Suntory Natural Water Sanctuary Project Achieved the 2020 Goal in Advance

On Monday, June 10, Suntory Holdings Ltd. concluded a partnership with Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture to promote water education programs and nature conservation activities. Suntory has been implementing nature preservation activities at the Natural Water Sanctuary Minami-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, an area of approximately 180ha where assumed to be the area that is nurturing the groundwater Suntory’s Minami-Alps Water Plant pumps up as a water resource. Under the partnership, Suntory will expand the area of Natural Water Sanctuary Minami-Alps to 2,027ha and will continuously conduct and deepen researches of forests and water in this area. Furthermore, through conducting joint research with Yamanashi Prefecture, Suntory will address to formulate effective measures to deal with the deer damage at the forest, a significant issue in Yamanashi Prefecture.

With the conclusion of the agreement, Natural Water Sanctuary Project has achieved it’s 2020 Goal: “cultivating water more than double the amount of groundwater pumped up in the Suntory Group’s plants in Japan” in advance.

Many of Suntory’s businesses are supported by the blessing of nature, such as water and agricultural produce. Therefore, we believe that it is Suntory’s responsibilities to devote for the sustainability of quality groundwater for the future. Creating forests brimming with diversity is essential to cultivating rich groundwater, and thus Suntory will continuously commit to create forests rich in biodiversity so that we can continue to provide quality water to our customers as well as leaving behind a rich natural environment for future generations.

The Natural Water Sanctuary Project, which began in 2003, has now expanded to 21 locations in 15 prefectures and covers a total area of about 12,000ha. We name every forest as “Natural Water Sanctuary,” however each of these forests is unique and differs from the other. It appears to be completely different at different places, and we must make separate maintenance plans for each forest. Suntory has been conducting rigorous investigations and studies based on a scientific survey to determine plans and targets tailored for each forest to improve water resource cultivation. Under our promise “Mizu To Ikiru*,” we will continue to further strengthen our Natural Water Sanctuary Project with the objective to preserve abundant water resources for the future to come.

* "Mizu To Ikiru," literally "living with water," is the promise we make to our customers, and the voice of our philosophy. From here flow all our other brand attributes, and every facet of our business. We value the blessings of water, and deliver them as goodness that touches every part of our world. We protect water in all its forms. Like water, we change and adapt. Every day, we turn into something new.