Firmenich giving back to local communities
PROJECT PA RT NER S
Firmenich and the sweet smell of success
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Private company Firmenich has expanded its operations to become one of the most sustainable perfume and flavour companies in the world
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oday, consumers are drawn by the goodness of Nature, actively seeking out products that are natural, traceable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. Increasingly they want to know where products have come from, how they are sourced, and how farmers and producers benefit from collaborating with large manufacturers. Firmenich has a long legacy of leading its business responsibly. As an industry-leader in sustainability, the Group has set itself the most ambitious 2020 environmental goals in its industry with the vision to become carbon neutral. Advancing this objective, Firmenich is committed to sourcing the best of nature in the most sustainable way possible, to offer world-class taste and scent experiences to its customers and their consumers. Building on his previous experience at multinational manufacturer Procter & Gamble (P&G), Corporate Vice President and Chief Purchasing Officer Bhavesh Shah seized the opportunity to join Firmenich. The possibility to contribute to
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Sourcing the scent
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FRAGRANCES ARE US
We are a producer of aromatic chemicals supplying the F&F industry with superior quality products. We make concerted effort to be responsible to our clients, employees and products, in protecting the environment and in complying with relevant government and industry regulations. We value clients who recognize and support such behaviour.
www.yinghai.com
the company’s vision to be carbon neutral, while making a difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of farming families confirmed his decision to join the company. “My experience with P&G was very entrepreneurial, and I was looking for a company where I could truly make a difference,” Bhavesh says. “The opportunity to build a worldclass, global purchasing team to support the company’s longterm vision was very exciting.” Bhavesh has brought in a new era of purchasing excellence, introducing best-in-class, sustainable purchasing management practices to advance the company’s ambitious sustainability agenda. Engaging his passionate team, he has successfully positioned Firmenich as a leader in naturals based on innovative partnerships at source to drive the most sustainable value chain from field to shelf. He has also established Firmenich as the number one player in the use of renewable energy across its operations by refocusing its energy purchasing strategy.
Leadership in naturals Firmenich has the broadest and finest portfolio in the industry, cutting across natural, synthetic and bio-based ingredients. Having access to the most pristine natural ingredients is essential for Firmenich’s creators, as these ingredients are the essence of their unique olfactive signature. From jasmine sourced in India and oud from Bangladesh, to patchouli from Indonesia and vanilla from Madagascar, Firmenich’s mastery of naturals is second to none. When you consider it takes 3.5 tons of rose petals to produce 1 kilo of rose essential oil; and 1 million roses to produce the 3.5 tons of rose petals; there is no other option than to
Sustainable sourcing
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harvest them sustainably. “We partner with smallholder farmers around the world to harvest the earth’s most precious resources sustainably,” explains Bhavesh. “Today I am very proud that Firmenich supports the livelihoods of 250,000 farming families at the source of our 170 varieties of natural ingredients”.
Naturals Together: Driving excellence from field to shelf Firmenich is committed to operating the most traceable, sustainable and ethical value chain in the industry from field to shelf. Through its “Naturals Together” initiative,
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1KG OF ROSE
the company builds long-term partnerships with some of the world’s best natural producers. Firmenich works with the producers to address pressing challenges, such as rural exodus, climate change, and access to healthcare services, education or training. One of the most important achievements of its Naturals Together initiative is the forming of two Joint Ventures between Firmenich and Naturals Together members: one with Jasmine Concrete, the leader in Indian florals, and one with Essex Laboratories, a world-leader in natural mint solutions based in the USA.
WHERE THE WORLD COMES TO ITS SENSES
68 3 1 Berjé has strived for excellence as a supplier of Essential Oils, and Aromatic Chemicals since our early days in New York City. In those six decades Berjé has built an inventory of over 3000 ingredients that covers the esoteric to the everyday. Rigorous QC standards, comprehensive traceability programs, and our recent SQF certification have established Berjé as a top tier distributor. With that foundation Berjé is breaking new ground on improving the industry’s standard of service. Coupled with Berjé Trakia, a European rose and lavender production facility, our global network of partners gives us the reach to sell in over sixty countries on six continents. As we further our commitment to promoting environmentally stable solutions, Berjé guarantees the quality of the past and the good sustainable business practices of the future.
