Suntory marks 40 years in China

Japanese multinational Suntory is celebrating its 40th anniversary in China and the 20th anniversary of its Mizuiku water project with ASC Fine Wines.

Suntory hosted the 2024 Autumn Opening Ceremony of its Mizuiku China programme this week in Shanghai. The event commemorates not only the 20th anniversary of Suntory’s global Mizuiku initiative but also aligns with the celebration of Suntory’s 40th anniversary in China, underscoring the company’s enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and its responsibility to future generations.

The Mizuiku scheme teaches children about the water cycle, the scarcity of clean water, and the importance of conservation in their daily lives.

To date, the Mizuiku China programme has reached over 60,000 students across more than 180 primary schools in Shanghai and Beijing.

Since its inception in 2004, Suntory’s Mizuiku programme has been introduced in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and China.

“All of Suntory’s products are blessed by the bounty of water, and so ‘Mizuiku’ is far more than an environmental initiative for us; it is our expression of gratitude to the nature and our pledge to the future,” said Tetsuho Kikuchi, general manager of Suntory China. “It is our profound care for the environment and our deep sense of responsibility towards the next generation that drive Suntory’s global efforts to protect water resources. Every child who participates in the ‘Mizuiku’ programme becomes a custodian of our planet’s future. They will carry these lessons forward, raising awareness of the critical importance of water conservation. This is not merely Suntory’s mission but our shared responsibility. In the years to come, Suntory will continue to strive, both in China and across the globe, to safeguard the future of our environment.”

Mizuiku China was launched in 2021, underwritten by Suntory China in collaboration with Malt Space, Shanghai Volunteer Service Foundation, Beijing Association for Sustainable Development Education, and receives professional consultancy from esteemed institutions such as the Centre for Environmental Education and Communications of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ecological Society of Shanghai, Shanghai Environment Education Coordination Commission and the Science Department of China Welfare Institute Children’s Palace. ASC Fine Wines, Suntory’s distinguished fine wine importer and distributor, has also contributed to the programme through donations from its fund in the Shanghai Charity Foundation in support of the Shanghai Volunteer Service Foundation for its efforts in “Mizuiku China”.

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