Promotion of environment-friendly logistics
We are also striving to reduce environmental burden in the logistics transportation and delivery operations which transfix the supply chain flow of material supply, production, and delivery. We carry out highly efficient truck transport utilizing our original allocation system, along with the heavy promotion of modal shifts and utilizing larger sized vehicles. In 2021, while sales (KL) increased by 4%versus previous year, Green House Gas (GHG) emissions increased by 6% (≒137,000 tons), with a basic unit of 22.1 (GHG emissions/sales 1,000 KL).
GHG emissions resulting from logistics transportation (Japan)
Promoting the Use of Larger Vehicles
The Suntory Group is promoting shipping with large-scale vehicles to lower the number of trucks on the road. In particular, large-size trucks that use a trailer are being promoted in conjunction with efficient allocation of vehicles for shipments to each product vendors from production sites by truck.
Promoting Modal Shift
We are promoting a modal shift to rail and sea transport which produces fewer GHG emissions than trucks when transporting over medium to long distances. In 2021, the modal shift rate was 65.2%, 58.9% of which was sea transport and 6.3% of which was rail transport. In the future, we will also promote modal shifts especially for medium-haul routes.
Changes in modal shift ratio
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*Changes in the modal shift ratio are calculated based on long-haul (500km or more) trips
Suntory Liquors Ltd.*1 has been certified as 1st Eco Ship Mark*2 certified company in 2009. In addition, Suntory Liquors Ltd. received an Eco-Rail Mark certification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2011.
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*1Currently Suntory Spirits Ltd.
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*2Eco-ship Mark system certifies cargo owners and logistic operators that use more than set amount of sea cargo that is friendly to the environment.
Screened by Businesses with Excellent Eco Ship and Modal Shift Selection Committee
Eco Ship mark
Eco-Rail mark
Shipping Through Various Cargo and Shipper Integration
The Suntory Group has introduced the Integrated Transportation® Arrangement that calculates the optimal combination of vehicles and routes for various cargo and shipping locations. This reduces the distance and time with the number of trucks to use and the remaining capacity. In addition, we are reducing the environmental burden even further by limiting the loss when transporting goods with efforts such as sharing distribution information with other companies to combining cargo of multiple companies in one truck. We also ask our distribution partners to drive comprehensively in a way that reduces the environmental burden such as using idling stop systems and attaching digital tachometer that enable accurate monitoring and management of vehicle operation status.
Promoting Initiatives by Cooperating with Distribution Affiliates
201 of our distribution affiliates (as of FY2021) have acquired certifications, such as the ISO14001 (52 sites) and Eco Stage (23 sites) as well as Green Management advocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with the aim to further reduce the environmental impact. In addition, in response to amendments to the Rationalization in Energy Use Law, the Suntory Group collected GHG emissions data such as the monthly distance driven by vehicles, the amount of fuel consumed, and the useful load of distribution affiliates.
Promoting Collaborative Efforts with Other Companies
We are promoting distribution through cooperation with other companies such as joint distribution and joint use of containers as transportation measures that will lower the environmental impact.
| Participating Companies | Coordination | Description | Starting from | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suntory Group | Kirin Group | Joint distribution of soft-drink beverages within Chiba prefecture | July 2009 | Reduced GHG emissions approx. 46 tons/year |
| Suntory Logistics Ltd. | Toyobo Logistics Co., Ltd. | Each company packs cargo on return trips in vehicles that only have one-way cargo | January 2010 | Reduced GHG emissions approx. 100 tons/year |
| Suntory Logistics Ltd. | Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation | Joint use of railway containers | January 2011 | Reduced GHG emissions approx. 140 tons/year |
| Suntory Group | Four major beer companies in Japan | Joint distribution in some areas of Hokkaido (Kushiro/Nemuro) | September 2017 | Reduction of approximately 330 tons of GHG emissions per year (*Figures apply to all four beer companies) |
| Suntory Group | Four major beer companies in Japan | Joint distribution for transport between Kansai/Chugoku area and Kyushu area | April 2018 | Reduction of approximately 1,500 tons of GHG emissions per year (*Figures apply to all four beer companies) |
| Suntory Group | Four major beer companies in Japan | Joint collection of beer pallets | November 2018 | Reduction of approximately 4778 tons of GHG emissions per year (*Figures apply to all four beer companies) |
| Suntory Logistics Ltd. | Unicharm Corporation | Joint use of railway containers between Shizuoka area and Fukuoka area | February 2021 | Reduction of approximately 2 tons of GHG emissions per year (*Total figures for both companies) |
Round-trip use of containers transported by sea (joint use with other companies)
One of our social responsibilities is to engage in reduction of the environmental impact caused by transporting import goods. Since February 2011, we have been working to divert used containers to export cargo by sharing them with other companies in Japan. Up until now, we have been able to realize efficient transport reducing our GHG emissions through the round-trip use of containers that would have flown back empty.
This initiative was presented the Minister Prize of Economy, Trade and Industry at the Green Logistics Partner Awards announced in December 2013.
Round-trip Use of Containers