Realization of a Society in Harmony with Nature
Sapporo Group Biodiversity Conservation Guidelines
(Established on February 27, 2012; revised on July 1, 2026)
We recognize the impact of our business activities on biodiversity, and through activities that minimize environmental impact and contribute to restoration, we will work to achieve zero loss of biodiversity and nature-positive practices.
Minimizing Environmental Impact
- Promote decarbonization and resource recycling at all stages of business activities
- Resolving water-related issues in accordance with the regional characteristics of business locations
Contribution Activities
- Working with local stakeholders to protect nature
- Education to raise employee awareness of biodiversity
Sapporo Breweries has been engaged in breeding both barley and hops since its establishment. Breeding is an effort to repeat the process of crossbreeding and selection of varieties over a long period of time. By breeding both barley and hops and procuring them through Sapporo Breweries' proprietary raw material procurement system, "Field management," we provide our customers with "good taste" and "safety and security."
Sapporo Breweries' hop breeding and research has continued since the days of the Kaitakushi Brewery. One of the results is the "Shinshu Wase" breed, which is an old but high-quality breed and still being planted today. As hops are susceptible to disease and difficult to cultivate, the know-how accumulated through the hop breeding and research is used as guidance to farmers and helps to procure good raw materials through "collaborative contract farming."
Climate change is triggering an increased risk of agricultural disease, drought, and yield loss associated with extreme weather events. For example, concerns about "ear germination" and "red mold" of barley, which are caused by rainfall at harvest time, are increasing in Hokkaido and other regions. For these issues related to cultivation and quality, Sapporo Breweries aims to solve them by developing high-quality breeds with excellent agronomic qualities based on its breeding knowledge and know-how.
Joint Research and Survey with Tokyo University of Agriculture Okhotsk Campus
In July 2017, Sapporo Holdings signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Tokyo University of Agriculture Educational Corporation in order to contribute to solving food and environmental issues on a global scale. We are actively involved in activities that can contribute to the revitalization of food and related industries, as well as international cooperation activities through support for product development. The Sapporo Group is utilizing such industry-academia partnerships to confront the risks posed by climate change and turn those risks into opportunities to ensure safe, secure, high-quality raw material procurement and sustainable production activities. Tokyo University of Agriculture and Sapporo Breweries are currently conducting joint research on the differences in root system development among hop varieties, with the hypothesis that the development of the root system of hops may enhance their ability to adapt to drought and other water stresses.
World's First Discovery of Rain-Resistant, Tasty Barley
Barley, the raw material for beer, sometimes germinates seeds in the field when rainfall increases during the harvest season, and this phenomenon is called "ear germination." Barley that has been ear germinated can no longer be used as a raw material for beer. On the other hand, increasing the barley's resistance to rain would reduce its quality. Against this backdrop, Sapporo Breweries has discovered the world's first barley that is both resistant to increased rainfall and tastes great when made into beer. We will continue to improve this barley as a new variety and aim to put it to commercial use by 2035.
Presented "barley with climate resilient properties" at the ASBC Meeting in June 2023
Factory Greening and Conservation of the Surrounding Environment
Sapporo Breweries' Kyushu Hita Brewery, located on a hill overlooking the city of Hita, is engaged in greening activities at the brewery site and conservation of the surrounding environment based on the concepts of "harmony with nature" and "coexistence with local communities."
As part of its "harmony with nature" efforts, the brewery has a biotope garden on the premises, and is also working to conserve the ecosystem.
As part of its efforts for "coexistence with local communities," the brewery partially opens its facility to the public to provide visitors with opportunities to interact with nature. It also uses the flower beds in its Hoshi-no-Shiba Lawn plaza to provide neighborhood preschool children with opportunities to experience flower planting.
Together with initiatives such as the Hita Takase Forest Supporters' activities introduced on this page, the brewery received the FY2024 Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director-General's Award for Excellent Greening Factories for its outstanding achievements in improving the environment inside and outside the brewery.
Creating a Harmonious Society and Building Ties with Local Community through Grape Cultivation
Sapporo Breweries Limited and Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. (JAL) jointly continue to build ties with local community members and conduct community revitalization activities at the Sapporo Breweries Grande Polaire Hokkaido Hokuto Vineyard. Since 2021, employees of the two companies have been holding events such as planting grape seedlings and harvesting grapes, and to date (as of the end of 2024), these events have been held a total of 16 times. A total of approximately 70 JAL employees participated in the events. Since 2024, the companies have also held a joint program with students and teachers of Hokuto Municipal Ishibetsu Junior High School, as well as city hall staff, with approximately 30 people participating each time. On the day of the program, the companies also conducted activities to foster the next generation, such as introducing the work of both companies to students. Sapporo Breweries and JAL will continue to cooperate with each other and contribute through regional development efforts.
