Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Receives the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award for Forestry Merits for Reiwa 7

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Karin Dragan; hereinafter referred to as "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award for Forestry Merits for Reiwa 7, in recognition of its long-standing efforts in forest conservation and environmental education.

The Company has been engaged in conservation and environmental awareness activities in the forests that serve as the water source areas for its Tosu and Kiyama plants in Saga Prefecture. In 2006, it entered into an agreement concerning "Corporate Forests" with the Kyushu Regional Forest Office to manage national forests in Tateishi-cho, Tosu City. Furthermore, in 2018, it signed an agreement with Saga Prefecture, Tosu City, Kiyama Town, and the Saga Eastern Forest Owners' Association, involving five parties, for forest conservation in the Houman River basin of the Chikugo River system, thereby continuing water resource conservation activities in collaboration with the local community.

In addition, as part of its water resource conservation efforts, the Company has been holding the "Learn from the Forest with Coca-Cola" project, a nature experience event, in Saga Prefecture since 2006. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the project's launch. The "Learn from the Forest with Coca-Cola" project is an initiative where local residents and employees learn together about the role of forests in conserving water resources and protecting biodiversity through hands-on programs such as forestry experience, including thinning and afforestation, as well as nature observation and woodworking.

In Saga Prefecture, this project has been continuously implemented since its first event in 2006, and through this initiative, the Company has promoted water resource conservation activities rooted in the local community. These long-term efforts were recognized, and the Company was also honored with the "Saga Prefecture Award for Forestry Merits" at the Reiwa 7 Saga Prefecture Forestry and Greening Awards.

The Company will continue to engage in water resource conservation in collaboration with the local community.

Left: Director of the Forest Management Division, Saga Prefecture (presenting the award on behalf of the Forestry Agency) Right: Masaki Yanai, Manufacturing Department Manager, Tosu Plant Manufacturing Department, Kyushu Plant Operations Department, SCM Division, Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc.

Special Website for the 20th Anniversary of the "Learn from the Forest with Coca-Cola" Project: https://www.ccbji.co.jp/morimana-20th/

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan's Water Initiatives: https://www.ccbji.co.jp/csv/environment/

* Information contained in this press release is current as of the date of announcement. Please note that it may differ from the latest information.