JAPANESE

Promotion of a Recycling-oriented Society

Promotion of a Recycling-oriented Society Promotion of a Recycling-oriented Society

Approach
to a circular economy

The Company positions the promotion of resource circulation as a key management issue and advances waste reduction and resource recovery through the efficient use of limited resources. These efforts not only mitigate environmental impact but also enhance the Company's credibility and competitiveness, leading to long-term value creation.

The Company is committed to reducing, reusing and recycling industrial waste in order to contribute to the realization of a circular economy.

Our approach to a circular economy

Initiatives for promoting
a circular economy
in business operations

Reduce

In the sale of mobile phones, the Company promotes initiatives to enable customers to use their devices for longer periods. These include encouraging device manufacturers, through ongoing communication, to design devices for long-term use by enhancing product durability and extending battery life, as well as providing repair services, in order to support resource sustainability.
The Company also works to reduce paper use by making individual packaging boxes smaller, digitizing instruction manuals and other documents, providing the Online Charges Guide, and utilizing AI and smart devices in stores.

Reuse

To promote the effective use of resources through the reuse of used mobile phones, the Company encourages the collection of mobile phones it has sold or rented through collection programs and by offering benefits based on the condition and assessed value of collected devices. Reusable devices are refurbished according to their condition and then reused.

Recycle

Mobile Recycle Network

To promote resource circulation through the recycling of used mobile phones, the Company recycles collected devices that are difficult to reuse.
The Company has achieved both targets set by GSMA (GSM Association), a global association of telecommunications operators, of collecting used mobile phones equivalent to at least 20% of annual new mobile phone sales and reusing or appropriately recycling 100% of collected devices, as of March 2026. The Company conducts 100% material recycling of the devices it collects for recycling.

The Company also promotes the recycling of equipment and materials from telecommunications infrastructure, including base stations. Waste materials such as cables, switching equipment and utility poles generated through equipment upgrades and removals are recycled, achieving a recycling rate of 99% or higher. The Company will continue to further promote resource circulation through appropriate equipment processing and the effective use of resources.

Going forward, to further increase collection volumes, the Company will raise awareness of its recycling initiatives among business partners and customers, further strengthen collaboration with MRN and other organizations, and enhance communication related to the reuse and recycling of used mobile phones.

The Company also conducted a consumer survey to better understand awareness of mobile phone recycling, willingness to participate in collection programs, and issues related to promoting collection. Going forward, the Company will use insights gained through such surveys and analyses to promote the reuse and recycling of used mobile phones.

Mobile Phone Recycling Initiatives

Initiatives for resource circulation in mobile phone services

Initiatives for resource circulation in mobile phone services

Results of these initiatives

Through the above initiatives, the Company collected 2.83 million used mobile phones, totaling 500 tons, for reuse and recycling in FY2025 and appropriately processed 100% of them through reuse or material recycling. The Company also achieved its initial cumulative target of 14 million units for the period from FY2020 to 2025 and will continue working to further increase collection volumes.

Tracking of Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Generated from Sold Products

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generated from sold products is managed using device identification numbers such as IMEI to ensure proper reuse and recycling. All devices collected through the Company's recovery initiatives are either recycled or reused, representing a 100% recycling and reuse rate.

Information tracked by the Company
  • Number of newly sold devices to customers
  • Number of devices collected for the purpose of reuse or material recycling
  • Number of devices resold as reused devices
  • Number of devices sold as recyclable materials for value recovery

Implementing educational activities to teach about recycling

The Company holds "Risaikuru" environmental classes for children at SoftBank shops across Japan to help them learn the importance of recycling through the experience of disassembling mobile phones. The classes are designed to help children learn about the structure and materials of mobile phones by actually taking them apart and using the disassembled parts to create crafts. In this way, children can develop creativity and gain knowledge about recycling while having fun. More than 3,230 people have participated in these classes from April 2018 to the end of March 2026.

In addition, environmental classes are held at SoftBank shops nationwide, open to all customers regardless of whether they have a contract with the Company.

  • Implementing educational activities to teach about recycling
  • Implementing educational activities to teach about recycling

Value creation model for reducing environmental impact

The Company is advancing resource circulation throughout the value chain as part of its efforts to reduce environmental impact.