Initiatives for the Protection of Endangered Species
Sapporo Breweries and Nagano Prefecture signed the "Biodiversity Protection Partnership Agreement" in 2017 to promote awareness and build a system for the protection of the endangered "Raicho" snow grouse, among others. Since 2016, the company has donated a portion of the sales of Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label canned products to support environmental conservation activities in the Shinshu region.
- The Basic Environment Law designates June 5 as "Environment Day" and the entire month of June as "Environment Month," during which environmental conservation activities are promoted. Nagano Prefecture also conducts statewide activities.
Activities for forest conservation
Hiyama Promotion Bureau
In May 2008, Sapporo Breweries and the Hokkaido Forest and Greenery Association Hiyama Branch signed an "Agreement for Forest Development Activities" and have cooperated with seven towns in the region, including Otobe Town and Esashi Town. Under the agreement, the two parties planted Aomori cypress trees as part of the "Forest Development of Hiyama" initiative to restore the homeland forests.
Cooperative campaigns with our customers
Sapporo Breweries, CO-OP Sapporo, and Hokkaido Prefecture have carried out a campaign to "Reenergize the Forests of Hokkaido!" since 2013. Under this campaign, for every bottle of eligible products purchased by customers, the companies offset 1 yen, equivalent to about 100 grams of CO2 (10 yen, equivalent to about 1,000 grams of CO2, for each bottle of wine).
As a result of this initiative, in 2023, 2.58 million yen was donated to forest conservation activities in Hokkaido, and 100,000 yen from a portion of the sales was donated to the CO-OP Future Forest Fund.
Restoration of Abandoned Farmland into Lemon Orchards
Pokka Sapporo, which is engaged in lemon farming in Osaki-kamijima-cho (Toyota-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture), is taking over farmland without successors and restoring abandoned farmland with the aim of promoting lemon production.
Takase Forest Supporters' Activities
In 2002, Sapporo Breweries' Kyushu Hita Brewery became the first corporation to participate in the program of "Forest Development through Company Participation," promoted by Oita Prefecture, and started forest conservation activities such as undergrowth cutting, pruning, and improvement cutting with the Takase Forestry Association in their woodlands. Even now, after the originally planned five-year period ended, the brewery continues the "Hita-Takase Forest Supporters" activities as a corporate volunteer for forest conservation to realize its concepts of "coexistence with the environment (harmony with nature)" and "coexistence with local citizens." In collaboration with the Takase Forestry Association and members of the Takase Green Youth Group, 15 employees participated in the program in 2023.
Promotion of Satoyama Conservation
Sapporo Breweries' Kyushu Hita Brewery participates in the "Sennen Akari (1000-year light)" event in Hita City, Oita Prefecture. The Sennen Akari event is held in conjunction with the Tenryo Festival in the fall, when 30,000 bamboo lanterns fill the area around Mameda Town and the Kagetsu River, creating a fantastic landscape. In Hita City, famous for its cedar trees, bamboo is cut down for lanterns for the Sennen Akari event. One of its purposes is to halt forest damage caused by the recent increase in bamboo forests. Employees from the brewery participate in making and lighting the bamboo lanterns and are working to coexist with the local community and conserve the environment.
Local Environmental Preservation Activities through Cleanups
Each operating company of the Sapporo Group conducts cleanup activities around its offices, plants, and stores. They also participate in local river and shopping district cleanups. In 2023, a total of approximately 2,000 employees participated in these activities. These efforts are introduced in PIRICA, a social networking service for picking up trash. The Group will continue to express its daily gratitude to the communities and contribute to them through environmental preservation and social contribution activities.
Major Regional Beautification Activities
| Hokkaido | Eniwa City | Participation in "Eniwa City Clean Walking" |
|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka | Fukuoka City | Participation in "Love Earth Clean-up Fukuoka" |
| Tokyo | Shibuya Ward | Participation in Yebisu/Hiroo/East region cleaning activities |
| Shizuoka | Shizuoka City | Participation in the "Clean Town Campaign" |
| Chiba | Funabashi City | Participation in "Funabashi Sambanze Clean-up" |
| Shizuoka | Yaizu City | Participation in "Yaizu Brach Clean-up Campaign" |
Factory Participation in Adoption Programs
| Sapporo Breweries Sendai factory | Miyagi Smile River Program |
|---|---|
| Sapporo Breweries Shizuoka factory | Shizuoka Adopt Road Program |
| Sapporo Breweries Kyushu-hita factory | Waterside District Clean-up Institution |
| Sapporo Breweries Okayama Winery | Promotion operation for "Okayama Adopt" |
| POKKA SAPPORO Nagoya factory | Adopt program at a public facility in Kitanagoya City |