Sustainability
Climate Action
Initiatives and Progress to Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
To achieve carbon neutrality throughout the entire value chain, we are first working on energy-saving and renewable energy power plans for office electricity. For offices that cannot transition to more energy-saving menus or renewable energy power plans, we use Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates*¹ which satisfy the strict criteria of RE100*².
Even after that, if there are any residual emissions, we use removal credits that connect to solving various SDGs issues including climate change to contribute to the planet and environment as a whole, for example tree planting removal credits certified by international accreditation bodies.
Please refer to "Climate
Change
"
in the ESG Data Book for details on Recruit Group's progress to
reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The ESG Data Book
describes the calculation method, scope of calculation, amount of
GHG emissions, and our activities to reduce them.
*1 Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates represent
electricity generated and delivered to the grid from a renewable
source. They comply with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol which
establishes global standards to measure and manage
emissions.
*2 Referenced the RE100 TECHNICAL CRITERIA
Version 3.0
Our Initiatives (Scope 1+2)
Each company within Recruit Group umbrella is taking advantage of its specific business characteristics to reduce its GHG emissions.
Initiatives Regarding Data Centers
IT technology is a core element of all of the Recruit Group's businesses. We have sought to consolidate our data centers and IT equipment, and use environmentally friendly data centers. Further efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our online services include investing in the very latest IT and network equipment, through which we have reduced the amount of equipment and lowered our power consumption. In these ways, we have been striving to reduce total GHG emissions from our online service operation.
Holding of the “Green Hackathon”
Indeed is approaching GHG emissions reduction by utilizing the energy and creativity of its staff. The company holds a “Green Hackathon'' twice a year where the overarching aim is to contribute to reducing GHG emissions through Indeed’s products, services and technologies. At the event, participants identify environmental issues they aim to tackle, recruit like-minded team members, and then have three days to put their ideas together before giving a final presentation.
The spring 2022 hackathon resulted in eleven ideas, of which three won the Environmental Impact Award, an internal award given to new ideas to recognize the initiatives that help Indeed accelerate GHG reductions. One of the examples is “Indeed Interviews,” a service highlighting how much GHG emissions can be saved if job seekers choose virtual interviews over in-person ones. The aim of the service is to evolve the existing interview system into one where both the job seeker and the company have a sustainable impact.
Transition to Renewable Energy
One of the Recruit Group's key operational bases, the Recruit Ginza 8 Building (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; commonly known as "G8") switched its power plan from conventional fossil fuel-generated electricity to 100% renewables*³, such as solar-generated electricity in August 2020. In addition, the switch to renewable energy power is progressing smoothly at our larger offices, such as the Osaka Umeda Twin Towers North and Kudanzakaue KS Building.
To make a significant impact in this area, the understanding and cooperation of building owners are essential. At Recruit Group, we work closely with our building owners by sharing our goals and commitment to climate change countermeasures and help foster greater understanding around the importance of renewable energy by having open discussions and working hard to build a culture of trust and cooperation.
*3 The plan is classed as 100% renewable, and is based on Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates. These consist primarily of non-FIT renewable power sources and Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates*, in addition to J-credits (derived from renewable energy) and Non-fossil Fuel Energy Certificates with Tracking Information. In effect, this power plan has net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. A portion of the revenue from Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates, and primarily that generated through the sale of Renewable Energy Attribute Certificates, is used to manage and maintain green power generation facilities, helping to encourage the use of renewable energy.
Initiatives Regarding Information Magazine Services
The Matching & Solutions SBU publishes a wide range of magazines (more than 100 million copies in 2017), and we continually take steps to minimize the impact of our environmental footprint, from the production stage through to distribution.
Measures we have taken include reducing the thickness of the paper while maintaining a quality texture and avoiding show-through. Additionally, we ensure that all offcuts inevitably produced from the bookbinding process are carefully collected and recycled.
We also strive to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible at the stage when the publications make their way to magazine racks across Japan. First of all, we manage our own fleet of haulage vehicles, allowing us to take full control of our magazine’s supply chain. By optimizing delivery frequency and freight consignment efficiency, we have reduced the number of trucks on the road.
Furthermore, we utilize cutting-edge technology and AI to accurately calculate the exact number of copies that match the demand of each magazine rack at any location—what is known as the “takeaway ratio.” This helps us ensure every magazine gets into the hands of every person who wants one and thereby minimizes leftover publications. Our contracted paper recyclers collect any surplus magazines that didn’t reach readers and deliver them to paper manufacturers, where they are recycled into cardboard and other paper products.
Sustainable Office Operations
RGF Staffing, our Group company providing HR and staffing services around the world, is implementing energy efficiency measures to reduce GHG emissions at its offices in different countries and is working toward more sustainable office operations.
Asia-Pacific
RGF Staffing APEJ has reduced its
office size by enabling hybrid working.
Europe
RGF Staffing Germany’s offices are
almost entirely powered by renewable energy, and at RGF Staffing
Belgium LED lighting and motion detector light switches are
becoming the standard. RGF Staffing the Netherlands has created
a system for selecting energy-efficient spaces when choosing a
new office location and is also testing new energy-saving
technologies at one branch, with a view to rolling out the
technology across all branches if found to be effective.
