, services, and marketing activities based on changes in consumers
Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Indicators and Results of Initiatives

Scope 1 (emissions from Benesse's own use of gas and other fuels) and Scope 2 (emissions from the use of electricity, heat, and steam at its own facilities) targets have been further increased from the previous targets. The "Well-Below 2°C level target,” which was certified by the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in May 2021, has been updated and re-certified to a "1.5°C" target. For Scope 3 (emissions from Benesse's value chain), we have also set reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, using 2018 as the baseline year, in line with the “2°C target.”

< Benesse Corporation >
● Target Reductions for Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3

Fiscal year ending March 31 of each year

  Every fiscal year* 2030* 2041 2050*
Reduction rate for Scope 1 and 2 using 2018 as the baseline year 4.4% 52.8% 100% 100%

* Reduction target has been certified by SBTi

[Date of revision September 29, 2022]

Fiscal year ending March 31 of each year

  Every fiscal year 2030 2050
Reduction rate of Scope 3 using 2018 as the baseline year 1.23% 14.8% 39.4%

2°C target certified by SBTi

● Renewable energy ratio target : 100% by 2041

< Benesse Group >
● Target Reduction for Scope 1 and 2

Fiscal year ending March 31 of each year

  2030 2041
Reduction rate for Scope 1 and 2 using 2022 as the baseline year 42.4% 100%
Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Reduction results

< Benesse Corporation >
● Actual Reductions for Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3

Fiscal year ended March 31 of each year

Units:t-CO2 Base year results Results Results
2018 2022 2023
Scopes1 120 75 73
Scopes2 7,477 4,502 2,989
Scopes3 220,450 189,981 161,356
Total of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 228,047 194,558 164,418
Scopes 1, 2, and 3
Specific unit results
(Unit sales basis t-CO2/thousand yen)
0.0013 0.0010 0.0009
YoY change   91.55% 87.03%

Date of revision October 23, 2023

Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Third-Party Assuarance

To improve the reliability of our CO2 emissions results, Benesse Corporation is undergoing third-party assuarance by Socotec Certification Japan K.K. The assuarance covers Scope 1 and Scope 2 as well as Scope 3, including Category 1 (purchased products and services), 2 (capital goods), 3 (fuel and energy activities *not included in Scope 1 and 2), 4 and 9 (transportation and distribution (upstream and downstream)), 5 (waste generated from operations), 6 (business trips), 7 (employees' commuting), 11 (use of sold products), and 12 (disposal of sold products). From 2022, in addition to GHG emissions, energy consumption, water consumption, and waste emissions will also be included in the assuarance.

Independent Assuarance Report

  • Independent Assurance Report1
  • Independent Assurance Report2

Click to open the PDF

Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Participation in Initiatives Against Climate Change

● Participation in the United Nations' Global Compact

Benesse officially declared its support for the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which is based on ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption, and in addition to signing the Compact in March 2010, Benesse also participates in the Global Compact Network Japan (GCNJ), a local network in Japan.

グローバルコンパクト

● Support for the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

In July 2019, Benesse expressed its agreement with the recommendations of The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), which was established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB). It was the first education business operator in Japan to do so.

TCFDロゴ

● Received certification from the SBT initiative for targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

The Benesse Corporation's greenhouse gas emission targets for 2030 and 2050 were certified by the SBT initiative based on scientific evidence to “keep the global average temperature increase well below 2°C and maintain it below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels ” under the Paris Agreement. We also received SBT certification from the Initiative in May 2021.
Additionally, the Scope 1 and 2 efforts have been increased to achieve the "1.5°C target" and re-certified as SBTi. For Scope 3, we have set a 2°C target.
Using 2018 as the baseline year, we have set the following reduction targets.

  • ・Scope 1 and 2: 52.8% reduction by 2030, 100% by 2041, 100% by 2050
  • ・Scope 3: 14.8% reduction in 2030, 39.4% reduction in 2050
SBTロゴ

● Endorsement of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's GX (Green Transformation) Basic Concept and participation in the GX League

Benesse Corporation endorses the GX Basic Concept, which is the result of discussions held by the "Study Group on Economic Methods to Achieve Carbon Neutrality Worldwide" (Chairman: Hiroshi Ohashi, Dean, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo), and participates in the GX League.

GX League Logo

● Endorsement of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "White Logistics" promotion campaign

Benesse Corporation endorses the aims of 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 as a voluntary activity to realize sustainable logistics, and has submitted a voluntary action declaration to the "White Logistics" promotion movement secretariat. For more details, please see the following.

