Suntory Group to source 100% renewable electricity by 2022

Suntory Group has committed to sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2022, as part of a JPY 100 billion (approximately $912 million) investment.

The global beverage company aims to power its 63 directly-owned manufacturing sites and R&D facilities in Japan, the Americas and Europe with 100% renewable electricity by next year.

The investment forms part of Suntory’s efforts to meet its goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2030, as it looks to shift to low-carbon alternatives. The multinational beverage firm unveiled its aim to achieve net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050 last year.

In order to meet its targets, Suntory plans to introduce internal carbon pricing to its group companies this year. As a result of these projects, Suntory estimates a reduction of around 1 million tons of GHG emissions in its direct operations when compared to a business-as-usual projection for 2030.

“As a company with a mission ‘to create harmony with people and nature,’ we are committed to doing everything possible to decarbonise our business,” said Tak Niinami, CEO of Suntory Holdings.

“We will further accelerate our work by taking immediate actions in places where we can shift to 100% renewable electricity, which is a critical step in achieving our climate goals.”

As of 2020, Suntory says approximately 30% of electricity used by its sites in Japan, the Americas and Europe comes from renewable sources.

Almost all electricity in the company’s European business is sourced from renewable sources. Meanwhile, Suntory Beverage and Food Europe – which owns brands including Ribena and Lucozade – has already achieved 100% renewable electricity.

Earlier this year, Suntory’s Kita-Alps Shinano-no-Mori Water Plant in Nagano began operating as its first carbon neutral plant in Japan. The company’s Beam Suntory division is also opening a new bourbon distillery in Kentucky later this year, which will mark Suntory’s first distillery powered by renewable electricity.