Release number

No.14896

Posted date

2025/9/16

Category

• CSR

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment Recognizes Two Additional Suntory Natural Water Sanctuaries as “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites”

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  Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okudaisen

Tokyo, JAPAN (September 16, 2025) — Suntory Group is proud to announce that Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okudaisen and Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okutama have been certified as “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites” by Japan’s Ministry of the Environment on September 16^th.

This certification brings the total number of Suntory Natural Water Sanctuaries recognized as “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites” to eight, the highest number for any single company. The eight certified Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary sites are:
1. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Hyogo Nishiwaki-Monryusan (Nishiwaki City, Hyogo Prefecture)
2. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Tokyo Akigawa (Akiruno City, Tokyo)
3. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Shizuoka Oyama (Oyama Town, Sunto District, Shizuoka Prefecture)
4. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Nikko Kirifuri (Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture)
5. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Ohmi (Hino Town, Gamo District, Shiga Prefecture)
6. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Akagi (Shibukawa City and Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture)
7. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okudaisen (Kurayoshi City and Kofu Town, Hino District, Tottori Prefecture) *Newly certified
8. Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okutama (Hinohara Village, Nishitama District, Tokyo) *Newly certified 

The Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, adopted at the 15^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD-COP15) in December 2022, aims to achieve “Nature Positive” by 2030 by halting and reversing nature loss and putting nature on a path to recovery. The framework includes global targets such as “30by30,” which commits signatories to conserve or protect at least 30 percent of their nation’s land and ocean by 2030.

To achieve the “30by30” target, the Japanese government launched a system in 2023 to certify areas where biodiversity is conserved through the efforts of companies, local governments, NGOs and others as “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites.” In April 2025, this certification system was officially enacted as law under “the Act on Promoting Activities to Enhance Regional Biodiversity.” Certified areas that do not overlap with protected areas such as National Parks will be registered in the World Database as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

Since 2003, Suntory Group has been cultivating forests in the watersheds surrounding its owned plants in Japan as Natural Water Sanctuaries to enhance water source recharge capabilities and preserve biodiversity. The initiative has expanded to over 12,000 hectares across 26 locations in 16 prefectures in Japan, replenishing more than twice the volume of groundwater withdrawn by its owned plants in the country. Recognizing that forests nurturing pristine groundwater are also rich in biodiversity, Suntory Group has managed these forests through continuous monitoring of birds, animals, plants, and insects, collaborating with over 40 experts ranging from hydrology to wild bird specialists.

Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okudaisen and Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Okutama have been certified as “Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites” due to their preservation of biodiversity, which includes the presence of a healthy ecosystem suited to the region, based on the establishment of a long-term vision, management and monitoring of forests grounded in scientific knowledge, as well as the observation of breeding activities of rare raptors such as the golden eagle and grey-faced buzzard.

Suntory Group views these certifications as a significant achievement and will continue to promote sustainability management to contribute to achieving “Nature Positive.”

Learn more about Suntory Group’s environmental activities here, and about the Natural Water Sanctuary initiative here.

About Suntory Group
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group aims to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Sustained by the gifts of nature and water, the Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki and Hibiki, iconic American whiskies Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, canned ready-to-drink -196 (minus one-nine-six), The Premium Malt’s beer, Japanese wine Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection also includes non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Oasis, BOSS coffee, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, and V energy drink, 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 $20.3 billion in 2024. Its 41,357 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.
For more information, visit www.suntory.com and Drink Smart.