Water Sustainability

Effective Use of Water Resources

We are conserving water in our plants and returning waste water to nature after purifying it to avoid impact on the natural circulation of water.

Enhanced 3Rs for Water to Reduce Water Use

The Suntory Group’s plants use a large amount of water, for example, in cleaning production equipment and cooling, in addition to using it as an ingredient in our products. In order to conserve limited water resources, we intensify our activities to achieve targets toward 2030 of “Reduce water consumption at the Suntory Group plants worldwide by 35%*1” through enforcement of 3Rs for water, ensuring that the minimum amount of water is required (Reduce), water can be used repeatedly (Reuse), and water can be processed and used elsewhere (Recycle).

  • *1
    Reduction per unit production based on the business fields in 2015

Water Use Performance

Area Water use (thousand m3)
2015
(base year)		 2019 2020 2021
Japan 21,816 21,310 20,752 20,461
Americas 8,132 8,081 6,737 6,253
Europe 6,473 6,245 5,454 5,985
Asia 4,492 7,154 6,364 6,212
Oceania 562 438 444 424
Africa 216 129 89 84
Total 41,692 43,357 39,840 39,419★
  • *
    2015 (base year): Data covers 25 production plants in Japan and 59 production plants overseas ＊2021：Data covers 27 production plants in Japan and 64 production plants overseas
  • *
    Therein, the water use by Suntory Beverage & Food Group companies in Japan and overseas was 21,776 thousand m3★
  • *
    Results have received independent assurance from KPMG AZSA Sustainability Co., Ltd. The assured numerical values are indicated with ★.

Independent assurance report

  • *
    Per unit production is the amount of usage per kiloliter produced
  • *
    Data covers 27 production plants in Japan and 64 production plants overseas

Applying 3Rs in Water Usage

When selecting equipment and devices in our plants, we follow the "3Rs of Water": Reduce the amount of water as much as possible, Reuse water, and Recycle water through treatment.
A variety of activities related to the 3Rs are being implemented at the Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant of Suntory Products Ltd. In particular, thanks to our use of a sophisticated "water cascade" recycling process, we are an industry leader in terms of per unit production in relation to the volume of water used.

  • The Minami Alps Hakushu Water Plant of Suntory Products Ltd.

  • Reuse of water recycled at each stage of cleaning stored in 200 ton tanks

Using Cascades of Water

Water used in the manufacturing process is classified into five grades, including coolant water, cleaning water, ets., based on quality. This technology allows plants to recycle water to be used in subsequent processes, for example, using the highest grade water in the most demanding process, and recycling it for use in a process with less stringent requirements.

Amount of water usage by water source

Intake source Amount of water (thousand m3)
2019 2020 2021
Groundwater 18,687 17,698 17,129
Rivers/lakes 12,873 10,858 10,468
Rain water 0 0 0
City water 11,797 11,284 11,822
Water supplied from external sources (recycled water) 0 0 0
Total 43,357 39,840 39,419
  • *
    Data covers 27 production plants in Japan and 64 production plants overseas

Effective Use of Rainwater

Japan is fortunate to have plentiful rainfall, and rainwater is one of our important resources. The Suntory Group accumulates rainwater in tanks for use in watering plants.

Suntory Products Ltd. Kanagawa Ayase Plant uses rainwater to water plants

Comprehensive Waste Water Management

The Suntory Group established voluntary standards for waste water that are equally or stricter than the legal regulations and manages quality so that we may release waste water in a state as close to nature as possible. Waste water from our plants is first purified using anaerobic waste water treatment facilities* and other equipment before it is released into sewers and rivers. Inspectors use measuring equipment to take daily readings of things like water quality under a constant monitoring regime.
To further stabilize waste treatment facilities in plant in Japan, we are holding regular meeting attended by person in charge of waste water from every plant to improve the level of operation management and system to prevent troubles from 2014.

  • *
    A treatment method that decomposes pollutants using microbes (anaerobic bacteria)

Water discharge

Destination Waste Water (thousand m3)
2019 2020 2021
Rivers/lakes 14,481 13,611 13,961
Sea 1,061 967 1,088
Sewers 8,707 8,283 8,651
Others (for watering plants, etc.) 61 55 35
Total 24,310 22,917 23,736
  • *
    Data covers 27 production plants in Japan and 64 production plants overseas

  • 24-hour waste water management system

  • Meeting of persons in charge of waste water