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Suntory Beverage & Food

OVERALL

Owned
JPN
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Food and beverages

Created in 2009 when Suntory was restructured. Suntory bought Frucor Beverages from French food and drinks giant, Danone, in Oct 2008 for NZ$1.3 billion. Listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2013.

Company Ownership

Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd   JPN     website         
  Suntory Holdings Ltd   
   owns 100% of Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd  
JPN     website   email   facebook   twitter

Beverage manufacturer

Suntory is Japan's leading producer and distributor of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. They are also involved in pharmaceuticals, restaurant operation, sports, music and film, resort development, publishing, and information services. Bought Europe's Orangina Schweppes Group in 2009 and USA's Beam Inc in 2014. Suntory's founding family owns about 90% of the privately held company. Part of the Mitsui keiretsu.

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd
Social 8/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2020/21 KnowTheChain benchmarked over 180 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 8/100.
Source: KnowTheChain (2021)
Business Ethics 23/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 23/100 in the Beverages category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2022)
Environment FSC certification
This company holds Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification, and sells products certified as FSC Mix and FSC Recycled.
Source: FSC (2017)
Environment 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Social 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)
Suntory Holdings Ltd
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social CDP Water Security Score of A
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of A.
Source: CDP (2022)
Social Access to Nutrition rating
The Global Access to Nutrition Index assesses how the world's 25 largest global food and beverage manufacturers contribute to addressing malnutrition in all its forms: overweight and obesity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. All have been assessed on their commitments, practices, and disclosure with regards to governance and management; the production and distribution of healthy, affordable, accessible products; and how they influence consumer choices and behavior. Of the 25 companies ranked, this company came 21st.
Source: Access to Nutrition Foundation (2021)
Environment Unsustainable palm oil use
This company scores Ethical Consumer's worst rating for their use of palm oil, signifying they are using no or minimal certified palm products, and with no or minimal positive commitments.
Source: Ethical Consumer (2022)
Environment 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)
Business Ethics 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)
Business Ethics CSR claims
This company has extensive corporate social responsibility claims on its website.
Source: company website (2020)
Social Alcohol - direct involvement
Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics Genetic Engineering
Suntory subsidiary, Florigene Pty Ltd, develop genetically engineered flowers.
Source: company website (2020)
Business Ethics 30.4% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2021 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 #84/350, with a total score of 30.4/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Subsidiaries Frucor Suntory Australia Pty Ltd 

Beverages

Founded in New Zealand in 1962, with its Australian arm starting in 2001. Owned by Japan's Suntory Group since 2009.

Contact Details

Address Osaka, Japan
Website www.suntory.com/softdrink

Products / Brands

Frucor Suntory
G-Force Juice & Fruit Drinks
H2GO Bottled Water
Lucozade Cordial
Lucozade Energy Drinks
Maximus Sports Drinks
Mizone Bottled Water
Mizone Sports Drinks
OVI Hydration Bottled Water
Ribena Cordial
Ribena Juice & Fruit Drinks
Rockstar Energy Drinks
V Flavoured Milk
V Energy Drinks


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