Suntory Holdings, the Japanese beverage conglomerate behind brands including Lucozade, Ribena, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky and Yamazaki Japanese Whisky, has appointed conservation consultancy, Biodiversify, to develop an agricultural strategy that will strengthen the resilience of its raw material supply chains.
The partnership signals the growing international demand for British nature expertise as global corporations face mounting pressure to secure supply chains against climate instability and ecosystem degradation.
Biodiversify will work with the multi-billion-dollar beverage group to build a comprehensive strategy and agricultural roadmap that identifies the environmental dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities across its supply chain, and outlines practical actions to strengthen agricultural resilience and secure long-term raw material supply.
The initiative will identify priority raw materials and sourcing regions, enabling Suntory to implement joint projects with farmers and suppliers that promote resilient, nature-positive agricultural systems.
Businesses worldwide face significant disruption as increasingly frequent extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, affect crop yields and global supply chains.
Dr Samuel Sinclair, co-founder and director of Biodiversify, said: “Suntory recognises what leading global corporates increasingly understand: securing raw material supply in an era of climate instability requires a fundamental shift in how we approach nature. This partnership will help Suntory protect the agricultural systems on which its business relies, while positioning it at the forefront of nature-positive transformation.”
Masaaki Fujiwara, chief sustainability officer of Suntory Holdings, said: “As a multifaceted global beverage company sustained by the gifts of nature such as water and agricultural raw ingredients, we recognise that issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity are deeply interconnected. Understanding how these environmental challenges relate to our business activities and taking action through a comprehensive, science-based strategy is essential for protecting commercial growth.
“Through this partnership with Biodiversify, we will take a concrete step toward advancing sustainable raw material procurement in line with nature and climate transition plans and realising a business that operates in harmony with nature.”