News Release

Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant Becomes First Japanese Food & Beverage Factory to Receive PAS2060 Verification for Carbon Neutrality

- Also becomes first recipient of verification in Nagano Prefecture -

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Tokyo, JAPAN (July 19, 2023) – Suntory Group is proud to announce that Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant has been proved to be a carbon-neutral facility after receiving a PAS2060^*1 verification from the British Standards Institution (BSI). This is the first verification received by a food & beverage factory in Japan, and is also the first verification example in the history of Nagano Prefecture, where the factory is located.

Founded in 1901, the British Standards Institution (BSI) is the world's first international standards organization. As an international organization appointed by the British government, BSI helps improve quality and safety through standardization of standards for products, services, and systems by publishing international standards and issuing verification opinions at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other organizations. BSI Group Japan, established in 1999, provides a wide range of standards-related services as the Japanese subsidiary of BSI Group.

The Suntory Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant, which began operations in 2021 as a new production base for Suntory Tennennsui water as well as a brand-experience facility, is the group's first zero CO2 emission factory^*2 in Japan, utilizing solar power generation equipment, biomass fuel boilers and procurement of electricity derived from renewable energy.

“We are pleased to announce that we have obtained PAS2060 verification for our Kita Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant, the first Suntory Group plant in Japan to achieve net zero CO2 emissions,” said Masaaki Fujiwara, Chief Sustainability Officer of Suntory Holdings Ltd. “We expect that this verification will enhance the credibility of our efforts, as it includes requirements for transparency in the process, such as verification of emissions, credits reliability, and information disclosure, and has established itself as a global standard for carbon neutrality. We will continue to promote the use of electricity derived from renewable energy sources in our energy procurement and introduce biomass boilers that use wood from thinned forests in the region, thereby contributing to the realization of a recycling-oriented, decarbonized society.”

As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water, the Suntory Group has continued its sustainability challenges with the purpose to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. To achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire value chain by 2050, Suntory Group has set a goal to halve GHG emissions in its direct operations and reduce by 30% across the entire value chain by 2030^*3. Suntory Group will continue to accelerate its efforts to contribute to creating a sustainable society.

*1: Abbreviation for Publicly Available Specification 2060, an international standard issued by BSI to quantify, reduce, and carbon offset greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from products/services/activities, thereby declaring them neutral (i.e., emissions of GHGs are effectively zero).

*2: First factory to achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions in its manufacturing processes by promoting energy conservation, introducing renewable energy, and using credits to offset fossil fuel-derived CO2 emissions.

*3: Total reduction versus 2019 baseline

Notes to editors:
●Comment from Masaki Urushihara, Managing Director of BSI group Japan: “As Suntory values the importance of continuing to transform and evolve its company, and continuing to build a company that is loved by its customers and employees, we believe that the challenge of acquiring PAS 2060 is a major milestone in realizing this. The environmental impact of the food industry, which consumes a large amount of energy, is significant, and the industry will need to pursue sustainability to meet its responsibilities in the future. The acquisition of PAS 2060, the first for a beverage manufacturer in Japan, is a major first step towards realizing Suntory's Purpose: 'Harmonize with people and nature, create a rich lifestyle and culture, and aim for the brightness of human life'. We believe that this progressive approach towards carbon neutrality in the Japanese food industry will lead the industry in the future as a sustainable business model. It is a great honor for us, founded in 1901, two years after Suntory's foundation, to be able to contribute to the creation of a new history for Suntory, which also boasts more than 120 years of history, and to exceed the expectations of our customers and society.”
●For more information on Suntory Group’s work on Carbon Neutrality, please see here. 

About Suntory Group
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from premium spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink alcohol beverages, to brewed teas, bottled water, still and carbonated soft drinks, ready-to-drink coffee and energy drinks, along with health and wellness products. Suntory is home to award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu, as well as iconic American spirits Jim Beam and Maker's Mark. Suntory also fascinates the taste buds with The Premium Malt's beer, and owns the exceptional Japanese wine, Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection includes Sauza Tequila, non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Ribena, BOSS coffee, Iyemon green tea, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, V and BRAND’S, as well as popular health and wellness product Sesamin EX.

Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of $20.2 billion in 2022. Its 40,885 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.

As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water, Suntory Group will always protect the ecosystems that deliver water. Because its ecosystem is the wellspring, not only of its business and the rich experiences the group creates for people's lives, but also of human life itself. Suntory Group will continue to be a company where everyone is empowered with the freedom and flexibility to innovate. Through all of its corporate pursuits, Suntory seeks to inspire the brilliance of life.

Learn more about Suntory Group, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability at www.suntory.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.