Reforesting Appalachia: Suntory Group and Bosland Growth Join Forces to Elevate Hardwood Conservation
Reforesting Appalachia: Suntory Group and Bosland Growth Join Forces to Elevate Hardwood Conservation
CLERMONT, Ky. – [Jan 28, 2026]- In a united effort to restore and support local hardwood forests and establish long-term partnerships for their conservation, Suntory Holdings and Suntory Global Spirits (Suntory Group) and Bosland Growth are proud to announce a 20-year partnership focused on landowner engagement, site preparation and tree planting efforts on 400 acres of previously mined lands in Pennsylvania and West Virginia by Spring 2026. The planted trees will be native to the region, including white oak, ensuring healthy regeneration of this essential resource used in crafting barrels that age some of the world’s highest-quality whiskey like those from the Suntory portfolio which includes Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon.
The partnership will also help create new connections with global organizations, state and private nurseries, universities, government agencies, non-profits and industry partners to plant trees across the region to advance forest management initiatives. This collaboration will enhance the ecological function of these areas, expand wildlife habitats, increase carbon sequestration capacity and provide economic benefits to local communities for generations to come. Landowners will be engaged in stewardship and compensated for their active forest management of the restored area.
“By supporting site preparation and tree planting and committing to compensate landowners, Suntory Group will empower Bosland to fully fund these reforestation efforts and support landowners in maintaining their properties as working forests in perpetuity,” said Todd Appel, President and CEO of Bosland.
Suntory Group has a long-standing commitment to protecting and nurturing the natural environment through its sustainability initiatives.
“In order to offer our customers high-quality products and services, we recognize the importance of promoting sustainability throughout the entire supply chain,” stated Masaaki Fujiwara, Managing Executive Officer, Division COO of Supply Chain Division at Suntory Holdings. “This collective effort at Bosland’s reforestation sites underscores our dedication to responsible sourcing, forest regeneration and environmental preservation.”
"Sustainability and giving back to nature are core to our commitment to protecting the natural resources that contribute to our premium spirits brands," stated Kim Marotta, Chief Environmental Sustainability Officer and Head of Enterprise Risk Management at Suntory Global Spirits. "In the last five years, we’ve successfully planted nearly 700 thousand trees in the Appalachian region. This partnership with Bosland continues these initiatives and will introduce new opportunities to plant native hardwood seedlings, including white oaks, for thriving forests.”
About Bosland Growth LLC
Founded in 2022, Bosland Growth is a reforestation carbon developer focused on restoration of formerly surface mined lands in Appalachia. Bosland Growth is controlled by Bosland Group, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation.
About Suntory Holdings
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group aims to inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Sustained by the gifts of nature and water, the Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki and Hibiki, iconic American whiskies Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, canned ready-to-drink -196 (minus one-nine-six), The Premium Malt’s beer, Japanese wine Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection also includes non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Oasis, BOSS coffee, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, and V energy drink, as well as popular health and wellness product Sesamin EX.
Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of $20.3 billion in 2024. Its 41,357 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.
For more information, visit www.suntory.com and Drink Smart.
About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196™ (minus one-nine-six) and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com and www.drinksmart.com.
