Biodiversity

These powerful levers will help us tackle the biggest drivers of biodiversity loss while restoring soil health, water systems, livelihoods and nature itself.

Guided by our purpose and our brand, we will use raw materials responsibly, embrace innovation when nature cannot provide and invest in nature-based climate solutions that restore diverse ecosystems.

As global scrutiny and expectations accelerate, this standalone strategy safeguards the natural ingredients we rely on, strengthens climate resilience, and creates lasting value – for nature, for people, and for our business.

Action for biodiversity on a global scale

Givaudan is committed to taking action for biodiversity on a global scale. We have developed comprehensive policies aimed at preserving the environment from the impact of our direct operations. These include our Deforestation and Conversion-free Policy, our Principles of Conduct and our EHS Policy on Safety and Environmental Protection. We also support the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as outlined by the United Nations.

We extend these expectations to our suppliers, holding them to the standards outlined in our Responsible Sourcing Policy. Suppliers of natural products are subject to a specific set of requirements related to ecosystem conservation, deforestation and forest degradation and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of biodiversity, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices. Across our whole supply chain, we are increasing our efforts towards supply chain transparency and traceability to assess our impacts.

Accountability around biodiversity performance

Our commitment to protecting and regenerating biodiversity and ecosystems extends throughout our value chain. Corporate accountability for biodiversity performance is evolving rapidly, and we are aligning our efforts with relevant nature-based targets and disclosure frameworks, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, these include SDG 2, ‘Zero Hunger’; SDG 3 ‘Good Health & Well-Being’; SDG 6, ‘Freshwater Availability and Sustainable Management’; SDG 12 ‘Sustainable Production and Consumption’; SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’; SDG 15 ‘Life on Land’ and SDG 17 ‘Partnerships to Achieve the Goal’.

To learn about our progress in these areas, read our 2025 Integrated Report on economic and ESG performance.

Contributing to change

We adhere to the mitigation and conservation hierarchy principles of ‘avoid’, ‘reduce’, ‘restore and regenerate’ to encourage industry transformation. By supporting the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), we advocate for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Additionally, we promote fair benefit-sharing and contribute to targets outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Download our position on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)*

* and particularly, on local legislations and regulations implementing the Nagoya Protocol

Conserving habitats and addressing palm oil and deforestation

Some of our natural raw materials may pose risks in terms of deforestation or land conversion, which can have significant impacts on biodiversity. Palm oil, for example, is within our supply chain and is categorised as ‘high risk’ for deforestation. We are actively working to minimise this risk and have demonstrated our commitment in our position statement on palm oil. This statement emphasises our adherence to ‘no Deforestation, no Peat, no Exploitation’ (NDPE) principles.

In 2023, the European Union released the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), aiming to curb the EU market’s impact on global deforestation and forest degradation. We comply with all requirements applicable to us according to our role in the supply chain.

Download our position on palm oil 
Download our position on the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR)

Our CDP report on forests

Our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship is measured in our ratings by CDP, the organisation behind the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. In 2025, we received our seventh consecutive ‘A’ score from CDP for climate action and received an ‘A–’ for water security.

Once again, in 2025 we completed the CDP forest questionnaire, which focuses on how organisations produce, source and use four key forest risk commodities: timber, cattle products, soy, and palm oil. We received a ‘B’ rating, signalling significant progress in our efforts to address deforestation.

Download our 2025 CDP Corporate Report  Download our Deforestation Policy

For more on our latest progress, read our 2025 Integrated Report on economic and ESG performance.

Working together for change

We follow the Mitigation and Conservation Hierarchy principles of ‘avoid’, ‘reduce’, ‘restore and regenerate’ and contribute to the transformation of the industry. Through each level of intervention, we support the terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the conservation of biological diversity itself and the sustainable use of its components. We promote the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources and contribute to the targets laid down in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

We have developed comprehensive policies that recognise the need to preserve the environment from the impact our direct operations may have through our Principles of Conduct and EHS Policy on Safety and Environmental Protection. We also expect our suppliers to adhere to the same level of commitments and standards and we have therefore integrated these principles into our Responsible Sourcing Policy, which is shared with all suppliers. Suppliers of natural products are subject to specific requirements, especially related to ecosystem conservation, deforestation and forest degradation, fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of biodiversity, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices.