Press ReleasesNippon Paper Industries and Coca-Cola Japan Conclude an Agreement for Collaborative Activities Related to the Conservation and Protection of Forest and Water Resources

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
Coca-Cola(Japan) Company, Limited

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga) and Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Tim Brett) concluded a basic agreement on October 1 for collaborative initiatives conducted by both companies to maintain healthy forests.

Each company, through its own business operations, has continually carried out activities in various fields with the aim of achieving a sustainable society. In the field of the environment in particular, Nippon Paper Industries has contributed to conserving forest resources, while the Coca-Cola System has experience in water resource conservation. In order to develop the initiatives of both companies into activities to improve the watershed cultivation functions of forests, from now on both companies will make maximum use of their experience and assets to cooperate in conserving and protecting forest and water resources--which are linked to the sustainable development of local communities.

This recent agreement was concluded because the two companies' principles are in agreement on the points of creating a sustainable society through business activities and developing together with society. In addition, this agreement will make it possible for the two companies to work in collaboration--by utilizing the assets and experience of each--to effectively revitalize local communities.

Nippon Paper Industries' business activities take biodiversity into consideration as a rule and the company is involved in long-term environment conservation activities on a global scale while conducting its business based on the concept of helping to create a recycling-oriented society. The wood resources used by Nippon Paper Industries to manufacture a wide range of products are from forests with deep connections to the global environment and ecosystems. Many people participate in the procurement process, including in the local communities of production areas. Nippon Paper Industries makes efforts to create systems for the sustainable usage of renewable wood resources.

Coca-Cola Japan carries out business together with eight bottling partners across Japan. It believes that business growth depends upon the development of local communities and the realization of sustainability. Water resources are the most important raw material for the Coca-Cola System, the largest soft drink manufacturer in the world. The Coca-Cola System has established the ultimate goal of becoming "water neutral" by replenishing all of the water used at its plants around the world by the year 2020. In collaboration with specialized institutions, the Coca-Cola System is working to conduct watershed cultivation activities based on scientific surveys.

The first installment of the collaborative activities based on this agreement will take place at Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture, where a forest owned by Nippon Paper Industries is located and which forms the water source for the Coca-Cola System's major plant in the Kanto region. The Forests, Water and Smiles--Sharing Abundant Nature with Tomorrow in Katashina Village Project will be implemented starting November 2013, and the experience of both companies will be utilized to conserve bountiful forest and water resources.

Overview of the agreement for collaborative activities to conserve and protect forest and water resources

Name Basic Agreement for Collaboration to Conserve the Multifaceted Value of Forests and Accomplish Sustainable Local Community Development
Parties Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. and Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., Ltd.
Date of conclusion October 1, 2013
Period Medium- and long-term from October 1, 2013 (to March 31, 2021)
Content Utilizing the expertise of Nippon Paper Industries regarding the cultivation and management of sustainable forests, and the expertise of Coca-Cola Japan regarding the conservation and protection of water resources, to accomplish local community development