Givaudan celebrates ten years of ethical sourcing

20 Jan 2016 · 10:29 CET

Givaudan is proudly marking a milestone in its journey to sustainable natural ingredients with an event celebrating ‘Ten years of Ethical Sourcing’ in Paris from 18 to 22 January 2016.

The event showcases a selection of innovations and inspirations among Givaudan’s key natural ingredients such as tonka beans from Venezuela, ylang ylang from Mohéli, vetiver from Haiti, patchouli from Indonesia and cistus from Spain.

Givaudan began pioneering an ethical sourcing approach in the fragrance and flavours industry a decade ago. Starting out with partnerships with local producers, the Company today uses different sourcing models including its own collection networks. Givaudan’s Origination team creates a human chain from growers to consumers by deploying dedicated employees in the countries of origin, fostering best practices in sourcing and ensuring that producers and local communities benefit in the long-term from supplying the industry.

Sourcing natural ingredients also provides new opportunities for creative stimulation and innovation. Exploring raw materials at the source and combining them with ingredients obtained through the latest techniques such as bioscience has led to innovations like Akigalawood®, a new natural product derived from patchouli, and Roasted Tonka, an intense aroma obtained through an exclusive roasting process. These techniques provide Givaudan’s perfumers and flavourists with new ways of working with naturals and further enrich the palette of over 200 of the highest quality natural ingredients that Givaudan offers its customers, including sandalwood, tonka bean, benzoin, vanilla, ylang ylang, lavender, vetiver, patchouli and cistus.

“We are proud to mark this milestone in our journey to sustainable natural ingredients. By taking a long-term approach to securing the most fragile natural supply chains and supporting local communities, Givaudan is working to create a virtuous circle in line with our 2020 strategy of responsible growth and shared success for customers, communities and the Company,” said Gilles Andrier, CEO.

Key highlights from the past ten years:

2006 – Kick-off for the pioneering of an ethical sourcing approach within Givaudan

2008 – Partnership for sustainable sandalwood oil in Western Australia

2008 – Project on biodiversity for tonka beans with Conservation International in Venezuela

2009 – Support to benzoin harvesting communities through secondary education in Laos

2010 – Rural development programme for vanilla farmers in Madagascar

2010 – Project on ylang ylang quality and environmental conservation in Mohéli, Comoros

2012 – Cooperative and research partnership to preserve lavender and lavandin in France

2013 – Partnership with farmer cooperative and distiller for organic and fair-trade vetiver oil in Haiti

2014 – Patchouli collection network in Sulawesi, Indonesia and farming partnership in Borneo, Malaysia

2014 – Partnership with Biolandes for the sustainable production of cistus labdanum gum

2015 – Clove leaf oil collection network and partnership in Madagascar

The Company’s long-term commitment to sustainable sourcing of natural ingredients is further reinforced by the actions of the Givaudan Foundation. Launched in 2014, the non-profit organisation is dedicated to improving the social conditions of local communities through programmes for education, health and protection of the environment.


About Givaudan

Givaudan is the global leader in the creation of fragrances and flavours. In close collaboration with food, beverage, consumer product and fragrance partners, Givaudan develops tastes and scents that delight consumers the world over. With a passion to understand consumers’ preferences and a relentless drive to innovate, Givaudan is at the forefront of creating fragrances and flavours that ‘engage your senses’. The company achieved sales of CHF 4.4 billion in 2014. Headquartered in Switzerland with local presence in over 80 locations, the Company has more than 9,500 employees worldwide. Givaudan invites you to discover more at www.givaudan.com.


For further information please contact

Marie-Laure André, Head of Communications Fragrance
T +33 1 3998 4477
E marie-laure.andre@givaudan.com

Peter Wullschleger, Media and Investor Relations
T +41 22 780 9093
E peter_b.wullschleger@givaudan.com