How Sedex Strengthens Suntory’s Sustainable Sourcing Model

Suntory, the global beverage business behind brands including Orangina and Jim Beam, now uses the Sedex platform to improve its responsible sourcing and supply chain sustainability strategy.

By embedding Sedex's risk assessment and data tools across daily operations, the company reports a 32% rise in Management Controls scores across supplier sites.

These scores measure how well sites can oversee their own environmental and ethical risks.

With a vast supply chain reaching across continents and involving hundreds of production sites and suppliers, Suntory faces mounting pressure from stakeholders and regulators to improve transparency and ethical performance.

The company has responded by focusing on four main sustainability challenges: tracking data across business units, managing risk on a global scale, improving supplier performance and keeping pace with legal and stakeholder expectations.

Without a consistent system in place, Suntory risked data gaps, reputational harm and missed compliance obligations.

There were also concerns around underperforming suppliers and the potential for early warning signs to go unnoticed due to weak analytics.

In a market where ethical sourcing is under sharper focus, addressing these issues became central to maintaining the company’s competitive standing.

Using data to embed sustainability

To meet these challenges, Suntory adopted Sedex, a supply chain management platform designed to promote responsible business practices.

Sedex supports users with tools such as the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and Management Controls scores, which help organisations map sustainability risks and performance across their supply chains.

The SAQ collects information from suppliers to assess ethical, environmental and labour practices, while Management Controls scores reflect each site’s ability to manage sustainability risks independently.

In Japan, where external auditors are in limited supply, Suntory implements an alternative model that encourages supplier sites to design their own improvement actions.

These are guided by data gathered through Sedex and remove the need to rely solely on external audits.

This shift supports more localised and practical improvements.

Real-time data integration is another key aspect. Supplier data from Sedex feeds directly into daily operations, helping Suntory track site performance without duplicating internal reporting.

This allows for better visibility and targeted action across its supply network.

A central element of the strategy is Suntory’s focus on Management Controls scores.

The company aims for each site to reach a score of three or above, working closely with suppliers to achieve that goal.

These scores are used to highlight weaknesses and shape tailored action plans, reducing overall risk.

Suntory also applies the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle to ensure continuous improvement.

This process allows regular reviews and updates, helping suppliers keep pace with changing expectations and sustainability priorities.

By embedding these tools, Suntory shifts from reactive checks to a system built on ongoing assessment.

This provides a clearer view of global supply chain risks and supports a proactive approach to ethical sourcing.

Improvements in performance and stakeholder trust

Since adopting Sedex, 32% of supplier sites now report improved Management Controls scores.

These results suggest better local risk management and increased alignment with Suntory’s sustainability goals.

The improvements have also supported clearer risk identification and earlier interventions, making internal reporting and planning more efficient.

Supplier relationships have grown stronger, backed by a more structured and collaborative model. Instead of one-off audits, Suntory works continuously with suppliers to maintain performance and stay in step with legal changes.

This approach is also gaining industry attention. Suntory now holds the highest Japanese ranking in the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark and received the Sedex Sustainability Award in 2023.

Each outcome contributes to a supply chain that is more transparent, collaborative and ready to adapt to evolving challenges.

Improved scoring reflects the success of the integrated model, helping Suntory stay ahead of external expectations while limiting additional administrative strain.

As one senior sustainability executive at Suntory explains: "Sedex’s platform has been instrumental in transforming our approach to responsible sourcing,"

"By integrating sustainability data into our daily operations and engaging our suppliers in continuous improvement, we’ve not only enhanced our risk management but also strengthened our entire value chain."

Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE. 

Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.

Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand