Mrs. Mathuvalee Stithyudhakarn, Vice President - Corporate Affairs, Thailand and Indochina, Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said "Suntory Beverage and Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., and Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co., Ltd., with the support of Suntory Holdings Ltd., have jointly implemented the 'One Suntory Mizuiku Program 2025' to raise awareness of the value of water resources and foster water and environmental conservation mindsets among Thai youth for the sustainable care of water resources. Over the past two years, the program has provided knowledge on water conservation to young people under the concept of 'No Water - No Life' through both theoretical and practical learning, combining knowledge and fun within the nature classroom of the 'Mizuiku Water Hero Camp,' and held the 'Mizuiku Water Model School' contest. Student leaders participating in the camp then applied the knowledge they gained to develop plans and implement water conservation projects within their schools, establishing 'Mizuiku Club' to drive and expand the projects sustainably. Subsequently, both companies, together with water resource and environmental experts, conducted on-site evaluations to select the two most outstanding schools out of 30 schools in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces, based on four aspects, including policy, stakeholder participation, infrastructure, and community engagement, offering them the opportunity to join an educational trip to Japan to learn about sustainable water conservation practices."
This year, the winner of the "Mizuiku Water Model School" contest from Chonburi Province is Ban Nong Samsak School, which focuses on systematically monitoring and analyzing water usage within the school to establish efficient and sustainable water management practices under the project "Mizuiku: Water-Saving Schools, Planet-Saving Communities." The school's Mizuiku Club, known as the "Water Conservation Guardians," leads students in raising awareness and driving water conservation activities within the school, while also expanding collaboration with other community organizations to continuously scale up water conservation initiatives. Meanwhile, Wat Khao Noi School, the winner of the "Mizuiku Water Model School" from Rayong Province, emphasizes integrating environmental learning into the daily lives of students and the local community, most of whom work in agriculture and face water shortages during the dry season. To address this, the school initiated "No Water No Life-Ant Power: Small Hands, Big Change for Water and the Environment," promoting sustainable water resource management by instilling awareness of water and environmental conservation among students, teachers, school staff, and the community under the concept of "3P Principles - Plant, Preserve, and Profit." Both winning schools stand out for their creativity, commitment, and potential to deliver tangible results that address the unique context of their own areas.
Ms. Wipawan Tasanapreechachai, Vice President - Corporate Affairs, Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said "Taking the winning students on an educational journey to Japan is not only a reward that recognizes their commitment and dedication as 'water heroes,' but also a valuable opportunity for them to learn closely about the origin of 'Mizuiku' Program in Japan, its history, philosophy, and sustainability practices in water and packaging management at Suntory. The trip featured a variety of activities, including an interactive Mizuiku Workshop on water conservation at the Suntory World Headquarters in Odaiba, Tokyo. The students and teachers also participated in the 'Outdoor School of Forest and Water' program, where they explored the water cycle, local plant species, and forest wildlife in the Minami Alps, one of Japan's rich natural mountain ranges and designated a UNESCO Eco Park in 2014. They visited the Suntory Hakushu Water Plant, located within the lush forest, to observe efficient water use and eco-friendly manufacturing processes for bottled natural mineral water. In addition, the students had the opportunity to present their water conservation projects, implemented in their schools and extended to the local communities, to executives from Suntory Holdings' Sustainability Management Division. The itinerary also included art and cultural experiences at the Suntory Museum of Art, along with visits to iconic Tokyo landmarks such as Meiji Shrine and Tokyo Skytree. We believe that this experience will broaden horizons and inspire Thai youth to apply the knowledge they have gained to further develop their schools and communities."
Ms. Salukjit Shihera, the teacher in charge of the project from Ban Nong Samsak School, Chonburi Province, said "The 'One Suntory Mizuiku Program' has helped change the attitudes of both teachers and students, making us more aware of the value of water. We are delighted to be part of this program. The educational trip to Japan has expanded our perspectives for both teachers and students. We gained new experiences in Japanese water conservation, culture, and approaches to environmental stewardship, which we can bring back to develop our school and community."
Nakhin Yookhom, a student leader from Wat Khao Noi School, Rayong Province, said, "I am very happy that our school won the contest and had the opportunity to join the educational trip to Japan. I was impressed with the workshop and outdoor learning activities, which helped me better understand the water cycle, forest ecosystems, and the connections between wildlife, soil, and water. In addition, what impressed me most about Japan is the proper waste disposal and segregation, as well as their care for the environment. I intend to apply the knowledge I gained from this trip, especially proper waste segregation and management at our school, and encourage my friends and younger students to join in caring for water resources and the environment."
The second year of the "One Suntory Mizuiku Program" concluded successfully. Over the past two years, the program has provided knowledge on water and environmental conservation to more than 19,700 students and teachers from 60 schools in Chonburi and Rayong Provinces. This achievement reflects the strong commitment of Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Suntory PepsiCo Beverage (Thailand) Co., Ltd. to putting the corporate values of "Growing for Good" and "Giving Back to Society" into action by creating positive, lasting change for society and the environment, while preserving precious natural resources for future generations.
