At Suntory, we’ve doubled down on our commitment to protecting the natural environment and water resources, including our oceans. This commitment came to worldwide attention when, in September 2019, we announced our goal to be the first global drinks company to use 100% sustainable plastic bottles.

We aim to be using 100% recycled or plant-based materials across our entire drinks portfolio by 2030, with an interim goal of achieving a minimum of 50% ratio by 2025. Some of our drinks containers already use only 100% recycled plastic. A leading example is our UK brand Ribena, which has been using recycled plastic for more than ten years

We will also ensure that all the packaging we produce is 100% recyclable by 2025 or sooner. That means you can expect some changes to our packaging, from drastic overhauls to subtle shifts. But the impact will always be great. For example, by replacing all the plastic straws on its cartons with new paper straws, Ribena was able to remove 16 tonnes of plastic.

Ribena has also earned acclaim by replacing the full plastic wrap sleeve on its bottles with a smaller label. Other changes we’ve implemented include Sunny Delight, which has switched its sports cap to a flat cap, reducing the amount of plastic and the weight of the product, and therefore the carbon footprint

Our attention to detail doesn’t stop at packaging, but extends to the full circular economy. Suntory Beverage & Food Europe (SBFE) has invested in Carbios, a company pioneering a bio-industrial solution to recycling PET. SBFE is part of a consortium that is funding this ground-breaking technology in order to progress to a mass-market solution that could dramatically reduce the volume of plastic waste.

We don’t pretend to be perfect, and we still have a long way to go. But at Suntory, our entire organization is now geared towards leading the change to less and better packaging, for the long-term health of our planet.