Suntory Group
FOR SUNTORY GROUP, protecting water isn’t just a good thing to do— it’s vital to Suntory’s business and quality of water used to make beverages and health products, including Yamazaki and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbons, as well as the soft drinks brand Orangina. “Water itself is very much a source of our business,” says Harumichi Seta, general manager of sustainability management division. “The quality of the base water determines the finished quality that goes into the bottle or can.” The company established its Sustainable Water Philosophy in 2017, based on the principles of understanding the natural cycle of water, promoting environmentally conscious water use, conserving watersheds and engaging with the local community. By 2050, Suntory aims to become “net water positive” in its direct operations by reducing water intensity of production at owned plants by 50% and replenishing more than 100% of water used in all of its owned plants. It will also collaborate with suppliers to improve sustainable water use in all key raw ingredients by 2050. The company has set 2030 interim targets primarily focusing on high water stressed areas. In 2003, Suntory created its Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative in Japan aimed at managing and conserving forests, and the biodiversity within forests, to replenish and nurture groundwater near its plants. Led by the Suntory Institute for Water Science, the initiative today is active in 21 forests areas in Japan, covering 30,000 acres, replenishing more than double the water the company uses in its plants in the country. In 2016 and 2018, the company expanded this initiative to its U.S.-based Maker’s Mark and Jim Beam distilleries, and in 2021 the company launched an initiative to conserve and restore peatlands and watersheds in Scotland, which are important to the production of Scotch whiskies. “We are currently accelerating our work to expand what we have learned in Japan to a global scale and to do more water stewardship initiatives outside Japan,” Seta says. In addition to the above, the company currently conserves watersheds in India, Mexico and France, and plans to expand further by first concentrating on areas with high water stress by addressing local water challenges unique to each location.