Suntory is a company that is dependent on water. Without quality water, we cannot produce any beer, whisky, soft drinks, or other beverages.High-quality groundwate is the lifeblood of the Suntory Group's business activities, and this high-quality groundwater is nurtured by healthy forests.

To ensure sustainability and the safety and reliability of the water used in our plants in Japan, we established Suntory Natural Water Sanctuaries in the water-source conservation areas of our plants. Through this project, we have been engaged in activities to conserve and restore forests and biodiversity. By 2019, our efforts had resulted in he cultivation of more than double the water drawn by our plants in Japan*.

This includes both water used in products and water used in manufacturing processes.

Learn about the initiative policy and structure

First, the Suntory Institute for Water Science conducts a hydrological survey to identify the water-source conservation area for the plant concerned. Based on this, our Natural Water Sanctuaries are established by signing to long-term forest management agreements with local governments and forest owners in the surrounding area.

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.

The total area is about 12,000 hectares. (as of August 2024)

There are 26 locations in 16 prefectures. (as of August 2024)

See the list of Natural Water Sanctuaries across Japan

Yes, Suntory carries out various water source conservation activities as part of our Natural Water Sanctuary Initiative in countries such as the United States, Scotland, France, and Spain.

For example, our water source conservation activities in the United States began in 2016 at the Maker's Mark Distillery in Kentucky. In 2018, Suntory partnered with the Bernheim Arboretum & Research Forest, located next to the Jim Beam Distillery, to promote ecosystem preservation activities in that water-conservation forest.

Along with water source conservation efforts in Europe, since 2021 Suntory has been working to restore Scottish peatlands, which are essential for whisky production. In Toledo, Spain, we initiated a conservation project at the end of 2023 to help restore the riparian forest along the Layos River. This waterway feeds the Guajaraz Reservoir, one of the region's key water sources.

Our forest management goals are broadly divided into achieving the following five objectives.
・Forests that function effectively as watershed protection forests
・Forests with abundant biodiversity
・Forests that offer protection against flooding and sediment disasters
・Forests with high CO2 absorption capacity
・Forests that are beautiful and allow us to enjoy nature’s abundance (also serve as locations to conduct Suntory’s Education Program for Nature and Water)

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.

Learn about the living things in the Natural Water Sanctuaries

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.

Learn about the initiative policy and structure

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.

Learn about the initiative structure

Our goal with our Natural Water Sanctuaries is not to plant specific tree species. The types of trees found in each forest grow there naturally, and vary depending on the region. Even on the slopes of the same mountain, suitable tree species can differ based on each specific location — such as on a ridge, mid-slope, near a stream, or depending on the direction that the slope faces. Additionally, even trees of the same species can vary genetically depending on the geographic region.

Therefore, in each Natural Water Sanctuary, seeds are collected from the surrounding forests and areas. The seedlings grown from these seeds are then planted, with careful consideration given to the genetic diversity of the trees.

Learn about the attention to detail in tree planting

When constructing logging roads in each Natural Water Sanctuary, we place great importance on envisioning what the forest should look like 100 years from now and determining the best approach for each one. Key considerations include the type of forest management needed to restore the forest, as well as the machinery and vehicles that will be used for tree cutting and hauling. We carefully design the most suitable logging roads to align with the unique future and ideal vision for each forest.

Learn about nature-friendly logging roads