Berjé Inc. an SQF Level 3 Quality Certified Supplier
+1 973 748 8980 | 700 BLAIR ROAD, CARTERET, NJ 07008 USA | WWW.BERJEINC.COM
Experience Solvay sustainable vanillin-based solutions Leading global vanillin-based solutions producer, Solvay assists Food, Flavors & Fragrances markets in designing solutions to tackle the global challenges : SUSTAINABILITY, INNOVATION, SAFETY, NATURALITY, HEALTH & WELLNESS
www.safevanillin.com
Deep Roots: Supporting sustainable livelihoods Taking its commitment to the next level, the company’s ‘Deep Roots’ program, brings Firmenich’s entire supply chain closer together, to enhance the livelihoods of 100’000 smallholder farmers by 2020. Working with farmers, as well as distillers and suppliers, key customers and NGOs, the program focuses on supporting the sustainable livelihoods of its farming communities. Together they explore new business models and share innovation to turn their challenges into opportunities, from the selection of crop varieties, crop rotation, soil management, all the way to irrigation technologies. Firmenich develops sustainable financial models which enable the company to invest in projects that enhance the sustainable livelihoods of the local farming communities, from healthcare and education to hygiene and sanitation. For instance, last year, the company opened a kindergarten for 100 children in Indonesia, built a school in Haiti and established a dispensary, as well as wells for water access in Madagascar.
Award-winning naturals This sustainable, global sourcing focus has not gone unnoticed. Partnering with Indonesian manufacturing company Indesso, Firmenich supports patchouli farmers in Indonesia, who produce this signature perfume ingredient. Supplying more than 90% of the global market, patchouli oil from Indonesia is considered the highest quality in the world. Consistent with its responsible sourcing approach, Firmenich buys approximately 20% of this highly sought-after crop, working hand-in-hand with local patchouli farming communities.
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“TODAY, WE LEAD THE INDUSTRY IN RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH MORE THAN 65% OF OUR MANUFACTURING ELECTRICITY GENERATED FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES GLOBALLY” - Bhavesh Shah - Corporate Vice President and Chief Purchasing Officer
Acknowledging the broad societal benefits of Firmenich’s work, the company recently received Indonesia’s ‘Primaduta’ Presidential Award, gifted by President Joko Widodo for its Deep Roots project in Java. “Our vision is to have over 40 projects by 2020, impacting 100,000 farming families in a positive way,” explains Bhavesh. “This means looking at improving things like agronomy, yield factors, how producers can go to market, while providing premium pricing to secure a stable and sustainable income.”
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Partnering with like-minded visionary companies To scale up its commitment to responsible sourcing, Firmenich joined the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (Livelihoods 3F) in 2015, alongside founding investors Danone and Mars, Incorporated. Launched in February 2015, Livelihoods 3F aims to help companies sustainably source the materials they need from smallholder farmers, while improving their productivity, incomes, and living conditions. The fund will invest 120 million euros by
DSM Aroma Ingredients Quality, Reliability & Innovation As a reliable innovation partner to the F&F industry for synthetic and biotech solutions, DSM is proud to present its latest extension into the biotech field: Natural Valencene and Natural Nootkatone, derived from a unique fermation process. For further information, please e-mail aroma.ingredients@dsm.com or visit www.dsm.com
Our value offerings • Reliable and sustainable supply chain • Consistent high quality • Stable price • Year-round production • Pesticide free
2025, providing upfront financing and technical support to NGOs and farmers’ cooperatives across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Bhavesh commented: “Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors in the world, and Madagascar represents 80% of its supply. That’s why Firmenich has been working with smallholder farming communities in Madagascar for many years to support their sustainable livelihoods. Taking our
aims to increase farmer’s food security and triple their revenues, while providing high-quality, sustainable and fully traceable vanilla over a 10-year span. This investment comes on top of Firmenich’s longestablished presence in Madagascar, since 2005, having developed its first partnership with Authentic, a member of its Naturals Together program.
