We have set reduction targets throughout the entire value chain and are working hard to combat global warming as a Group.

We have set challenges for each division to reduce CO₂ emissions throughout the value chain, from product development and manufacture to distribution and sales.
In 2009, we set a new medium-term target: to reduce emissions of CO₂ from all business activities in the Suntory Group in Japan by 20% from 2007 levels by the year 2012. To meet this target, in 2010 we reduced the weight of our packaging materials, installed heat pump-equipped vending machines, and made efforts to employ renewable energy in our manufacturing processes, all of which led to a 9% reduction compared to 2007. However, owing to production increases that far exceeded the planned amounts, the total volume of emissions was reduced by only 1% (value chain CO₂ emissions per unit production were reduced by 10% compared to 2007). We will continue striving to reduce CO₂ throughout the value chain.

We are committed to energy efficiency at Suntory Group plants through production activities harmonized with the environment. Making records of and managing the operational status centrally is useful for establishing energy efficient activities in the production process. Furthermore, we are working to combat global warming from a variety of angles, including by switching to low CO₂ emitting fuels and by using renewable energy. Every plant has a council of engineers that meets regularly, and activities are conducted across the board in all Group companies equally.
Although CO₂ emissions increased in 2010 accompanying the rise in production, per unit production was reduced thanks to switching fuels and making construction improvements at our plants.

Reductions Made by Introducing Cogeneration Systems

We are introducing cogeneration systems into our production activities. As of December 2010, we have introduced the systems at 4 plants in all, at our Haruna Plant, Tonegawa Beer Plant, Kyoto Beer Plant, and Osaka Plant.

Switching to Fuels Low in CO₂ Emissions

We have completed the switch at most of our plants from using heavy oil to city gas and liquid natural gas (LNG). These gas fuels have fewer CO₂ emissions per unit of heat and they contain almost no sulfur.

Promoting the Use of Renewable Energy

Solar power at the Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant

We are working to use renewable energy (clean energy) sources such as solar, micro hydraulic, and snow-ice sources. For example, at the Suntory Products Ltd.'s Okudaisen Bunanomori Water Plant, we have introduced snow rooms where we accumulate winter snow and use it to reduce some of the cooling load in springtime.
Another example is the Suntory Products Ltd.'s Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant, where they are making effective use of the coolness of groundwater, which holds practically the same temperature throughout the year, in the cooling of manufacturing equipment. We have been able to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 1,300 tons through these means. At the same plant, we have also installed solar power panels capable of generating roughly 490 kW of power, the largest amount in the industry.* On clear days, the panels supply about 20% of the electricity used by the plant, reducing its CO₂ emissions by about 205 tons compared to when the power is purchased from the power company.

We are striving to reduce the environmental burden imposed by our distribution and shipping operations, too, in everything from procuring ingredients and packaging materials to delivering products to consumers. We also have a highly efficient truck transport system in place thanks to a computerized system we developed in-house and our progress toward a modal shift. In 2010, our CO₂ emissions rose 8% over the previous year by approximately 95,000 tons as a result of a sales volume increase due to the effects of a heat wave and an increase in long-haul shipping routes.

Switching to the Use of Larger Vehicles

The Suntory Group is switching over to using larger vehicles in order to reduce the number of vehicles we have on the road. Our plan is to switch more to larger vehicles by using trailer rigs in conjunction with our Integrated Transportation Arrangement system, particularly when it comes to truck transportation from our manufacturing plants to local product warehouses.

Modal Shift

Eco-Rail Mark

Rail and sea transport produces fewer CO₂ emissions than trucks when transporting over medium to long distances. We are thus shifting from using truck to rail and sea transport. This process is called a "modal shift." In 2010, sea transport remained the same as the previous year while rail transport rose by 1%, lifting our modal shift ratio by 1% to 35%. We also achieved a modal shift ratio of 71% for transportation over 500 km or more, greatly exceeding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) target (50% by 2010).
In March 2011, Suntory Liquors Ltd., Suntory Wine International Ltd., and Suntory Foods Ltd. received an Eco-Rail Mark certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) for being companies making active use of eco-friendly rail transport and actively grappling with global environment problems.

Transporting a Variety of Cargo through a Single Shipper

The Suntory Group has introduced an Integrated Transportation Arrangement® System for calculating the optimal combination of trucks and routes for various types of cargo and shipping centers. We are working to reduce the number of trucks used as well as the distances and times trucks run without any load. The goal is to further reduce our environmental impact by cutting down on losses in transportation time such as by sharing cargo information with other companies in order to combine cargo from several companies on one vehicle.

Heat-pump vending machine

The Suntory Group views the electricity usage of vending machines as one of our key challenges for reducing CO₂ emissions in the value chain. In 1995, we introduced a peak-cut feature that cuts off the cooling equipment for a fixed period of time at peak times during the summer. Since 2007, we began installing heat-pump^*1 vending machines that give due consideration to the environment. These machines can reduce power usage by approximately 37% compared to conventional vending machines (2007 models) and with that also reduce our CO₂ emissions. Nearly all of the vending machines we put into use in 2010 were heat-pump models, and in 2011 we will install all heat-pump vending machines as new machines (excluding certain specific machines). Through this, we project that by the end of 2011 heat-pump vending machines will account for approximately 20% (around 100,000) of the 480,000 or so vending machines that the Suntory Group operates. Starting in 2011, we will also be steadily putting into use heat-pump vending machines equipped with LED lighting, improving energy conservation.
Additionally, we will be gradually introducing extreme energy conservation machines^*2 whose annual energy consumption is less than half that of conventional vending machines (2007 models).

Solar panels at the Products Development Center

At our Odaiba office, we have implemented solar power, the use of recycled water, automatic lighting adjustment systems, and human sensors for lavatory lighting and escalators. We also introduced solar power equipment at our Products Development Center in December 2010. Additionally, we have been aggressively making use of Internet teleconferencing since 2010 to reduce the CO₂ emissions generated when employees travel on business.

Green Energy logo

In January 2011, Suntory Hall and the Suntory Museum of Art introduced a green electricity system. This system makes use of the Green Power Certification system made by Energygreen Co., Ltd. All 2.5 million kWh of electrical energy the two facilities use each year is regarded as having been provided using green energy, the effect of which is to reduce CO₂ emissions by approximately 960 tons per year.
Additionally, green energy was also used for some of the games played by the Suntory Sunbirds volleyball team and the Suntory Sungoliath rugby team.