Our Approach to Sustainability

SoftBank Group’s philosophy, “Information Revolution - Happiness for everyone” embodies our determination to bring happiness to everyone, even to future generations 300 years from now. To create a world where people can live in harmony with the earth, the SoftBank Group will fulfill our responsibility as leader in the Information Revolution to realize a sustainable society.

SoftBank Group Corp. has established “The SoftBank Group Sustainability Principles” as a guideline for the Group's sustainability, so as to achieve sustainable growth by meeting the expectations of shareholders, creditors, customers, business partners, employees, local communities, and all other stakeholders.

Based on these principles, we identify material issues relating to sustainability (”Material Issues”) reflecting the business characteristics and social demands of each Group company.

Based on our view of double materiality, SoftBank Group Corp. classifies issues to be addressed from two perspectives: the importance to stakeholders and to the Group. Among these issues, we identify material issues relating to sustainability (”Material Issues”) that should be addressed with priority, determined by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of SoftBank Group Corp. has appointed the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSusO), who is responsible for the promotion of Group-wide sustainability, and established the Sustainability Committee for the purpose of promotion of the sustainability-related activities of the Group. The Sustainability Committee continuously discusses overall policies such as the sustainability vision and basic policies, policies of individual activities such as sustainability-related issues, goal setting, and information disclosure, as well as sustainability promotion systems and operation policies. The Committee is chaired by the CSusO (Corporate Officer, Senior Vice President Kazuko Kimiwada) and composed of two members including Board Director, Corporate Officer, Senior Vice President, CFO & CISO Yoshimitsu Goto; and Corporate Officer, CLO & GCO Tim Mackey. The CSusO reports the details of discussions of the Sustainability Committee to the Board of Directors for supervision.

The Sustainability Committee of SoftBank Group Corp. was established in June 2020 and schedules meetings on a flexible quarterly basis. In addition to the Committee members, the heads of relevant departments attend the meetings to engage in cross-functional discussions based on specialized knowledge and multiple perspectives.

The Committee met three times in fiscal 2023 (April, October, and December). The discussions involved a variety of matters such as reviewing material issues relating to sustainability (”Material Issues”), integrating ESG factors into the investment process, developing an approach to responsible AI, advancing mandated non-financial information disclosure, and responding to climate change.

At SoftBank Group Corp. (“SBG”), the Risk Management Office is responsible for the integrated management of Group-wide risks in accordance with the “Risk Management Policy”.
As for sustainability-related risks, the Sustainability Department under the CSusO collects information through reports from major Group companies and each department of SBG, and identifies risks taking into account discussions in the Sustainability Committee. In addition, the Sustainability Department reports the identified risks, countermeasures, and their status to the Risk Management Office under the framework of the Group-wide risk management process referenced above.

The Risk Management Office analyzes and assesses various risks including sustainability and their countermeasures. For material risks that could have a significant impact on the sustainable growth of the Group, the Risk Management Office collaborates with the parties involved in each risk in order to consider countermeasures and monitor the effectiveness of such countermeasures. Material risks and the status of countermeasures are reported to and discussed by the Board of Directors and the Group Risk and Compliance Committee (GRCC) that consists of the Board Director and the Corporate Officers of SBG. Based on the results of discussions, the Risk Management Office strives to strengthen the Group’s risk management system.

SoftBank Group Corp. aims to realize a society where people all over the world can live happily and prosperously. Together with the Group companies that conduct business globally, we will work to contribute to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing the six activity themes identified in our Sustainability Principles.