Meerhout – 24 October 2025 – Today, Suntory Beverage and Food Europe and Natuurpunt announced their collaboration in the Grote Netewoud in Meerhout. As part of the Interreg BUFFER+ project, the partners are investing in wetland conservation and peatland restoration, helping water remain longer in the landscape and enabling ecosystems to recover.
The Importance of Water for Nature and Business
What does Natuurpunt have in common with a beverage producer? More than you might think: both recognize the immense importance of water.
For Natuurpunt, wetland ecosystems are a powerful ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. For Suntory, water is an essential ingredient in its beverages and in the livelihood of surrounding communities.
Both partners share the belief that we must use this precious resource responsibly — and that the water we use should also be given back to nature. Protecting the water cycle is key to climate change resilience. That’s why Suntory is investing in the Interreg BUFFER+ project, which focuses, among other things, on maintaining wet peatlands, both in the Grote Netewoud and in De Kevie in Tongeren. The project aims to restore the natural water balance and biodiversity of these areas, for instance by raising the groundwater level.
Flemish Minister for Environment and Agriculture, Jo Brouns stated:
Restoring our wetlands is crucial in the fight against drought and climate change. Peatlands not only restore our water balance, they also store CO₂ and breathe new life into our natural environment. The fact that companies such as Suntory are backing projects like this shows that nature restoration is a shared responsibility. Only by investing together in the resilience of our ecosystems can we build a sustainable Flanders.
Giving Water Back to the Peat
In the Grote Netewoud — which stretches across the municipalities of Geel, Balen, Mol, and Meerhout — centuries-old peat layers still lie hidden beneath the soil. Peat acts as a true carbon sponge: it stores large amounts of CO₂. However, once it dries out, for example through drainage, that stored greenhouse gas is released back into the atmosphere. Keeping peatlands wet is therefore crucial.
To monitor how restoration measures contribute to rewetting, monitoring wells are being installed to measure groundwater levels. This requires drilling into the peat. The borehole made today revealed that while the top layer is almost completely dried out, wetter organic material still lies beneath — a layer that tells a story thousands of years old. Since peat typically grows by only about one millimeter per year, the peat found today is estimated to be around 2,000 years old. Natuurpunt will also focus on an educational program for schools and visitors to the area and beyond, with an emphasis on water as the source of all natural life, now and in the future.
Investing in Nature Restoration
John Maes, Chairman of Natuurpunt Beheer, declared:
Large-scale nature restoration is only possible through collaboration. It’s not just the responsibility of governments or conservation organisations, but also of companies that recognize the importance of a healthy, resilient natural environment. Thanks to their financial support, we can make our nature more climate-resilient and give biodiversity a boost - an investment that pays back many times over for society. It is especially valuable that an international company like Suntory takes responsibility and actively contributes to sustainable water management.
Jaime Lago de Lanzos Bunzl, General Manager of Suntory Beverage & Food Benelux, added:
Over two decades, we’ve been engaged as Suntory in protecting and restoring water ecosystems through 35 Water Sanctuary projects in Japan and across the globe. That’s why we’re proud to join forces with Natuurpunt and to take meaningful action to restore Belgium’s precious wetlands and peatlands. This partnership is about resilience, adaptation, and education, giving back to the society and environment in which we operate. This collaboration with Natuurpunt reflects Suntory's dedication to respectful water stewardship, strengthening our global commitment to safeguarding this vital resource for the generations of today and tomorrow.
Photos: courtesy of Flan Caramel B.V.
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About BUFFER+
The BUFFER+ project is a collaboration between 21 partners and 7 associated organisations from five countries in Northwest Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, France, and Germany. Their goal is to restore degraded peatlands and make them more climate-resilient. These restored areas enhance biodiversity and, thanks to their buffering capacity, act as key allies in the fight against climate change.
Businesses, networks, land managers, and research institutions work together to develop sustainable models for long-term peatland restoration.
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