“A Sense of Tomorrow”: Givaudan highlights responsible sourcing and climate action progress in 2018 sustainability report

28 Mar 2019 --- Global flavor and fragrance player Givaudan has published its 2018 Sustainability Progress Review. The report highlights advances made during the first full year of the company’s efforts for increased sustainability with “A Sense of Tomorrow” approach. Reinforcing this new tactic towards sustainability, the flavor house has reported “steady progress” which, underpins its ability to meet ambitious targets and respond to customers’ and wider society’s expectations.

“The strong results of this first year confirm that ‘A Sense of Tomorrow’ is a solid approach that also strengthens our 2020 strategy of ‘Responsible Growth. Shared Success,’” says company CEO Gilles Andrier.

Sustainability is high on the agenda for Givaudan. Earlier this month, for example, Givaudan and the University of California, Riverside (UCR) embarked on the next phase of their long-term collaboration, with a US$3.5 million donation from Givaudan to support UCR’s Citrus Variety Collection. 

Key performance highlights of the three focus areas of “A Sense of Tomorrow”:

Sourcing for shared value

• Twenty-four key raw material categories are now sourced responsibly.
• Seventy-eight percent of Givaudan’s main direct suppliers achieved site audit compliance.

Innovating responsibly

• Givaudan's Flavour Division is at the forefront in creating the future of protein.
• From new scientific methodologies to sustainable beauty compounds, Givaudan’s Fragrance Division demonstrates diversity in responsible innovation.

Acting for our environment

• Strong climate action has led to a 13.9 percent decrease in absolute terms of Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sixty-nine percent of the company’s electricity now comes from renewable sources.
• The company reduced  water use by 24.4 percent and carried out a first water footprint assessment that includes its value chain.
• CDP A- leadership level for GHG emission reduction and water stewardship.
• Position on the CDP’s Supplier Engagement Leaderboard.

The Sustainability Progress Review is also published in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative’s Standard ‘Core’ Reporting Guidelines (GRI) – the most widely used sustainability reporting standard in the world.

In February, Givaudan joined major food industry players to financially back a new project which aims to accelerate the development of healthy food products that leverage consumer trends. Bühler, Givaudan and Nestlé co-founded the Future Food Initiative (FFI), designed to step up the search for sustainable, plastic-free packaging and to secure access to affordable nutrition as part of the global challenge of addressing hunger, malnutrition and sustainability.

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst Fabio Campanile, Givaudan’s Head of Flavour Science & Technology, said: “The program’s objectives are closely aligned with our 2020 strategy, which focuses on Sustainability, Health & Wellbeing and working with partners to create great tasting food. It is only through collaborations such as this, bringing together industry, academia and the brightest and best young scientists, that we will be able to meet the challenges of the future.”