“White Logistics” promotion movement Logo

● Endorsement of "Deco-Katsu," a National Movement for New and Prosperous Lifestyles toward Decarbonization

Benesse Holdings and Benesse Corporation support the "Deco-Katsu" program promoted by the Ministry of the Environment to strongly encourage behavioral and lifestyle changes among the public and consumers to achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality and 2030 reduction targets. In addition to our own energy and resource conservation efforts, we are also promoting environmental education for our employees and staff, as well as environmental education and environmental information tailored to the developmental stages of children.

Deco-Katsu, logo

● Participation in the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI)

Benesse Holdings supports JCI's declaration, "Joining the front line of the global push for decarbonization from Japan" and agrees with the JCI's Statement to Call for an Ambitious 2030 Target for Japan to Realize the Paris Agreement Goal which was announced on April 19, 2021. To ensure a beautiful global environment is preserved for the children of the future, we support the Paris Agreement and the Japanese government's decarbonization policies. We also comply with Japan's climate change laws, including the law related to the streamlining of energy usage (the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use) and the Act on Promotion of Global Warming Countermeasures. Following the climate change laws, the Group conducts environmental activities including the submission of annual reports to the government disclosing our energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and our progress in the achievement of energy conservation goals. Furthermore, we have raised the Scope 1 and 2 targets for Benesse Corporation, our main subsidiary, to achieve the “1.5°C target" (as of the end of December 2021) and are continuing reduction activities to achieve this goal. Simultaneously, we have set our target for the ratio of renewable energy to total installed capacity at 100% for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2041. To decarbonize, we actively participate in the organization's seminars and study groups, share the information we have obtained through our own efforts, and consider the use of the advanced techniques and technologies of member companies, local governments, organizations, and NGOs. The results of Benesse Holdings' activities can be found on the JCI's website【Japanese】.
Moving forward in collaboration with all the stakeholders who are members of JCI, we will work towards the realization of a decarbonizing society.

JCIロゴ
Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Response to and support of public regulation

Benesse Holdings supports laws, regulations, and policies related to climate change and energy use reduction (such as the Law Concerning the Promotion of Measures to Cope with Global Warming [the Global Warming Prevention Law] and the Law Concerning the Rational Use of Energy [the Energy Conservation Law] in Japan) at each of its business locations and takes appropriate measures to address these issues.

Benesse Corporation, a major subsidiary of Benesse Holdings, has expressed its support for the Japanese government's "GX League Basic Concept," a challenge by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry to quickly transition to a carbon neutral society, and is participating in the GX League activities. Benesse Corporation is participating in one of these activities in particular, the formulation of a vision for a carbon-neutral future society in 2050.

Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Main Initiatives

Initiatives with Products and Services

 ●  Promotion of digitalization of products and services

The Benesse Corporation has offered educational materials made from paper since the start of Shinkenzemi, but in 1999, the Shinken Seminar Challenge Net Course for 2nd Year Junior High School Students was launched online. Since then, we have offered digital educational materials to support the needs of each of our customers. With the currently offered Challenge Touch, we are contributing to improvements in learning and utilizing the characteristics of digital materials by offering effective repetitive learning necessary for the establishment of knowledge by repeatedly questioning the students on problems they got incorrect until they learn (resolution). In recent years, the ratio of students selecting digital educational materials has risen, leading to a reduction in the use of paper resources. As of April 2022, roughly 70% of the participants in the Elementary Course and the Middle School Course are taking the digital course. We are also contributing towards a reduction in term time and a reduction in CO2 emissions during transport due to the digitization of submission and return of the previously mail based Akapen Sensei no Mondai. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we prepared lots of online learning content that could be applied to at-home learning. We will continue to contribute towards a reduction in our environmental burden through our business while increasing learning effectiveness for children.

商品・サービスのデジタル化を推進
 ●  Only raw materials from properly managed forests are used
We also think about the environment when procuring raw materials.
We procure lumber for paper from forests that are certified to be suitably managed. Cardboard for product packaging is made only from used paper, as well. Of all the paper used, 99% or more paper is recycled paper or paper made with environmentally friendly bleach.
 ●  Introduction of Bio-based Raw Materials for Film Envelopes

Benesse Corporation has introduced plant-derived raw materials in the film envelopes used for direct mail in order to reduce the use of fossil-based materials. We have established our own standards, and the envelopes are marked with a mark on the right.