commitment to the next level, we are now innovating with a new vanilla farming model, based on diversifying farmers’ crops for more balance and security.” Building on this partnership, Firmenich, together with Danone and Mars, recently announced through Livelihoods 3F, it is investing in a large-scale, innovative vanilla farming model in Madagascar. Involving 3,000 vanilla producers, the project
As the most sustainable, perfume and flavor company in the world, Firmenich is firmly focused on delivering its ambitious 2020 environmental goals, to become carbon neutral. For instance, by 2020, the company is committed to all of its manufacturing sites being powered from 100% renewable sources or offsets; and its absolute CO2 emissions going down by 20%. Purchasing has been a driving
1895 The year Firmenich was founded
Advancing Firmenich’s vision to be carbon neutral
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force in enabling Firmenich to be the industry leader in renewable energy. Most recently, Firmenich shifted its Princeton and Port Newark plants in the US to use 100% renewable energy sources. “As part of our global approach to combatting climate change, purchasing worked with a major energy supplier in North America to meet the needs of our US plants today and in the future,” said Bhavesh. “This is just one of the ways we are accelerating Firmenich’s vision of a clean and sustainable manufacturing footprint.” “Today, we lead the industry in renewable energy with more than 65% of our manufacturing electricity generated from renewable sources globally. We have a total of seven “100%” clean energy manufacturing sites, including two plants in the US, two plants in Switzerland, one in the UK, one in Norway and one in Belgium,” adds Bhavesh. Expanding its commitment to value chain, the Purchasing team is also embarking its suppliers on the journey. That’s why Firmenich was the first in the industry to engage its
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suppliers to disclose their climate and water performance data through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Supply Chain Program. A recognized industry-leader in environmental management, Firmenich ranked in the top 1% of Ecovadis’ “Gold Standard” companies. The Group was also featured on the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) “A List” for the third consecutive year, and was named CDP’s Best Supply Chain Company in “Switzerland, Germany and Austria”, a region that counts some of the most sophisticated and sustainable industrial groups in the world.
Future growth In the years ahead, Firmenich is committed to investing in even closer collaboration between farmers, producers, perfumers, flavorists and its customers, to be able to successfully secure the most exquisite, sustainable and traceable ingredients in the industry. Bhavesh concludes: “Building on our 122-year heritage of leading
www.indesso.com
As a responsible member of global community, Indesso has long started sustainable business practices in producing ingredients for flavor & fragrance industry. Green chemistry initiatives, sustainable sourcing, water & energy usage reduction are part of our essential activities. It’s simply because we care.
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For almost 50 years, Indesso has been widely known as the world leader for clove oil and its derivatives and the key manufacturer in producing ingredients for food, flavor and fragrance industries. Starting with rigorous raw material selection, Indesso ensures that all customer get high quality products, which comply with international standards and regulations.
INDIA’S LEADING MANUFACTURER, SUPPLIER AND EXPORTER OF AROMA CHEMICALS. Prosperity with Orderliness. Privi started manufacturing aroma chemicals in the year 1992 with only two products, which it gradually expanded to a range of over 35 products today, having a capacity of over 25000 tons per annum with current annual turnover of 100 Million USD & is preferred supplier to all top ten F&F houses & FMCGS. Privi also develops and produces custom-made aroma chemicals as per specific requirement of the customer. The research specialists at in-house R&D centre continuously thrive to develop new products and processes.
Tel: +91 22 27783040-41-45 sales@privi.co.in | Website: www.privi.com
WANXIANG INTERNATIONAL Established in 1992 in China, Wanxiang International have been professionally engaged into R&D and production of natural and synthetic ingredients for Flavors and Fragrances industry. Our products have been widely used in Oral Care, Home care, Personable care, Fine fragrances, Foods, Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Tobacco, Animal feeds, etc. Quality, Safety, Environment protection and Corporate Social Responsibility is our core value for our sustainable business growth. The qualified certificates we have obtained are ISO9001, ISO14001 and ISO2200. Also we are the member of SEDEX for international recognition of the CSR. On REACH, we have our OR in England for registration the REACH for all our products. All issues linked with REACH have been fully complied. Having warehousing facilities in Europe and USA, we provide professional services to the local customers with on time delivery. Wanxiang International is your reliable partner in Ingredients.
www.wxintl.com | info@wxixntl.com Tel: +86 21 6812 6648 No. 4309 Hunan Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201318, China
our business responsibly, we will continue to invest in win-win partnerships with our farming communities, while driving the most sustainable global footprint
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possible. Not only does this enable us to offer our customer’s the best of nature, but it also ensure we have a lasting positive impact on the planet and society.�
Corporate Vice President and Chief Purchasing Officer, Bhavesh Shah
“OUR VISION IS TO HAVE OVER 40 PROJECTS BY 2020, IMPACTING 100,000 FARMING FAMILIES IN A POSITIVE WAY” w w w. f i r m e n i c h . c o m
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www.firmenich.com/en_INT