Materiality
(Priority Issues)
We identified six priority issues under the concept of “a world where all things, information and hearts are connected,” in order to realize a sustainable society. We consider that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will be a key driver of our growth into the future. We identified our vision of key challenges for the next 10 years in order to contribute to realizing a sustainable society, and to continue our sustained growth through this contribution.
In addition, the SDG Promotion Committee and the Board of Directors re-examined the company’s materiality and the value created by the SDGs in light of changes in the environment surrounding the company due to the addition of LINE Corporation to the group in March 2021 and the adoption of a new management structure in April 2021. Since this re-examination and set based on the “achievement of the SDGs” and medium to long-term business, SoftBank have not found any major downside in terms of importance and have confirmed that these are important elements for the continued promotion of our business.
The entire company, including directors, executives and employees has re-affirmed the importance of these initiatives as key drivers to further accelerate the Beyond Carrier strategy and become a comprehensive digital platformer and will continue to promote the achievement of the SDGs.
- Importance of External Factors
- We identified these issues with an awareness of the importance of requirements from outside the industry, such as the contributions made by experts, investors, external initiatives, etc. in terms of our technical development and businesses, in addition to the SDGs.
- Importance of Internal Factors
- We are discussing and considering the kinds of businesses and services we can realize in the future, based on a comparison of the deliberations by the SDGs Promotion Committee, the status of administration, management, and the SoftBank Corp. Group’s businesses and our plans for the medium- to long-term future, with the 169 targets contained in the 17 SDGs.
* “Main businesses” include initiatives by SoftBank Corp. and companies in the SoftBank Corp. Group.
Approach to Materiality
- Building society and
industry through DX - Connecting people and
information to
create new excitement - Creating new business
through
open innovation - Contributing to the
global environment
with the power
of technology - Building high-quality
social communication
networks - Developing a resilient
management
foundation
- 1Realize attractive customer value through the spread of smart devices
- 2Create new industries through DX
- 3Develop new business models with cutting-edge technologies
- 4Enhance productivity with advanced workplace environments
- 5Expand and enhance the efficiency of the industrial base through cutting-edge technologies
- 6Help everybody enjoy the value of the latest devices and communication methods
- 7Prepare sustainable life infrastructure
- 8Promotion of data security and privacy protection initiatives
- 9Incubate and spiral-up cutting-edge businesses overseas
- 10Build systems to recruit and develop human resources to lead growth and create new businesses
- 11Contribute to the mitgation of climate change through technology and business
- 12Leveraging ICT to create new lifestyles and enhance the foundations for daily life
- 13Sustainable growth through cooperation with stakeholders
- 14Enhance corporate governance and ensure its effectiveness
- 15Revitalize local communities (regional revitalization)
- 16Realize a prosperous society through the spread of renewable energy
- 17Construct robust communications infrastructure to contribute to disaster prevention and mitigation
- 18Enhance employee happiness with diversity and inclusion
- 19Promote a recycling-based society (circular economy)
- 1Realize attractive customer value through the spread of smart devices
- 2Create new industries through DX
- 3Develop new business models with cutting-edge technologies
- 4Enhance productivity with advanced workplace environments
- 5Expand and enhance the efficiency of the industrial base through cutting-edge technologies
- 6Help everybody enjoy the value of the latest devices and communication methods
- 7Prepare sustainable life infrastructure
- 8Promotion of data security and privacy protection initiatives
- 9Incubate and spiral-up cutting-edge businesses overseas
- 10Build systems to recruit and develop human resources to lead growth and create new businesses
- 11Contribute to the mitgation of climate change through technology and business
- 12Leveraging ICT to create new lifestyles and enhance the foundations for daily life
- 13Sustainable growth through cooperation with stakeholders
- 14Enhance corporate governance and ensure its effectiveness
- 15Revitalize local communities (regional revitalization)
- 16Realize a prosperous society through the spread of renewable energy
- 17Construct robust communications infrastructure to contribute to disaster prevention and mitigation
- 18Enhance employee happiness with diversity and inclusion
- 19Promote a recycling-based society (circular economy)
Six Materialities
(Priority Issues)
Building Society and
Industry through DX
(Digital Transformation)
- Redefining Industry with DX -
Create new industries and provide solutions for transforming various businesses in society by utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and AI.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Expand and enhance the efficiency of the industrial
base through cutting-edge technologies
- Main Businesses
-
- Utilize 5G, big data, AI, etc.
