Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan concludes “Collaboration agreement for the nurturing of water resources” with Yamanashi Prefecture

New Release

July 9, 2020

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan concludes “Collaboration agreement for the nurturing of water resources” with Yamanashi Prefecture

Enhanced cooperation in water preservation in Yamanashi

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (Headquarters in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & President Calin Dragan; hereafter “CCBJI”) concluded on July 9 a “collaboration agreement for the nurturing of water resources” (hereafter “Agreement”) with Yamanashi Prefecture (Governor Kotaro Nagasaki) for the purpose to preserve and effectively use water and forests in the prefecture. 

Under the Agreement, CCBJI and Yamanashi Prefecture will jointly work on various programs to protect and effectively utilize water and forests in the prefecture, mainly by promoting the prefecture’s initiative, “nurturing of water resources (conservation of environmentally sound water cycle)” and offering information. As part of the Agreement, the two parties additionally concluded an “agreement for the protecting of forests for the nurturing of water”, under which CCBJI designates a special activity area, “Hakushu - Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Water Source Forest” (282 hectares), in the prefectural forest along the watersheds of Nagare River and Kakubosawa River originated in Mt. Amagoi, the water source of CCBJI’s Hakushu Plant. This is to work on supporting forest management (tree thinning, vermin control; and strip road development in forests), in order to improve the designated area and Yamanashi Prefecture’s forest.

One of the water sources of our natural mineral water “I LOHAS Tennensui” is in Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and our Hakushu Plant produces these products.  In connection with this, CCBJI and Yamanashi have been working together through Coca-Cola system’s “ILOHAS Forest Preservation” project（Note 1）to support the development and improvement of the forests.  Through the Agreement, we will further deepen the mutual cooperation and work on the “nurturing of water resources” and offering of information, thereby contributing to the conservation of water and forests in the prefecture.

CCBJI defines a set of non-financial goals to address ESG and the Creation of Shared Value (CSV) and takes tangible actions towards this end.  As a company who uses irreplaceable "water" for its business operations, CCBJI also lays out goals to “reduce water usage by 30% by 2030” and “sustain 200% water source replenishment until 2025” in efforts to promote water resources preservation. We will continuously build long-term relationships with local governments, forestry cooperatives, and people in the community and rollout programs to carefully use valuable “water” and return it to the nature by replenishing its sources with abundant groundwater.

■ About “collaboration agreement for the nurturing of water resources”
Period：5 years
Key collaboration
(1) Nurturing of water recourses and offering of information
(2) Preservation of forests
(3) Promotion of environmental education
(4) Other activities related to environmental conservation and community vitalization

■ About “agreement for the protecting of forests for the nurturing of water”
Period：5 years
Key activities (details of management and information to be provided):
(1) Forest management (tree thinning, vermin control; and strip road development in forests) implemented by Yamanashi Prefecture
(2) Information provision and educational programs regarding the nurturing of water resources carried out by Yamanashi Prefecture and CCBJI

Raymond Shelton, Executive Officer, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Officer, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan (left) and Mr. Kazunori Wakabayashi, Deputy Governor, Yamanashi Prefecture (right)

■ “Hakushu - Water Source Forest” (the water source of Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Hakushu Plant)
Area: Forests owned by Yamanashi Prefecture in the eastern part of Mt. Amagoi in Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City 
Land size: 282 hectares

■ About Hakushu Plant
Location: 300-1 Shimokyouraishi, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
Operation started in:  October 1997
Total site area: 32,954㎡（9,986 tsubos）
Production items: “I LOHAS Tennensui”, etc.

(Note 1) “I LOHAS Forest Preservation” Project
Part of sales proceeds from "I LOHAS" is donated through the Coca-Cola Educational and Environmental Foundation to local governments and nonprofit organizations (NPOs) who work on the preservation of water resources across Japan.
https://www.cocacola.co.jp/press-center/news-20190527-11
 

Please see here for the PDF version.
Please note that the information contained in news releases is current as of the date of release. Certain information may have changed since the date of release.