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).
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*1Reduction per unit production based on the business fields in 2007
Water Use Performance 2017
| Area | Use (Thousand m3) | Per unit reduction rate* |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 22,361 | 3.8% increase |
| Americas | 6,704 | 1.7% reduction |
| Europe | 5,880 | 1.1% increase |
| Asia | 4,896 | 5.1% reduction |
| Oceania | 613 | 1.1% reduction |
| Total | 40,454★ | 0.8% increase |
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*25 production plants in Japan and 56 production plants overseas
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*Per unit production is the amount of usage per kiloliter produced; the rate of reduction is shown as a comparison to the previous year
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*The reduction rate was 4.5% from 2015, which is the base year for unit production.
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*Therein, the water use by Suntory Beverage & Food Group companies in Japan and overseas was 21,771 thousand m3★
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*From FY 2016, Suntory has received independent assurance from KPMG AZSA Sustainability, Co., Ltd. The numerical values assured are indicated with ★.
Water use
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*25 production plants in Japan
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*Per unit shows the amount of water used per 1kL of production
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-Result: Total amount increased by 4.8% and 3.8% per unit production compared to previous year
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.
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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 resource
| Intake source | Amount of water (Thousand m3) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | |
| Groundwater | 17,714 | 19,493 |
| Rivers/lakes | 11,258 | 11,385 |
| Rain water | 1 | 1 |
| City water | 10,130 | 9,571 |
| Water supplied from external sources (recycled water) | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 39,103 | 40,454 |
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*25 production plants in Japan and 56 production plants overseas in 2017
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 and as cooling water in air conditioning equipment.
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 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.
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*A treatment method that decomposes pollutants using microbes (anaerobic bacteria)
Water discharge
| Destination | Waste Water (Thousand m3) | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2017 | |
| Rivers/lakes | 14,948 | 15,968 |
| Sea | 0 | 1,086 |
| Sewers | 7,570 | 7,830 |
| Others (for watering plants, etc.) | 232 | 48 |
| Total | 22,750 | 24,932 |
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*25 production plants in Japan and 56 production plants overseas in 2017
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*Therein, the waste water from Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. plants in Japan and overseas amounts to 13,074 thousand m3
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24-hour waste water management system
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Meeting of persons in charge of waste water