Use of recycled plastic bottles

Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd, a group company under Suntory Holdings Ltd, is to introduce recycled plastic bottles for part of its soft drinks portfolio in May 2011. In a statement, the company said that it would be the first Japanese soft drink manufacturer to use recycled plastic bottles as material for new bottles. The reuse will enable the company to cut the consumption of petrochemicals for its plastic bottles by 90% while leading it to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60%.

Source: news article (2011)

Responsibility claims

This company has responsibility claims on its website, including an environmental policy, and initiatives for reducing environmental impact such as reduction and recycling of waste.

Source: company website (2016)

27.2% in Human Rights Benchmark

The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 27.2%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2022)

Climate action commitments

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: adopt a science-based emissions reduction target.

Source: We Mean Business (2021)

FSC certification

This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC Mix and FSC Recycled.

Source: FSC (2023)

CSR claims

This company has extensive corporate social responsibility claims on its website.

Source: company website (2020)

Eco Brand Index

Suntory has been the top ranked company five years in a row in Nikkei Business Publications' Eco Brand Index. The survey is conducted annually through an Internet-based questionnaire, which looks into how environmental efforts of leading 560 companies in Japan are received by consumers. The survey received valid responses from 19,639 consumers. The four indices of 'contact with environmental information', 'environmental communication', 'environmental image' and 'environmental evaluation' constitute the Eco Brand Index.

Source: Nikkei BP (2015)

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative member

This company is a member of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the main food industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. Created by Nestle, Unilever and Danone in 2002, the SAI Platform is a non-profit organization to facilitate sharing, at precompetitive level, of knowledge and initiatives to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices involving the different stakeholders of the food chain.

Source: SAI Platform (2023)

Alcohol - direct involvement

Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.

Source: company website (2020)

22.3% in Gender Benchmark

The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #50/112, with a total score of 22.3%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

9/20 in Social Benchmark

The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 9/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2024)

Genetic Engineering

Suntory subsidiary, Florigene Pty Ltd, develop genetically engineered flowers.

Source: company website (2020)

29.7% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark

The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #64/350, with a total score of 29.7/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)

27.6% in Nature Benchmark

The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #113/816, with a total score of 27.6/100.

Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2023)