- Sustainability
Sustained by Nature and Water
At Suntory, we believe in doing more than just offering products; we recognize it is our responsibility to make a positive impact on those around us, and to give back to nature and society.
We acknowledge that our high level of craftsmanship is only possible through the gifts of nature, particularly water, and so we are committed to efforts that keep water pure and abundant for future generations and create harmony within our communities through the humanities. This is the legacy of our founder, Shinjiro Torii, who believed that success is only real when it is shared. We owe ours to nature, to our customers, our employees, and our communities. Giving back is our way of saying thank you.
At Suntory, our efforts to protect and preserve water begin with a deep scientific understanding of the water cycle and how it varies across regions. Based on this understanding, we take a comprehensive and tailored approach, from promoting environmentally conscious water use and conserving watersheds to engaging with the local community to address the unique challenges of water cycles in different communities around the world.
Leading change through a commitment to science-based action
As of 2025, Suntory has established 26 Natural Water Sanctuaries in Japan across 16 prefectures. At these sanctuaries we conserve and restore forests and biodiversity to safeguard the sustainability of high-quality groundwater. As a result of these long-term efforts, our Natural Water Sanctuaries in Japan now replenish more than twice the volume of groundwater used by our plants, while also serving as valuable living laboratories for scientific research.
Suntory has been sharing our learnings from decades of such science-based, long-term initiatives in Japan, to contribute to water sustainability in the areas in which we operate around the world. To ensure that our initiatives are effective in the local context, we engage in valuable partnerships with local institutions to bring our expertise together. These efforts include work with universities in Thailand and Spain on watershed level, water cycle, and risk analysis, and with the University of Kentucky in the U.S. on watershed balance assessment and long-term monitoring around distillery sites.
Recently, in Australia, we embarked on a three-year strategic partnership with The Australian Rivers Institute at Griffith University to support research into the impact of climate change on water quantity and quality. The collaboration aims to support effective water stewardship and long-term water sustainability, both locally—through on the ground validation based on Suntory’s water replenishment initiative, the Brisbane River catchment—and more broadly, by generating insights and expertise relevant to global water management and restoration efforts.
Expanding water stewardship globally to replenish more than we use
Suntory’s water stewardship continues to grow through collaborative partnerships and aims to understand and address long-term water sustainability challenges.Our research and associated activities are tailored by region and implemented across many locations – serving the unique needs of the communities in which we operate.
• In 2018, Suntory Oku-Daisen Bunanomori Water Plant became the first plant in Japan to receive certification from the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). Established by NGOs, including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the AWS awards this international certificate to companies for their water sustainability efforts. Today, all four Suntory water plants in Japan have received the highest Platinum certification and replenishing more than twice the amount of water we use in Japan.
• In Spain, Suntory has been an active partner in “Guardians of the Tagus” since 2022, working with administrations, universities, NGOs and the local community to restore aquatic ecosystems and ensure the sustainability of the Guajaráz Reservoir, one of the three reservoirs that supply our Toledo plant.
• In Scotland, Suntory Holdings and Suntory Global Spirits launched the Peatland Water Sanctuary™ initiative in 2021, dedicating over $4 million to the conservation and restoration of peatlands and natural watersheds across Scotland.
• In the United States, Suntory partnered with the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, near our James M. Beam Distillery Co. in Clermont, Kentucky, to implement a Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative that has preserved 90 miles of waterways and 21 billion gallons of rainwater annually.
These are just a few of the many local initiatives Suntory is leading by sharing the expertise born from our long-term commitment to water sustainability, combined with our Institute’s scientific research.
Addressing water issues holistically: From upstream to downstream
Going beyond our watershed conservation efforts, we are expanding our “Mizuiku” – education program for nature and water to nine countries as of 2026. This initiative inspires children—the next generation of water users and future “water champions”—to experience the wonders of nature and learn the vital importance of water.
We have endeavored to be good stewards of the watersheds, fields, and forests that surround and support us. From science and research efforts to raising water awareness, Suntory is invested in the full scope of water sustainability.
Rooted in our founding spirit, it is Suntory's ongoing commitment to create harmony between people and nature. Through research, collaboration, foresight, and care, we will continue to contribute to water sustainability so that all living things can flourish, and so that quality water is abundant for future generations.
