Preventing Global Warming

Initiatives in Production and R&D

Reducing GHG through Use of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation

Plants and research facilities of the Suntory Group are actively using renewable energy as well as implementing energy conservation measures to reduce GHG emissions. In addition, number of plants that have achieved net-zero CO2 emissions are growing, including through utilization of carbon offsetting.

1. Use of Renewable Energy

Suntory Group aims to transition the electricity used at all its production and R&D sites*1 involved with beverage, food, and liquor business in Japan, the Americas, and Europe to those generated by renewable sources.

In April 2022, we switched the electricity purchased by all our 30 production and R&D sites in Japan to those generated by renewable sources. This amounts annual GHG reduction of approximately 150,000 tons*2. Through this, over 90% the electricity purchased by our production and R&D sites in Japan, the Americas, and Europe became generated by renewable sources. Furthermore, Suntory Hall and Suntory Museum of Art also uses electricity generated by renewable sources.

  • *1
    Sites involved with beverage, food, and liquor business
  • *2
    Based on amount of emissions in 2020

In addition to purchased electricity, we are also installing solar panels and biomass boilers at our plants to generate renewable energy on our own.

  • Suntory Minami Alps Hakushu
    Water Plant

  • Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori
    Water Plant

  • Carcaixent Plant (Spain)

  • Biomass boiler
    (Chita Distillery)

  • Biomass boiler
    (Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori
    Water Plant)

2. Promoting Energy Conservation

Suntory Spirits Ltd. Gunma Brewery has undergone a construction to increase its production capability of beer in 2013. At the same time, latest cauldron was introduced in the preparation stage for efficient use of energy, along with renewing boilers and cooling facility to optimize the energy supply facility. As a result, the energy efficiency improved by about 20% in the plant.

Suntory Spirits Ltd.
Gunma Brewery

We have been conducting initiatives to improve the heat recovery rate at distilleries since 2016 and installed a new type of once-through boiler in 2017 at Sauza Plant in Mexico where large amount of fuel is used. Furthermore, these activities have also adopted the 2016 Joint Crediting Mechanism Financial Support Business that contributes to reducing GHG emissions in developing countries.

Newly installed boiler
at the Beam Suntory
Sauza Plant in Mexico

Suntory World Research Center introduced equipment to reduce the environmental impact such as an arrangement of LED lighting through the entire facility, automated control of lighting and airflow through image sensors, temperature difference water supply, and the application of hybrid heat source equipment to concurrently use natural gas and electricity while eagerly using natural energy such as the application of top lights*1 that actively let in natural light. The same center has acquired Class S, which is the highest class of the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE)*2.

  • *1
    Top light: Windows installed on roofs for natural light and ventilation
  • *2
    CASBEE: Environmental performance assessment for building overall developed by the Institute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation with the support of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2001.

Suntory World Research Center

Iwanohara Vineyard Co., Ltd. takes benefit being located in region of heavy snowfall and installed snow room in 1898 to store snow during winter. The thermal energy of snow is used to control the temperature for fermenting wine and storage. Following the tradition, snow room was rebuilt in 2005 and is being used to cool wine-aging warehouse.

In Okudaisen Bunanomori Water Plant of Suntory Products Ltd., which also is located in region of heavy snowfall, also implements snow room and used as part of thermal control during spring.

Snow room at Okudaisen Bunanomori
Water Plant of Suntory Products Ltd.

3. Net-zero CO2 Emissions Plant

The Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant (Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture) which started operation in May 2021 as a fourth water resource for Suntory Tennensui Mineral Water, become the Suntory Group’s first zero CO2 Emissions plant in Japan through adoption of solar power generation facility and boilers which use biomass fuel, electric power procurement derived from renewable energy as well as offsetting. Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery in North America which started operations in 2021 uses only renewable energy.

  • Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori
    Water Plant

  • System for Achieving Zero CO2
    Emissions at Suntory Kita Alps
    Shinano-no-Mori
    Water Plant

  • Fred B. Noe Craft Distillery
    (Beam Suntory, North America)