Logo of Biomass Film
 ●  Introduction of biomass mark-certified products in printing inks for product shipping envelopes

Benesse Corporation has introduced inks containing biologically derived resources (biomass) in the shipping envelopes for the products it delivers. When introducing these inks, the right mark is displayed in accordance with the regulations of the Japan Organics Recycling Association.

  • * Due to the different types of inks used, the biomass mark may vary from product to product
Biomass Usage Site Certification Mark

Office Activities

● Promoting floor activities, such as thorough waste separation and saving energy

We support the "Deco-Katsu" program promoted by the Ministry of the Environment, and are promoting the practice of Cool Biz and Warm Biz, detailed plans for air conditioning and water usage, and the switch to LED for lightning. We check to be sure rules are being followed and advertise for posters from employees' children, using these to encourage employees within the company.

廃棄物分別の徹底や節電などを徹底するフロア活動の推進
● Understanding the volume of copy paper used and reducing copy paper usage
We understand and manage the number of pages of copy paper used each month for each department on the number of sheets and price per person basis.
● Initiative to have zero CO2 emissions at general stockholder meetings
In cooperation with Okayama City's initiatives, Benesse Group offsets our CO2 emissions by creating and sending invitations to stockholders, transportation of stockholders and staff to the stockholder meetings, and lighting and air conditioning during the meetings.
カーボンオフセット証書
2023 Carbon Offset Certificate

Carbon offset certificates for the past financial years

See the following website for details of each of these initiatives.

● Participation in the Ministry of the Environment's Carbon Offset Demonstration Program
Benesse Holdings participated in the Ministry of the Environment's Carbon Offset Demonstration Program, offsetting 25t of CO2 from energy consumption at the main subsidiary of Benesse Corporation's Minamigata Headquarters.
カーボンオフセット証明書
Carbon Offset Certificate
● Implementing Tokyo Zero Carbon 4 Days in 2020 and participating cooperatively in the Carbon Offset Programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games

Before the opening of the 32nd Olympics Games (Tokyo, 2020) and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Benesse donated credits to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to offset greenhouse gas emissions from hosting the opening and closing ceremonies. These credits were offered through achieving a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that exceeded targets through office activities.

The Benesse Corporation produces a large number of products every year and delivers them to customers. For this reason, Benesse conducts consistent initiatives from the perspective of procurement and logistics to ensure that eco-friendly activities are carried out in all processes.

For example, when creating a brochure for educational materials, we take another look at product specifications with less waste and promote activities in cooperation with main departments in procurement and logistics and with on-site supervisors. This includes advancing the active procurement of environmentally friendly printing paper and reducing disposal by improving accuracy in determining the number of printed sets.
We consider the effects on the environment in cooperation with outside suppliers for each process, including re-evaluating assessments of environmental initiatives in production factories and effective shipping methods.

各工程における環境活動の例

Please visit the following website for details about initiatives carried out by the Benesse Logistics Center, where packing is handled.

● Initiatives towards an eco-friendly modal shift

We are working on a modal shift towards actively using freight railway transport with its low CO2 emissions for long distance transport (500 km or more) for products and services such as Kodomo Challenge and Shinkenzemi. Benesse was selected as a certified Eco Rail Mark company in March 2020 for using freight railway transport for about 60%+ of its long-distance transport.
A variety of things are required to switch from truck transport to railway container transport. At the Okayama Logistics Center, we can now make shipments via railway containers after adjusting schedules by pulling containers up to the loading docks, loading them, and then sending them off as is. Furthermore, to reduce energy use in transport, we design our product delivery packages to be as lean as possible and provide monthly piece and capacity forecasts to transport companies to promote the use of lean containers and trucks.

エコレールマーク

Environmental Education

The Benesse Group offers environmental educational services that match children's developmental stages through various educational materials, services, and events, and promotes action towards understanding and taking measures against climate change. Online environmental training is also implemented for employees annually.

See the following website for details of each of these initiatives.

Environmental Education
Benesse Holdings, Inc., Benesse Holdings, Inc. Sustainability Promotion, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Department, Benesse Holdings, Inc. Administrative Division, Benesse Corporation, Benesse Foundation for Children, Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute, Berlitz Corporation, SIMUL INTERNATIONAL, INC., Tokyo Individualized Educational Institute, INC.,, Ochanomizu Seminar Co., Ltd., UP Inc., Benesse Style Care Co., Ltd., Benesse Business-mate, Inc., Benesse Socius, Inc., Fukutake Foundation, FUKUTAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE FOUNDATION, CLASSICO Inc.

Last updated : 2024/03/06