- Enhance industry efficiency through AI, RPA*1, IoT, etc.
We leverage cutting-edge technologies such as 5G and AI to contribute to business development and efficiency.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Development of DX solutions for social and industrial progress | |
| Representative KPI | Result |
| Revenue of business solution and others: CAGR*210% | 16% increase |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Development of DX solutions for social and industrial progress |
| Representative KPI |
| Revenue of business solution and others: CAGR*210% |
*1 Robotic Process Automation *2 CAGR: Compound Annual Growth Rate
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Create new industries through DX
- Main Business
-
- Use DX solutions to create new businesses in diverse industries through co-creation with customers
We engage in the creation of new businesses and industries, and contribute to economic growth, through collaboration with companies in a range in industries.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Projects undertaken through co-creation with customers | |
| Representative KPI | Result |
| 17 projects in progress | 17 projects launched |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Projects undertaken through co-creation with customers |
| Representative KPI |
| 17 projects in progress |
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Revitalize local communities (regional revitalization)
- Main Businesses
-
- Solve social issues by providing DX solutions for local communities and local governments
- Co-creation to realize smart cities
- Implement initiatives on partnership agreements / Expand partnership agreements and personnel exchange with local governments
We strive to revitalize regions facing social issues, and aim to contribute to community development for continued livability.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Expanding partnership agreements and personnel exchanges with local governments | |
| Representative KPI | Result |
| 70 local governments (FY2023) | Accumulated total of 58 local governments |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Expanding partnership agreements and personnel exchanges with local governments |
| Representative KPI |
| 70 local governments (FY2023) |
Connecting people
and information
to create new excitement
- Enhancing lifestyles with information
and communications technology (ICT) -
Provide new experiences and enrich the lifestyles of our customers by promoting the adoption of smart devices.Concurrently, create value for both consumers and enterprises by providing partners with attractive platforms that connect people to information.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Realize attractive customer value through the spread of smart devices
- Main Businesses
-
- Provide a broad range of customer value, price plans and services through the spread of smart devices and multi-branding
- Leverage 5G to provide new experiences, including VR and sports broadcasts, etc.
- Hold smartphone classes in our shops around Japan
We engage in providing new, unheard-of experiences and inspiration, and in providing a range of services through technological innovation.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Helping everyone enjoy the value of the latest devices and communication services | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Smartphone cumulative subscribers: 30 million (FY2023) | 25.93 million |
| Survey for NPS*1 improvement: Monitor results | Number of responses: 4.43million |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Helping everyone enjoy the value of the latest devices and communication services |
| Representative KPIs |
| Smartphone cumulative subscribers: 30 million (FY2023) |
| Survey for NPS*1 improvement: Monitor results |
*1 Net Promoter Score
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Help everybody enjoy the value of the latest devices and communication methods
- Main Businesses
-
- Enhance the accessibility of news and other information provided
- Spearhead the establishment of the HAPS Alliance, comprising many leading companies, with the aim of promoting the expansion of Internet communications to all people, places, and things around the world.
We contribute to realizing a society where everybody has equal and unimpaired access to the latest information.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Progress on infrastructure for acquisition and distribution of easily accessible information | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Yahoo! News DAU*2 45 million | 41.81 million DAU |
| Expand the HAPS Alliance to broaden Internet communications across the world | Established the HAPS Alliance |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Progress on infrastructure for acquisition and distribution of easily accessible information |
| Representative KPIs |
| Yahoo! News DAU*2 45 million |
| Number of smartphone classes held: 430,000 |
| Expand the HAPS Alliance to broaden Internet communications across the world |
*2 DAU = Daily Active Users
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Leveraging ICT to create new lifestyles and enhance the foundations for daily life
- Main Businesses
-
- Initiatives aimed at expanding and enhancing online shopping from smartphones, providing new payment settlement methods, and realizing more efficient logistics
- Leveraging ICT to contribute to the education, healthcare and finance fields
We contribute to richer lifestyles by enhancing online shopping and using ICT to improve the convenience of services that are close to customers, including education, healthcare, and finance.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Expanding the number of ICT service users in lifestyle fields | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| PayPay cumulative registered users: 40 million | 38 million registered |
| E-commerce transaction value (Merchandise): 4 trillion yen | 2.6 trillion yen |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Expanding the number of ICT service users in lifestyle fields |
| Representative KPIs |
| PayPay cumulative registered users: 50 million |
| E-commerce transaction value (Merchandise): 4 trillion yen |
Creating new business
through
open innovation
- Creating new value through the new businesses of SoftBank Corp.
