DHL and Suntory: Expanding a Sustainable Partnership

DHL Supply Chain has announced the expansion of its existing partnership with Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF) GB&I.

The beverage company has become a GoGreen Plus customer in a bid to leverage DHL's sustainable logistics methods.

In doing this, Suntory is reducing its carbon footprint and increasing supply chain efficiency.

An extended partnership

Suntory Group was founded in 1899 as a family-owned business in Osaka, with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (Great Britain and Ireland) launching in 2014.

It has become a global leader in consumer-packaged goods, with a diverse portfolio of beer, wine, wellness products, spirits and other beverages.

The organisation's GB&I branch is the UK's third largest soft drinks manufacturer, with brands including Ribena, Lucozade Energy and Lucozade Sport. Products are distributed to more than 98% of all outlets within the UK market, as well as 31 additional markets around the world.

Suntory was founded on the belief of giving back to society, with commitments to social and environmental responsibility. 

By enhancing its partnership with DHL Supply Chain, it is seeking to accelerate carbon reduction across UK operations. 

“DHL Supply Chain is constantly looking for new ways to decarbonise our business while also helping our customers do the same," says Katharina Tomoff, Senior Vice President of Global ESG at DHL Supply Chain.

"This collaboration is a great step in the right direction for SBF GB&I and highlights the real impact strong partnerships can have when both parties have a mutual goal.

"We look forward to helping SBF GB&I further maximise the sustainability of their supply chain as this relationship continues to grow.” 

Going green

This partnership plays into DHL's GoGreen Plus, a logistics service allowing customers to reduce the carbon emissions of their shipments by using sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). By using SAF – produced with waste cooking oil, sugar cane and other biomass fuels – carbon emissions can be reduced by up to 30%.

Through the use of low and zero-carbon fuels and technologies, resulting from a £1m (US$1.3m) investment, DHL Supply Chain and Suntory are reducing their environmental impact by decreasing CO₂e emissions.

When using low-carbon fuels, businesses can achieve a carbon emissions reduction of around 80% compared to traditional fossil fuels. It's estimated that Suntory GB&I will see a Scope 3 reduction of more than 2,300 tonnes of CO₂e every year by using these fuels.

In addition to emissions reduction, the collaboration between DHL and Suntory GB&I creates a more efficient supply chain, reducing network waste and cutting down on 130,000 road miles each year. 

Through the partnership, the management of co-packing, storage and distribution is taking place from one location.

 “Since partnering with DHL Supply Chain, we have seen an impressive improvement in the efficiency of our logistics operations," adds Karl Ottomar, Supply Chain Director at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I.

"Having made our commitment to deploying more sustainable solutions clear from the very start, DHL has been the perfect partner in helping us cut our carbon footprint and deliver effective supply chain solutions that will have a long-term impact.”  

This partnership expansion is set to guarantee Suntory a more sustainable supply chain, reflecting its company purpose. 

By becoming a GoGreen Plus member, the organisation is directly investing in its value chain to ensure a responsible, more efficient and more resilient supply chain.