Environmental issues are an important global concern, and we believe that corporations have a duty to actively promote environmental activities. To fulfill our corporate philosophy, "Benesse = Supporting the Well-Being of Everyone," the Benesse Group has positioned the environment as a key management priority, and is actively promoting initiatives according to the characteristics of each of our business domains, which include education and childcare, learning for university students and adults, and senior/nursing care.

We adhere to all environmental laws and regulations when undertaking environmental activities. At the same time, we have every person involved in our business proactively take part in environmental activities while working to continuously improve environmental management systems and environmental performance. Details of these activities are as follows:

• (1) Promote climate change countermeasures, biodiversity restoration, and environmental considerations for products, services, and sales activities
  We provide products, services, and marketing tools that are safe and have a low environmental impact. To achieve this, we promote environmentally friendly design by implementing measures to combat climate change, including reducing GHG emissions through resource conservation, promoting resource recycling, such as recycling to restore biodiversity, non-use of hazardous substances, more efficient use of resources, conservation of water resources, and more efficient water use. These activities will be enhanced by our ongoing digital transformation.
• (2) Promote energy conservation, renewable energy, waste reduction, and recycling of resources, as well as efficient use of resources and conservation and efficiency of water resources, with the aim of combating climate change and restoring biodiversity
  In our business activities, we strive to prevent environmental pollution and reduce environmental impact. Specifically, we implement climate change measures to reduce GHG emissions, including the promotion of energy conservation and the introduction of renewable energy, as well as waste reduction. We also promote recycling and other resource cycles with the aim of restoring biodiversity, non-use of hazardous substances, more efficient use of resources, and conservation of water resources, and more efficient water use. These activities will be further strengthened as our digital transformation progresses and new technologies are introduced.
• (3) Promote environmental education by utilizing business characteristics
  With the aim of realizing a society that achieves carbon neutrality and nature positivity by 2050, we actively promote environmental education and human resource development by making use of our business characteristics.
• (4) Engage communities and society through collaboration with stakeholders
  In cooperation with various stakeholders, we engage in environmental activities such as climate change countermeasures, biodiversity restoration, resource recycling, non-use of hazardous substances, efficient use of resources, conservation of water resources, and efficient water use, as well as community activities.

This Environmental Policy will be made known to all employees and other personnel involved in the Group's business activities, and will also be disclosed to the public.

August 1, 2011
Revised April 2, 2024
Benesse Holdings, Inc.

The Sustainability Promotion Committee, chaired by the Executive Officer for Sustainability and consisting of the President and CEO, CXO (Chief X Officer, chief officers in each area), company presidents, and deputy company presidents (responsible for the Group’s business), and general managers of cross-functional divisions, meets regularly to determine policies on ESG issues and to monitor the status of ESG activities. 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, corporate auditors and the chairperson's appointee may participate as observers at each meeting.
For more information on the Sustainability Promotion Committee, please see below.

• Arrangements to Promote Sustainability

At Benesse Corporation, we promote education on the environment and a reduction in the environmental burden, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, by establishing an environmental supervisor in each division and creating annual plans with customers and at each business stage.

Benesse Corporation Environmental Action Promotional Framework

Leadership level A for CDP Climate Change 2023

Benesse Holdings
According to the survey CDP Climate Change 2023, we were selected as a company with a leadership level of A regarding greenhouse gas emission activities and activities to reduce and adapt to the effects of climate change.
The following are past CDP Climate Change assessments.

• Answer to CDP Climate Change 2023 inquiry [0.98MB]

Received the highest rating of "Leader" in the CDP2023 Supplier Engagement Assessment

Benesse Holdings
Benesse Holdings, Inc. has been selected as a "CDP2023 Supplier Engagement Leader," the highest rating in the CDP2023 supplier engagement evaluation, for five consecutive years.
458 companies, including 109 Japanese companies, were selected as CDP2023 Supplier Engagement Leaders in recognition of their actions and strategies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and manage climate risks in their supply chains.

Acquired Science Based Targets (SBT) Certification

Benesse Corporation
Benesse's greenhouse gas emission targets for 2030 and 2050 have been approved by the SBTi as science-based targets suitable for "keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2°C and below 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels" under the Paris Agreement. They have thus obtained SBTi certification from the Initiative. Furthermore, for Scope 1 and 2, the target has been updated to a '1.5°C' target and re-certified as SBTi. For Scope 3, a 2°C target has been set. With 2018 as the base year, the following reduction targets have been set.

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