  • Financial capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Monetization through effective utilization of used resources
    • Avoidance of disposal costs
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Maximizing recycling efforts
    2. ②
      Maximizing reuse efforts
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Monetization through resale of collected mobile handsets / monetization through resource reutilization of decommissioned base station equipment and used mobile handsets
    2. ②
      Monetization through sales of reused products both domestically and internationally
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Shrinking new mobile handset sales market
    • Outflow of mobile handsets to other companies due to expansion of the reuse market
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Increased collection and revenue through expansion of the reused mobile handset market
    • Revenue growth from rising prices of scarce minerals and other resources

  • Manufactured capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Improving resource efficiency through optimization of data centers, network centers, and base station facilities
    • Sharing base stations with competing operators
    • Providing mobile phones through rental and related services
    • Diversification of the communication services provided
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Complete implementation of efficient resource utilization for equipment and strengthening resource conservation
    2. ②
      Promoting rental services
    3. ③
      Advancing resource-efficient technology services and standalone SIM sales
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Energy conservation through EMS implementation at data centers and reduction of chiller operation
    2. ②
      Deployment of rental services for corporate mobile devices
    3. ③
      Provision of eSIM services
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Cost impacts from reduced stability of energy supply and surging energy prices
    • Opportunity losses caused by delays in responding to diverse sales channels
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Cost reduction through efficient resource utilization
    • Revenue growth from expansion of the rental market
    • Expansion of standalone e-SIM/SIM sales through inbound and outbound market growth

  • Intellectual capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Use of certified paper that verifies sustainable forest management
    • Joining resource circulation organizations
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Promoting utilization of products with resource conscious labeling
    2. ②
      Strengthening partnerships
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Utilization rate of PEFC- and FSC-certified paper for internal use (approx. 80%)
    2. ②
      Membership in Circular Partners
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Reputational risk from using non–resource-conscious materials
    • Productivity decline caused by closed internal know-how practices
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Acquiring insights through external networks
    • Accumulation of circular business knowledge and building competitive advantage
    • Enhancement of brand image through use of certified materials

  • Human capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Strengthening employees' know-how and knowledge
    • Promoting appropriate disposal, collection, and reuse by departments and employees
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Providing opportunities for sustainability education
    2. ②
      Offering awareness initiatives to encourage proper collection and reuse
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Implementation of e-learning (FY2024 participation rate: approx.92%)
    2. ②
      Establishment of an employee waste disposal desk and provision of procedural manuals
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Stagnation of resource recovery and increase in waste due to insufficient educational outreach
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Promotion of resource collection and securing profits from sale of valuable materials
    • Expansion of new businesses and innovation through increased employee awareness

  • Social and relationship capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Collaboration partners in the reuse and recycling business
    • Provision of non-plastic-derived products and items utilizing unused resources and waste materials to customers
    • Enhancement of environmental and resource utilization awareness among society and customers
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Identifying and reinforcing relationships with reputable waste disposal contractors
    2. ②
      Facilitating mobile device collection at retail locations
    3. ③
      Providing awareness opportunities to customers
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Conducting vendor audits and selecting reputable waste contractors
    2. ②
      Ensuring stable collection by accepting unwanted mobile phones at stores
    3. ③
      Conducting the customer environmental education program "Risaikuru"
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Increased capital costs for providing reuse and recycling services during periods of customer or societal acceptance stagnation
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Expansion of business opportunities in the reuse and recycling sector
    • Enhancement of the corporate image through the use of nonplastic products and recycled materials, and provision of educational opportunities

  • Natural capital
    The Company's strengths in the circular economy
    • Effective utilization of resources through reuse of scarce minerals and similar materials
    • Reducing water usage through advanced data center technologies
    • Reducing use of plastic-based products and utilizing products made from unused resources and waste materials
    Ensuring and strengthening
    1. ①
      Promoting the reuse of resources such as scarce minerals through reuse and recycling
    2. ②
      Advancing conservation of natural capital such as water
    3. ③
      Promoting the use of low environmental-impact materials
    Key initiatives
    1. ①
      Setting materiality KPIs and driving them as company-wide initiatives
    2. ②
      Reduction of water usage through advanced data center technologies
    3. ③
      Use of certified shopping bags and production/internal use of business cards made from kudzu-based materials
    Risks / opportunities Risks /
    oppor-tunities    		 Risk
    • Resource exhaustion of scarce minerals and reputational damage due to stagnation in resource initiatives
    • Constraints on water and resource use and business restrictions due to regulations
    Opportunities Oppor-tunities
    • Stabilizing handset procurement through steady supply of recycled rare metals
    • Expanding markets for waste and unused resources, fostering new business creation