Group companies -
Develop cutting-edge technologies and innovative business models in Japan by leveraging our relationships with global leading innovative companies. Concurrently, promote the development of a highly-skilled workforce and the establishment of an organization that supports the expansion and penetration of new businesses.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Develop new business models with cutting-edge technologies
- Main Businesses
-
- Realize a secure and comfortable mobility society
- Build a high-altitude communications network in the stratosphere
- Provide opportunities for mobility through the practical utilization of self-driving vehicles
We leverage cutting-edge technologies to create new businesses together with our partners, in anticipation of the era to come.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| HAPS service provision | |
| Representative KPI | Result |
| Launch (FY2023) | Succeeded in flight in stratosphere and performed of LTE connection during the flight |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| HAPS service provision |
| Representative KPI |
| Promotion of HAPS toward practical realization (FY2023) |
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Incubate and spiral-up cutting-edge businesses overseas
- Main Businesses
-
- Create global communities by providing innovative community-style workspaces
- Enhance the efficiency of transportation by leveraging AI and data analytics technologies to provide taxi dispatch platforms
- Promote a cashless economy through the spread of barcode and QR code payment settlements
We strive to develop cutting-edge businesses in Japan, through partnerships including joint ventures and business alliances with companies engaged in cutting-edge businesses overseas.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPI | Results |
| Promotion of business operations in Japan |
|
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPI |
| Promotion of business operations in Japan |
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Build systems to recruit and develop human resources to lead growth and create new businesses
- Main Businesses
-
- Job posting system that aims to shift human resources to new businesses and growth businesses
- Allocate personnel to new businesses through improvements in operational efficiency
- Human resources recruitment and development systems* necessary to create and promote new businesses
We promote the recruitment of personnel with a high level of expertise, and the formation of organizations that will be the key drivers to create new businesses, in anticipation of the era to come.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPI | Result |
| SoftBank InnoVenture commercialization promotion | 7projects onsidered for commercialization are SDGs related (160 applications in total) |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPI |
| SoftBank InnoVenture commercialization |
*1 SoftBank Academia, SoftBank InnoVenture, SoftBank University
Contributing to the global
environment with
the power of technology
- Realizing a carbon-neutral, recycling-oriented society -
Contribute to mitigating climate change, promoting a circular economy and the adoption of renewable energy by utilizing cutting-edge technologies to pass on a sustainable global environment to the next generation.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Contribute to the mitigation of climate change through technology and business
- Main Businesses
-
- More efficient use of electricity
- Transition to energy-efficient equipment
- Leveraging IoT for more efficient use of electricity in consideration of the environment
- Shifting electricity for cellular base stations to renewable energy*1
As countermeasures to mitigate climate change, we promote the use of renewable energy and energy conservation through ICT to reduce CO2 emissions.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Encouragement of renewable energy and ICT-driven energy efficiency | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
|
Ratio of renewable energy (for base stations) 30% or greater (FY2020) 50% or greater (FY2021) 70% or greater (FY2022) |
Ratio of renewable energy for base stations: 30% (estimated) |
| Work on new businesses that help promote CO₂ reduction: Promoting initiatives | CO2 emission in the head office reduced by 9% (v.s.FY 2019) |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Encouragement of renewable energy and ICT-driven energy efficiency |
| Representative KPIs |
|
Ratio of renewable energy (for base stations) 50% or greater (FY2021) 70% or greater (FY2022) |
|
*1 Achieved mainly by using non-fossil certificates as renewable energy
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Promote a recycling-based society (circular economy)
- Main Businesses
-
- Mobile phone recycling, the introduction of carry bags using alternative materials to paper and plastic, and the reduction of paper usage through the use of smart devices
- Utilize waste water resources and reduce waste products
Promote the controlled use of resources, in addition to recycling and reuse.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Encouragement of resource-efficiency and recycling / reuse through use of technologies | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Number of mobile phones recycled or reused: 10 million (FY2020-2025) | 2.4 million (FY2020) (Estimated) |
