Australia: Suntory begins work adding solar PV panels to its new multi-beverage facility

Beverage manufacturer Suntory Oceania has begun work adding solar PV panels to its new facility at Ipswich in Queensland which is now nearing completion, Aumanufacturing reported on April 22.

The company is building the $400 million facility to bring together the Australian operations of Suntory Global Spirits and Suntory Beverage & Food, uniting alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturing in one location.

The Chief Supply Chain Officer of Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania Ian Roberts said the facility provided extraordinary capabilities to fast-track innovation and disrupt the market.

Roberts said: “This is the largest single FMCG investment in Australia in over a decade.

“Our carbon neutral ‘smart’ facility – powered by a combination of solar, biomass and green energy – will give Suntory unrivalled ability to innovate, respond to customer demand, and deliver beverages that are made locally and sustainably.

“Led by our Growing For Good philosophy, Suntory has taken every opportunity to use leading technology and set new standards for sustainable manufacturing in Australia.”

Three sustainability investments underway at the site are:

• 7,000 solar panels, equating to just over nine soccer fields (14km) will power the production of over 20 million cases of beverages a year on commencement
• A biomass boiler that will use offcuts from the local sawmill as fuel to generate heat for the sites manufacturing heating requirements
• And the fitting of an organic Rankine cycle generator – a unique technology to capture waste heat and turn it into green energy to put back into the grid.

The Managing Director of Oceania, Suntory Global Spirits Mark Hill said: “The investment really shows the confidence that Suntory has in the Australian market and its ability to continue to grow and evolve.”

The Ipswich facility once operational will support 160 long-term local roles.

In addition, the business is now recruiting a further +130 roles to support the new Australian Alcohol Licensed Route to Market function – a new sales team responsible for bringing Suntory’s alcohol portfolio to market from mid-2025.

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