Common outputs

GSMA Targets Collect used mobile phones equivalent to at least 20% of new mobile phone sales Achieved 20% or more
Ensure 100% proper processing (zero landfill rate) of recovered handsets Achieved 100%
Total number of reused and recycled units (FY2020 – 2025) 15.3 million

Common outcomes

Ensuring the sustainability of natural capital and resources to contribute to social, industrial, and economic development.

SDGs12
"Responsible Consumption and Production"

SDGs12 Responsible Consumption and Production

SDGs13
"Climate Action"

SDGs13 Climate Action

SDGs15
"Life On Land"

SDGs15 Life On Land

Initiatives for resource circulation
in corporate activities (offices, etc.)

The Company places 3R activities, green procurement, and paperless initiatives at the core of its efforts and continuously promotes the effective use of resources and the reduction of environmental impact. The Company also promotes awareness and collaboration among all employees and pursues sustainable office operations through legal compliance and technological innovation.

Implementing 3R activities
in offices

Reduce

Zero Paper for Internal Operations Declaration Since April 2012, the Company has promoted its "Zero Paper for Internal Operations Declaration" and has proactively shifted to paperless operations for paper used in both internal and external procedures, as well as for reports, meetings, and other activities. In April 2021, the Company also launched the Digitalization of Stamping Project to further accelerate paperless operations.
Achieving “100% paperless” operations in the customer support center To eliminate the risk of information leaks arising from printed materials, the Company identified and improved individual operations that had used large volumes of paper, including manuals, memos, and notices, and achieved 100% paperless operations, meaning zero paper usage, in the Customer Support Center, which handles private customer information. As a result, annual paper usage was reduced by 3.12 million sheets, equivalent to 240 logs, compared with previous years.

Reuse

Introduction of reusable plastic cups At the drink corner in the Takeshiba headquarters, the Company has introduced reusable bioplastic cups. Without using petroleum-derived materials, the Company has adopted a highly environmentally friendly material made primarily from biodegradable bioplastics*1 that is dishwasher-safe. After use, the cups can be reprocessed into new products, creating a comprehensive resource circulation system from reuse through recycling.
[Note]
  1. *1
    This plant-derived plastic is produced by chemically synthesizing lactic acid, which is obtained through the fermentation of starch from corn or sugarcane juice. It can ultimately be broken down into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms.

Recycle

Secured recycling boxes for collecting confidential documents Instead of individually processing unnecessary documents as wastepaper, they are collected in special locked security boxes for collecting confidential documents and batch dissolved at a later date to ensure security and recycling as toilet paper.

Appropriate use
of water resources

The Company recognizes that water is essential to its business activities and is also an important resource for the local communities in which its business sites are located. Accordingly, the Company addresses water risk and promotes the efficient use of water resources on a company-wide basis.

The Environment Committee manages water-related risks and provides managerial oversight to ensure both a company-wide response to such risks and the efficient use of water resources.

Appropriate Use of Water Resources

Pollution prevention measures

The Company monitors, manages, and analyzes the status of waste generation throughout the organization and manages waste in order to optimize disposal and reuse practices. Based on the analysis results, the Company develops plans to reduce waste generation and continually implements, evaluates, and improves those plans. Through these efforts, the Company aims to contribute to the environment and society by reducing environmental impact and complying with applicable laws and regulations.

In addition, in order to reduce the amount of waste generated, the Company collaborates with various companies that purchase valuable items. Before disposing of unused items, the Company consults with these companies for valuation and strives to establish a framework under which such items can be sold as valuable assets.

Appropriate processing
of industrial waste

Industrial waste generated through the Company's business activities is appropriately disposed of in accordance with the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law, and the Company is committed to preventing pollution.