| Percentage of decommissioned base stations going to landfill: 1% or less (annually) | 1% or less (estimated) |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Encouragement of resource-efficiency and recycling / reuse through use of technologies |
| Representative KPIs |
| Number of mobile phones recycled or reused: 10 million (FY2020-2025) |
| Percentage of decommissioned base stations going to landfill: 1% or less (annually) |
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Realize a prosperous society through the spread of renewable energy
- Main Business
-
- Spread the use of renewable energy (including feed-in tariffs) by providing the Shizen Denki electric power service
We will promote the spread of renewable energy businesses and services to realize an environmentally-friendly society
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Expansion of renewable energy services | |
| Representative KPI | Results |
| Options for electric power from renewable sources: Supply of naturally sourced electricity |
|
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Expansion of renewable energy services |
| Representative KPI |
| Renewable Energy Promotion: Expansion of renewable energy services |
Building high-quality
social communication networks
- Highly convenient, stable, and trustworthy networks
and security -
Commit to maintaining a constantly-connected and stable network and to protecting our customers' important data, as communication networks serve as a lifeline.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Prepare sustainable life infrastructure
- Main Businesses
-
- Construct 5G mobile communications systems to enable “high-speed, high-capacity,” “ultra-high-reliability, low-latency,” and “massive device connections”
- Provide communications services with stable connections
We will provide communications services with stable connections by maintaining highly-reliable networks.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Provision of cutting-edge high-quality network | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
5G deployment plan Number of base stations:
|
Scheduled to reach 10,000 base stasions (May 2021) |
| Number of major network accidents: Zero (FY2020) | 0 |
| Submarine cable “ADC (Asia Direct Cable)”: Start operation (FY2022) |
|
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Provision of cutting-edge high-quality network |
| Representative KPIs |
5G deployment plan
|
| Number of major network accidents: Zero |
| Submarine cable “ADC (Asia Direct Cable)”: Start operation (FY2022) |
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Construct robust communications infrastructure to contribute to disaster prevention and mitigation
- Main Businesses
-
- Redundancy in backbone networks
- Secure communications in the event of a disaster through tethered balloon radio relay systems
We regularly engage in measures to safeguard communications infrastructure in the event of a disaster, and are able to restore connections swiftly should disaster strike.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Establishment of three main routes (for Okinawa / Tohoku): Completion (FY2021) | Installation of equipment room completed (March 2021) |
| Equipment and materials for disaster response and recovery: Support and enhancement (annually) | Number of portable antennas increased by 100 |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPIs |
| Establishment of three main routes (for Okinawa / Tohoku): Completion (FY2021) |
Equipment and materials for disaster response and recovery：Support and enhancement
|
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Promotion of data security and privacy protection initiatives
- Main Businesses
-
- Network monitoring and operation utilizing AI
- Develop and operate high-level security environments
- Thoroughly educate employees on security
As a safe and secure communications carrier, we will utilize the latest advanced technologies to monitor and operate our networks, and thoroughly educate our employees on security.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Number of major accidents involving information security: Zero (annually) | 0 |
| Number of major accidents involving privacy issues: Zero (annually) | 0 |
| Implementing initiatives that help customers to understand how to handle their personal information | Development of privacy center undertaken |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPIs |
| Number of major accidents involving information security: Zero (annually) |
| Number of major accidents involving privacy issues: Zero (annually) |
| Implementing initiatives that help customers to understand how to handle their personal information |
Developing a resilient
management foundation
- Tenacious and honest corporate governance,
organization, and personnel -
Conduct corporate governance with integrity to earn the trust of society through ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. In addition, foster innovation and improve the well-being of our employees by developing a progressive workplace environment where diverse human resources can thrive utilizing cutting-edge technologies.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs Value Creation (1)
Enhance corporate governance and ensure its effectiveness
- Main Businesses
-
- Enhance corporate governance systems and thoroughly prevent compliance violations