Our Initiatives (Scope 3)
In addition to reducing GHG emissions in our business activities, we will accelerate efforts to reduce GHG emissions in the value chain, which accounts for more than 90% of the Recruit Group's overall GHG emissions.
In particular, we promote remote work to reduce emissions from commuting, as well as partner engagements with companies in the value chain. In FY2022, we have been strengthening engagement activities, expanding partnerships, and planning and implementing specific measures to reduce the emissions in the value chain together.
Utilizing Partnerships to Boost the Speed and Reliability of GHG Emissions Measurement and Reduction
Recruit is approaching scope 3 GHG emission reduction collaboratively by focusing on refining emission measurements with partner companies, including NTT DATA Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "NTT DATA") and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. By understanding our scope 3 emissions in greater detail, we can consider more effective and specific measures to reduce them. We have shared each company's mid- to long-term visions for GHG emission reduction and discussed how best to refine the measurements. By cooperating, we can accelerate the scale and speed of overall reductions.
We will continue to work with partners to develop useful example cases that can be shared with and used by businesses across Japan to help decrease emissions.
Initiatives to Reduce GHG Emissions from Employee Transportation
An RGF Staffing employee driving an electric car to see clients.
Our Staffing business's scope 3 emissions can be primarily attributed to the commute and travel of our people, including employees and placed workers, therefore, our staffing companies are actively seeking solutions to accelerate reductions in this area. Current initiatives include top-down strategic business decisions alongside voluntary grassroots activities initiated by employees.
In the Netherlands, our RGF Staffing team plans to shift its corporate fleet to electric by 2027, and Staff Service Holdings and Recruit Staffing in Japan have also declared they will switch their sales fleet to electric or hybrid vehicles by 2030. Internal grassroots movements to protect the environment are also gaining momentum, with a growing number of employees at RGF Staffing Belgium choosing to commute by bicycle. Similarly, an employee carpooling scheme is in development at RGF Staffing the Netherlands.
Climate related Risks and Opportunities
We only have one planet, and everyone has a responsibility to protect the health and longevity of our home. Recruit Group has committed to climate action by setting climate change countermeasures and is implementing initiatives based on climate change scenario analysis. We have identified climate related risks and opportunities for our businesses.
Scenario Analysis
Scientists have predicted that a rise in average global temperature brought about by climate change will likely cause a major impact on the environment and the earth's ecosystems. Significant environmental changes will directly affect the activities of corporations, and therefore we must analyze the potential risks. However, it is challenging to determine the direct course of action because the exact environmental changes we will experience remain unclear. Therefore, we studied multiple scenarios to envisage the future environment surrounding our business and to analyze the assumed risks and opportunities we may encounter due to rising temperatures*¹.
We based our assumptions on two scenarios, the "4°C Scenario"*² and the "1.5°C Scenario."*³ The former assumes a significant impact on the natural environment and ecosystems, while the latter implies a relatively substantial climate change response burden on the company side. Under each scenario, we considered the risks and opportunities posed to Recruit Group's business in the short, medium, and long term and performed a thorough assessment of the likelihood of occurrence and financial impact. The risks and opportunities for change identified through evaluation were labeled as "significant impacts." Then, after consultation with the Sustainability Committee and the Board of Directors, we resolved our course of action.
*1 In this scenario analysis, we refer to reports issued by
international organizations such as the IPCC (Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change) and the International Energy Agency
(IEA) and equivalent research organizations.
*2
Environmental changes assumed when the global average
temperature rises by 4˚C compared to pre-industrial levels.
*3 Estimated changes in the environment if the global
average temperature rise is limited to 1.5˚C above
pre-industrial levels.
Climate-related Risks
The main risks posed by climate change include soaring carbon credit prices, taxes, and timber and transportation costs. In response, we aim to achieve carbon neutrality in terms of GHG emissions throughout our business activities and value chain by FY2030, and have already implemented various risk mitigation measures.
Acute physical risks: Increased severity of extreme weather events
We put in place a BCP (Business Continuity Planning) to prepare against natural disasters.
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We provide regular safety confirmation drills and lectures on initial disaster response to ensure employee safety.
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We have emergency stockpiles in place at all premises. Also, stocks are kept in external warehouses to allow delivery of relief supplies to affected areas in the event of a disaster.
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We have a web-based system in place that shows real-time information on affected areas and damage statuses.
Before signing a lease agreement, we check the property according to our evaluation criteria, including compliance with the new seismic standard, to prepare against earthquakes.
Climate-related Opportunities
The main opportunities for change derived from environmental shifts include new employment needs and necessary changes in work styles as we transition to a low-carbon society. For example, the demand for staff with specific environmental knowledge and skill sets will increase as society focuses on countermeasures to combat climate change. Workstyle needs will also have to diversify if the place and time of work change due to rising temperatures.
We anticipate that if we can speed up the alignment of job matching with these changes, it will lead to significant business opportunities. Our team will continue to monitor global trends and assess the scope of impact derived by climate change. Based on our findings, we will take the most appropriate action with a view to expanding our business opportunities.
