The Suntory Group businesses are supported and realized by precious global resources such as water. The global environment which holds the blessings of water and nature is a vital foundation of our businesses. We actively strive to coexist with the natural environment worldwide as we expand these businesses to pass down a sustainable society to the next generation. The Suntory Group will continue to engage in various initiatives in the future with the goal of becoming a global pioneer of environmental conservation.
Environmental Conservation Activities to Cultivate Water
Beam Suntory
Beam Suntory has worked to preserve the natural environment, such as water conservation activities around its distilleries and the improvement of biodiversity in forests, to protect the precious natural resource of water. The Maker's Mark Water Sanctuary Project that began in 2016 planted American white oak trees on 33-acres of distillery land (approx. 13 hectares) as an effort in water resource cultivation. In 2018, new environmental conservation activities also began with the setup of a Natural Water Sanctuary on 15,625 acres of land (approx. 6,300 hectares) in the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, a water resource of the Jim Beam distillery.
In Mexico, Casa Sauza has been participating in a collaborative watershed Initiative with other beverage manufacturing companies, to restore and protect the Santiago River Basin in the buffer zone of the natural protected area of Cerro Viejo through restoration against the loss of connectivity between forest and the lagoon due to the construction of a highway.
In Scotland, the Peatland Water Sanctuary, a large-scale series of peatland restoration and conservation and watershed conservation projects, has launched in 2021. We plan to invest more than $4 million in the restoration and conservation of 1,300 hectares of peatlands by 2030, enough to produce the same amount of peat that Beam Suntory harvests every year in making its Scotch whiskies on an ongoing basis. Once restored and conserved, peatland naturally accumulates by 1mm per year, and that 1mm growth spread across 1,300 hectares will equate to Beam Suntory's annual use.
Suntory Beverage & Food Europe
In France, Suntory Beverage & Food Europe entered into a 20-year partnership for the conservation of water resources in 2017 with Grand Parc Miribel Jonage, a nature park located next to the Meyzieu Plant. This partnership conducts conservation activities in the forest spanning the Grand Parc Miribel Jonage and supports educational programs for children, in addition to protecting water resources and the natural environment near the plant as well as promoting cultivation activities with the local community.
In Spain, Suntory Beverage & Food Europe engaged in ecosystem conservation activities with the cooperation of the local community in the hope of revitalizing the ecosystem in and around the Júcar river near its plant in Carcagente.
Access to Safe Water
Suntory Beverage & Food Asia
In Vietnam, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia has been contributing to repairs and installations of toilets and washrooms mainly at schools taking part in the Suntory Mizuiku since 2015 to improve the sanitary environment for children.
In 2019, sediment based erosion was prevented by slowing the currents of streams in northern Chiang Mai Province, small weirs to support permeation of groundwater were installed, trees were planted to prevent soil from flowing into the streams, and other water resource preservation activities were carried out.
In Nairobi, Kenya, Suntory engages in activities to supply clean and safe drinking water to schools through the Kangemi Resource Centre, which supports the education of the local community and addresses water shortages.