The delicious taste of Suntory products begins with high-quality groundwater.
The aim of our Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative is to help conserve and restore forests and biodiversity in the watershed areas of our plants in Japan, thereby safeguarding the sustainability of high-quality groundwater.
Suntory Group considers these efforts not as volunteer activities, but as a core part of our business.
26locations across16prefectures nationwide
About12,000ha
(as of August 2024)
Our Natural Water Sanctuaries help replenish more than twice the volume of groundwater that we withdraw for use at our plants in Japan.*This includes both water used in products and water used in manufacturing processes.
Our employees frequently visit these forests and work closely with experts and local communities!
in our Natural Water Sanctuaries and the living things that help create it
Forests that store and nurture groundwater require “soft, spongy soil” to absorb rainwater.
This soft soil is created by a network of plant roots beneath the surface, as well as soil-dwelling animals and microorganisms that feed on fallen leaves.
Diverse lifeforms continue to thrive in the soft soil of our Natural Water Sanctuaries.
The activities of our Natural Water Sanctuaries depend not only on the vitality of living things but also on the knowledge, skills and engagement of experts and local communities.See our Initiative Structure
begins with thorough research
No two Natural Water Sanctuaries are exactly alike. To create the best maintenance plans tailored to each forest, we conduct detailed, evidence-based research across various scientific fields.
We’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about our Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative.
What is the total land area covered by the Natural Water Sanctuaries?
The total area is about 12,000 hectares. (as of August 2024)
Why does the Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative focus on biodiversity?
Most of Suntory's products are made using high-quality groundwater. One key to nurturing this vital resource is maintaining healthy forest soil (soft soil).
Soft soil acts like a sponge, absorbing large amounts of rainfall and allowing it to seep deep underground. The key to creating this kind of soft soil is a diversity of living things in the forest, including animals, plants, and microbes. Accordingly, Suntory focuses on biodiversity restoration and other nature-positive initiatives as a crucial part of its activities.
Are the Natural Water Sanctuaries owned by Suntory?
Suntory owns very little of the land that make up its Sanctuaries. Instead, we are able to manage these forests by entering into mid-to long-term agreements with forest owners, including national and local governments. We collaborate with experts from various research fields and local residents to implement forest management practices tailored to each forest's characteristics.
The contract period with forest owners is a minimum of 30 years, and in some cases, can extend up to 100 years. These significant timeframes are necessary to properly assess the effects of forest management efforts.
Are the Natural Water Sanctuary Initiatives carried out only by Suntory employees?
No, the initiatives are based on scientific knowledge, making the cooperation of experts and local residents essential. In addition to Suntory employees, the project involves specialists in various fields such as hydrology, ecology, silviculture, erosion control, soil science, geology, and forest utilization. Together with these experts and local communities, Suntory works to create forests that will thrive for the next 100 years.
The process follows the R-PDCA cycle, which includes five steps: Research, Plan, Do, Check, and Act. Research involves conducting investigations based on scientific evidence; Plan focuses on developing an optimal vision and activity plan for each forest; Do refers to the implementation of forest management activities by professionals; Check involves evaluating the results of these activities; and Act emphasizes making improvements and conducting further investigations as needed.
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