Water is a critical resource in Spain, where climate pressure and water scarcity are becoming increasingly visible.

For a company whose activity depends on water, understanding how water is managed, protected and restored at local level is essential.

In this interview, Javier Valle Goyanes, General Manager of Suntory Beverage & Food Spain shares Suntory’s approach to water stewardship in Spain, explains what the ambition to be Water Positive by 2030 means in practice, and reflects on how this ambition is translated into concrete action on the ground.

Why is water so important to the Suntory Group?

Water is at the heart of everything we do. It is our main ingredient and the foundation of our brands, our quality, and the trust that millions of consumers place in us every day.

Today, water is a fragile and increasingly scarce resource, which is why we feel a strong responsibility to protect it. At Suntory, caring for water does not simply mean using less of it; it means understanding how the water cycle works, protecting it, and contributing to the long‑term health of local water systems.

This way of thinking has guided us for many years. We do not view water stewardship as a short‑term goal, but as a long‑term responsibility. Through education, such as our Mizuiku programme, and through consistent action, we want to help ensure that both nature and communities can grow and thrive in the future.

Spain has the ambition to be “Water Positive by 2030”. What does this mean?

Being Water Positive means returning more water to nature and communities than we use to produce our beverages.

At Suntory Beverage & Food Spain, we have a clear goal: to achieve this by 2030. This ambition is based on our Sustainable Water Philosophy, which starts from a fundamental principle: the need to understand water through science. That is why the Suntory Group has its own Water Sciences Institute, enabling us to make decisions based on data and knowledge.

To make this possible, we manage water in an integrated way across the entire company, with the involvement of all areas. We act on two complementary fronts: reducing and reusing water in our factories, and protecting and restoring ecosystems through local water projects.

Why is this ambition so important for Spain today?

In Spain, the main challenge is water management. We alternate between periods of very intense rainfall, which is difficult to retain, and long periods of drought. In this context, Spain is considered a high water‑stress area and, for this reason, it was one of the first countries in Europe where Suntory decided to take action.

This situation calls for a smart, integrated, and long‑term approach to water management. From a business perspective — and especially in our sector, where water is the main ingredient in our products — we have a clear role to play, which requires us to go beyond regulatory compliance.

That is why investing in improving water resources in high‑stress areas such as Spain has become a standard practice for us, combining water efficiency in our operations with concrete investments in local projects.

Can you share an initiative that has had a real impact?

One initiative that has made a real difference is Guardianes del Tajo.

This project is being developed around the Guajaraz reservoir in Toledo, near our plant. This area is our first Natural Water Sanctuary in Spain, and its goal is to improve both the quality and availability of water in the area surrounding our facility. To achieve this, we work closely with public authorities, experts, and local communities.

One of the key actions is regenerative agriculture, which allows the soil to retain more water and reduces the need for irrigation. Thanks to this approach, in 2025 we were able to support water replenishment projects equivalent to around 20% of our Toledo plant’s annual water consumption.

This project is inspired by Suntory’s long‑standing experience in Japan, where the Group has been developing Natural Water Sanctuaries for more than 20 years — long before responsible water management became a priority for many companies.

What message would you like to share in the context of World Water Day ?

The water challenge can only be addressed collectively. Companies, public administrations, and consumers must move forward together, with a shared vision and a collective commitment, because good water management is built through collaboration.

Within the company, every function contributes and every person matters. Every decision, every action, and every way of working adds up. Caring for water is a collective effort that starts with each of us and is multiplied when we work together.

Protecting water means protecting our consumers, our environment, and the future we want to leave for the next generations.