Contribution to a recycling-oriented society

Promoting the Reduction and Recycling of Waste

As part of our efforts toward establishing a recycling-oriented society, Suntory is working to reduce emissions of by-products and waste and to achieve 100% recycling.

By-products and Waste Generation Performance

Area Amount of discharge (thousand tons)
2019 2020 2021
Japan 251 228 218
Americas 193 156 410
Europe 113 95 119
Asia 32 32 30
Oceania 5 7 7
Africa 0 0 0
Total 594 518 783★
  • *
    Data covers 27 production plants in Japan and 64 production plants overseas
  • *
    The increase in emissions in the Americas is due to the addition of waste and by-products to be included from FY2021. The amount of the waste and by-products increased by 238 thousand tons due to the addition.
  • *
    Therein, the byproducts and waste generated by Suntory Beverage & Food Group companies in Japan and overseas amount to 148 thousand tons★
  • *
    Results have received independent assurance from KPMG AZSA Sustainability Co., Ltd. The assured numerical values are indicated with ★.

Independent assurance report

Promoting the Recycling of Waste

We are committed to reducing the by-products and waste generated in the manufacturing processes at Suntory Group plants in Japan, and to recycling 100% of resources.
In 2021, our plants in Japan (including Group companies) generated 217,925 tons of byproducts and waste. This means total waste generated is the same and by-products and waste amount per unit of production decreased by 7.5% compared to 2021.

Suntory Beverage & Food Europe is working to reduce and recycle waste with the goal of achieving zero waste from its plants. We have also set a goal of reducing food waste from our products by 50%. As part of our efforts to achieve this goal, we donate surplus products to charitable organizations to help those suffering from poverty.

Recycling Rate of Japanese Plants and Flow for reuse of by-products and waste generated in each production process

  2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Amount of discharge (thousand ton) 258 258 251 228 218
Amount recycled (thousand ton) 258 258 251 228 217
recycling rate (%) 100.0 100.0 99.9 100.0 99.7

By-products and Waste generation, recycling rate and the purpose of use for recycled products

Type of waste Main Purpose of Use 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Generation (t) Recycling Rate (%) Generation (t) Recycling Rate (%) Generation (t) Recycling Rate (%) Generation (t) Recycling Rate (%) Generation (t) Recycling Rate (%)
Vegetable (glycation, tea, coffee dregs, etc.) - Animal feed
- Fertilizer
195,334 100 187,818 100 181,524 100 164,185 100 159,273 100
Sludge (excess sludge, etc.) - Fertilizer 30,351 100 30,472 100 31,245 100 30,275 100 27,337 100
Wood waste (cask, palletes) - Animal feed
- Fertilizer
1,314 100 4,435 100 2,458 100 5,186 100 5,267 100
Glass and ceramic scrap - Glass materials
- Base course material
3,508 100 3,216 100 2,825 100 2,285 100 1,337 100
Paper scraps (cardboards, paper labels, etc.) - Recycled paper
- Cardboard materials
6,349 100 6,228 100 6,429 100 5,520 100 5,508 100
Plastic - Palette
- Solid fuel
- Supplementary fuel
5,918 100 6,138 100 6,338 100 6,033 100 5,796 100
Metal scraps (aluminum, steel) - Aluminum
- Steel ingredients
2,958 100 3,240 100 3,270 100 3,314 100 3,506 100
Other 12,632 100 16,405 100 17,365 100 11,558 100 9,903 93
Total 258,365 100 257,951 100 251,454 100 228,355 100 217,925 99.7
  • *
    Data covers 27 production plants in Japan

Applications of recycled materials

We are furthering resource recycling for the by-products and waste produced by the Suntory Group in various applications.

  • Barrel cabinet

  • Dining Set "TARURU"

  • Drink sampling tray made from barrel

Building a Recycling Circulation Cycle for Food Waste -- Izutsu Maisen Co., Ltd.

Izutsu Maizumi Co., Ltd. is actively working to reduce and reuse food waste so as not to waste the precious gifts of nature. One predominate initiative is the setup of a recycling circulation cycle for the crusts of bread.
Izutsu Maisen cuts off the crusts of the bread when they make their popular fried pork cutlet sandwiches. These bread crusts are generally given to business operators who are able to recycle them as feed, but Izutsu Maisen launched their original Amai-Yuwaku pork brand that raises pigs on this feed in 2012 because the crusts are perfect as feed. This is an initiative that uses the bread crusts once again in a cycle as a raw material such as in the pork cutlets once.

Original Amai-Yuwaku pork brand