Suntory Partners with Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup to Join a Global Movement to Tackle Ocean Plastic Pollution
TOKYO (July 20th, 2021) — Suntory Holdings, a global leader in the beverage industry, today announced that it has signed a partnership agreement with Ocean Conservancy in July to join their International Coastal Cleanup, a global movement to keep beaches and ocean free of trash and raise awareness about the issue of ocean plastic pollution. Through this partnership, Suntory employees will participate in a beach cleanup conducted by Ocean Conservancy in Southeast Asia in 2022.
Ocean Conservancy is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington DC, US, with a mission to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Since 1986, it has mobilized the International Coastal Cleanup to collect nearly 155 million kg of trash from beaches and waterways worldwide.
“As a company that relies on the blessings of nature and with products that use plastic bottles, addressing ocean plastic pollution is critical to our business and we are excited to join this global movement in collaboration with Ocean Conservancy,” said Tomomi Fukumoto, COO of Corporate Sustainability at Suntory Holdings. “While the main focus of our efforts to date has been preventing plastics from entering the ocean in the first place, this new partnership provides us a great opportunity to help address plastic pollution on our beaches and coasts – benefitting not just our ocean but our communities and neighborhoods.”
In 2019, the company established the “Suntory Group Plastic Policy” to promote circular economy for plastics globally and further its corporate philosophy, “To create harmony with people and nature,” and its promise to stakeholders, “Mizu To Ikiru,” or living with water. Based on this Plastic Policy, Suntory Group is pursuing its 2030 sustainable plastics goals, aiming to switch all PET bottles used globally to be made of recycled or plant-based materials and to achieve zero use of virgin petroleum-based materials, through the development of sustainable materials, the adoption of circular processes, and promoting behavior change for consumers.
The Suntory Group will continue to further its efforts to promote sustainability globally and contribute to tackling social issues on a global level.
About Suntory Holdings
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Holdings offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products from premium spirits, beer and wine to brewed teas, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, ready-to-drink coffee and energy drinks, along with health and wellness products. Suntory is home to award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu as well as iconic American spirits Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. Suntory also fascinates the taste buds in Japan and the Asian market with our Premium Malt’s beer and also owns the exceptional Japanese wine Tomi and the world famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection also includes Sauza Tequila, non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Ribena, BOSS coffee, Iyemon green tea, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, V and BRAND’S, 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 $20.4 billion in 2020. Suntory is driven by Yatte Minahare – the spirit of bold ambition – and our 40,044 employees worldwide draw upon our unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.
As a company that delivers blessings of water and nature to our customers, Suntory is committed to its mission to create harmony with people and nature. Always aspiring to grow for good, Suntory is devoted to giving back to society through protecting water resources, nurturing its communities and fostering the arts.