Greenpeace Japan Press Release
September 30, 2004

Asahi Breweries Cancels New PET Bottle
-Citizens' Power at Work in Japan-

From the front of Asahi Breweries's headquarter

Japan's premier beer company Asahi Breweries today announced it will suspend the introduction of a newly developed PET bottle which the company had previously announced on July 8, Asahi communicated its decision to Greenpeace Japan. The announcement has been posted on Asahi's website already.

Greenpeace Japan has been actively soliciting Asahi to relinquish the plan to introduce the newly invented "recycle-unfriendly and unreturnable" PET bottle through open letters, cyber-action, and web opinion poll, as well as giving the company "CSR Disqualification Grand Prize," ever since the company had announced the plan in July.

Are you favor or against the PET bottle beer? Favor 149 (10%) Against 1310 (89%) Opinion poll carried by Greenpeace Japan

Junichi Sato of Greenpeace Japan said, "Although I'm not totally satisfied with Asahi's 'suspension pro tempore', I welcome the company's decision nonetheless. This is a result of actions taken by citizens who are tired of irresponsible corporations that produce waste. I remind other companies that we are watching."

Junichi Sato
Toxics Campaigner
Greenpeace Japan
N F 2F 8-11-13 Nishi-Shinjuku,
Shinjuku TOKYO
160-0023 Japan
tel. 81-3-5338-9800
fax. 81-3-5338-9817