Network centers The Company seeks to reduce final disposal volumes of obsolete telecommunications equipment and construction waste by promoting reuse.
Offices and distribution centers Asbestos used in the Company's offices and facilities has been investigated, and measures have been taken to ensure that it remains at levels that do not affect human health. The Company is also carrying out systematic improvement and removal measures. In addition, the Company is working to complete the treatment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) within the deadline set by the Ministry of the Environment.

Raising awareness of industrial waste disposal

Employees involved in industrial waste management receive practical e-learning training on proper waste disposal and electronic manifest systems, thereby ensuring compliance with relevant laws and appropriate handling. In FY2025, the participation rate in the industrial waste e-learning program for personnel in charge of industrial waste disposal divisions was 100%. In addition, support systems such as consultation desks have been established.

Amount of industrial waste

Item [Unit] Boundary Coverage FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 FY2025
Amount of generation [t] SB consolidated
basis		 FY2025:
100.0%		 6,196 6,398 6,696 6,604 7,968
Amount of final disposal [t] 528 557 301 256 555

Additional resource and waste data can be found under “ESG Data”.
SoftBank achieved a 98% landfill diversion rate in FY2025*1.

[Notes]
  1. *1
    Rate of waste recycled instead of being landfilled, or finally disposed of.
  2. *
    Although increases in waste generation and final disposal volume are anticipated as the business expands, the Company has set a long-term target for FY2030 of maintaining current levels of waste generation and final disposal volume by promoting recycling and collaborating with supply chain partners and waste disposal operators.

Other resource circulation initiatives

Promotion of
plastic resource recycling

The Company has identified the promotion of a recycling-based society, or circular economy, as one of the value creation themes under its material issues and is working toward a KPI of achieving a recycling rate of at least 98% for industrial waste, including plastics.

The Company also works to reduce the use of, and promote the reuse and recycling of, plastics used in products such as mobile phones and their accessories, as well as packaging materials, paper resources and plastic materials used to provide products and services.

Through these initiatives, the Company aims to reduce its dependence on natural capital and mitigate the impact on business continuity and earnings of risks such as the depletion of petroleum-derived and other resources, associated shortages in raw material supply, and price increases. The Company also seeks to reduce the impact of waste and microplastics on ecosystems, thereby reducing the burden on the natural environment through resource circulation.

Promotion of green purchasing

As part of its green purchasing initiatives, the Company has, in principle, used recycled copy paper products compliant with the Green Purchasing Law since July 2004. Furthermore, for stationery items displayed on its procurement website, the Company shows the status of environmental labels, such as Green Purchasing Law-compliant products and Eco Mark items, in order to encourage the purchase of products with lower environmental impact.

Initiatives by our group companies

SB C&S Corporation SB C&S Corporation designs and develops computers and mobile peripherals through eco-design, reducing resource use via miniaturization and weight reduction, and promoting component reuse and recycling by adopting easy-to-disassemble structures.
Additionally, as part of its ICT equipment sales, SB C&S Corporation operates an ‘ICT Lifecycle Service’ that purchases unwanted devices.
Purchased devices are reused and recycled for environmental considerations*1, reducing waste output and repurposing them as valuable global resources and socially circulating items.
ASKUL Corporation In April 2022, ASKUL Corporation launched the "ASKUL Resource Circulation Platform" to promote resource circulation by collaborating with all stakeholders across the value chain throughout the entire product lifecycle—from planning and design to manufacturing, sales, reuse, and ultimately resource recovery and product recirculation.
To make effective use of limited resources and reduce CO2 emissions, participants are asked to return used clear folders, which are then recycled and remanufactured.
ZOZO, Inc. ZOZOTOWN offers trade-in programs—“Kaikae-Wari”*2 and “Itsudemo Kaikae-Wari”—that allow customers to trade in items they previously purchased.
Amid growing concerns about fashion waste, these services help build a circular system within ZOZOTOWN by reselling traded-in items in the pre-owned apparel section, ZOZOUSED.
Items that do not meet ZOZOUSED's resale standards are sold to multiple clothing recyclers that follow proper disposal practices.
Going forward, ZOZO, Inc. will continue to promote a circular economy based on a sustainable business model.
[Notes]
  1. *1
    The recycling rate for desktop computers is approximately 99.6%.
  2. *2
    “Kaikae-Wari” is a registered trademark of ZOZO, Inc.