- Implement sophisticated internal controls, eliminate antisocial forces, and prevent corruption
We will work to construct sophisticated governance systems, increase management transparency, and engage in honest and fair corporate governance.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Number of compliance violations: Performance monitoring (annually) | Number of disciplinary cases: 22 |
| Number of compliance training sessions: Performance monitoring (annually) | Rate of compliance test taken: 100% |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPIs |
| Number of compliance violations: Performance monitoring (annually) |
| Employees' attendance rate of compliance training sessions: Performance monitoring (annually) |
| Guaranteeing the effectiveness of the board of directors: conducting evaluations |
SDGs Value Creation (2)
Sustainable growth through cooperation with stakeholders
- Main Businesses
-
- Ethical procurement and transactions
- Sound and transparent information disclosure
- Cooperation with local communities through initiatives such as disaster management agreements and the Social Emergency Management Alliance (SEMA)
We will build strong relationships of trust with our stakeholders through timely and appropriate information disclosure and regular dialogue, and pursue sustainable development together with them.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Sustainability procurement survey collection: 90% or greater (annually) | Survey collection rate: 92% |
| Number of partnerships with NPOs: 1,000 organizations (FY2023) | 688 organizations (FY2020) |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Representative KPIs |
| Sustainability procurement survey collection: 90% or greater (annually) |
| Support for high-risk suppliers for improvement: 100% |
| Supplier inspection / CSR audit: at least 2 companies |
| NPOs: 1,000 organizations (FY2023) |
SDGs Value Creation (3)
Enhance employee happiness with diversity and inclusion
- Main Businesses
-
- Support for employee growth and career realization*1
- Fair evaluation and recruitment system
- Promote participation by women, including recruitment and employment of persons with disabilities, and initiatives related to LGBTQ persons
- Harassment prevention
We strive to create environments with meaningful work, where everyone can make the most of their abilities.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Create work-friendly workplaces for all | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Number of women in managerial roles: 300 (FY2022) | 328 (FY2020) |
| Employment of persons with disabilities: At or above the legally mandated level (annually) | 2.39% |
| Paid leave acquisition rate: Keep at 70% or above (annually) | 61.8%*2 |
| Accidents at work sites involving injury or death: Zero (annually) | Accidents involving death: 0 |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Create work-friendly workplaces for all |
| Representative KPIs |
| Number of women in managerial roles: target number under planning |
| Employment of persons with disabilities: At or above the legally mandated level (annually) |
| Paid leave acquisition rate: Keep at 70% or above (annually) |
| Accidents at work sites involving injury or death: Zero (annually) |
*1 Free-agent system and job posting system, SoftBank University, SoftBank career dock *2 Due to the new coronavirus infection, the number of consecutive leave taken has decreased. Ongoing efforts to promote a more balanced workstyle and create a corporate culture that encourages employees to take more leave.
SDGs Value Creation (4)
Enhance productivity with advanced workplace environments
- Main Businesses
-
- Work-style reforms*3
- Promote health and productivity management
- Relocate the corporate headquarters to a smart building
- Promote diverse working styles unconstrained by time or place*4
We will engage in promoting work-style reforms, and health and productivity management utilizing technology.
| FY2020 | |
|---|---|
| Work-style reforms and promotion of wellness management | |
| Representative KPIs | Results |
| Provide office environments that encourage diverse working styles: Performance monitoring (annually) | New head office |
| Teleworking ratio: 70% or greater (annually) | 95.9% |
| Ratio of smokers: Less than 20% (annually) | Being aggregated and will be released at a later date*5 |
| High ranking in Japan surveys: Highly ranked among the major surveys (annually) | Nikkei “SDGs Management” Survey: 4.5 stars, Nikkei Smart Work Survey: 5 stars, Nikkei Smart Work Awards 2021: Technology Utilization Award, selected as a “White 500” organization in the Health Management Paid Corporation 2021 |
| FY2021 |
|---|
| Work-style reforms and promotion of wellness management |
| Representative KPIs |
| Provide office environments that encourage diverse working styles: Performance monitoring (annually) |
| Teleworking ratio: 70% or greater (annually) |
Ratio of smokers:
|
| High ranking in Japan surveys: Highly ranked among the major surveys (annually) |
*3 Super Flextime System, telecommuting, operational improvements using AI and IoT, permit employees to take side jobs *4 Telecommuting, use of co-working spaces *5 Promoting anti-smoke measures by eliminating smoking rooms and smoking during working hours
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015. They are a global initiative, establishing 17 goals for a prosperous and vibrant future, to be achieved by 2030.
