Suntory has published its first climate transition plan, setting out how the Japanese drinks group intends to reduce emissions across its own operations and supply chain while protecting the business from rising climate risks.
The plan builds on progress already recorded. Suntory says it cut greenhouse gas emissions by 19% between 2019 and 2025, and now aims for a 30% reduction in absolute Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions by 2030 against that 2019 baseline, followed by a 90% cut by 2050. According to the company's own sustainability material, these goals sit within a broader commitment to net-zero emissions across the value chain by 2050.
Packaging and raw materials dominate the footprint
Packaging and raw materials have been singled out as the main contributors to the group's emissions, even though both have been falling. Emissions linked to packaging were down 38% between 2019 and 2025, and those from raw materials declined by 12% over the same period.
The trend is not uniform across the value chain. Emissions associated with co-manufactured finished products rose by 26%, underlining how far the company must rely on suppliers and contract partners to reach its targets.
Packaging reform at the centre of the plan
The transition plan puts particular emphasis on packaging reform, organised around reduced material use, higher recycled content and redesigned containers.
Suntory says it wants all primary polyethylene terephthalate packaging to be either made from 100% recycled material or produced without fossil fuels. That goal rests on material choices made across the supply chain, not only on the group's own container specifications.
The company has also engaged suppliers representing more than half of its Scope 3 emissions. Further progress is expected to depend on changes to production methods, energy consumption and material choices throughout the chain.
Spending weighted towards packaging
Suntory estimates it will spend €185.4m (£156m) on climate-related operating costs between 2027 and 2030, with packaging accounting for the bulk of that sum.
Packaging therefore appears in the plan both as the largest source of emissions and as the largest area of climate expenditure. Because the 2030 and 2050 goals are set in absolute terms across all three scopes, the increase in emissions from co-manufactured products means delivery will depend heavily on third parties whose operations the group does not directly control.
The 19% reduction achieved so far, the 30% interim goal and the 90% long-term target are all measured from the same 2019 baseline, which makes the pace still required visible against the progress already booked.