Extracting value from nature: Symrise taps technology to create eco-friendly upcycled flavors

16 Oct 2023 --- Symrise has unveiled its Set Flavors brand which harnesses enrichment technologies to craft authentic taste experiences, while championing sustainability targets and catering to the evolving demands of conscious consumers.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment as pursuing rich flavors remains a driving force in their preferences.

“Consumers want to know and understand what their food consists of, where the ingredients come from, how they get processed, and how the planet and people throughout the production process benefit,” says Leif Jago, global marketing manager food & beverage at Symrise.

Set Flavors stands as Symrise’s response to these consumer demands. 

Development through sustainable technology
As the trend of upcycling ingredients has enticed players in the food industry, companies are taking extra steps to make their products by improving their taste and perfecting the sustainability message through technology.

“The new brand Set Flavors is championing a dedicated combination of technologies to source, enrich, decode, and transform value from nature,” adds Stefan Brennecke, master technologist and head of separation science in research & technology food & beverage at Symrise.

The technologies enable a better use of existing specialties and solutions to achieve a certain taste or aroma effect.Set Flavors is linked with Symrise’s technical research platforms, including Sensory Guided Analysis, AgroScience, Biotechnology and Separation Technologies. These platforms collectively aim to identify, enrich, and reconstitute side-stream materials, eradicating undesirable taste components while enhancing the pleasant attributes of raw materials.

These technologies enable the manipulation of existing specialties and solutions to achieve specific taste or aroma effects, including juiciness, masking, complexity and authenticity. The deployment of Set Flavors enables Symrise to add value to its taste solutions while adhering to the principles of the circular economy.

The company hopes to contribute to sustainable value chains by utilizing solid or liquid side streams from the food industry, circling back pomace, sift outs, materials from the preservation process, vegetable processing, fermentation and cell materials into the food processing stage as ingredients. 

Innovative approach to flavor enhancement
Biotransformation emerges as a key process in Symrise’s quest. Enzymatic biotransformation, in particular, opens doors to various chemical diversity in natural products. 

The biotransformation enzymes facilitate the synthesis of compounds that are otherwise unattainable through conventional chemical means. 

At the core of Set Flavors lies a smart amalgamation of extraction, separation and concentration technologies. This innovative arsenal includes adsorption, nano- and ultra-filtration, fractional distillation and osmosis underpinned by membrane developments. 

This month, the company introduced a facility in Singapore dedicated to naturalness innovation. The flavor-enhancing technologies allow Symrise access to encapsulate nature’s complete complexity within its product offerings. 

“As a new brand, Set Flavors strongly aligns with the core competencies of Taste, Nutrition and Health — supporting sustainability as an integral part of our company philosophy,” addresses Uwe Schäfer, director of applied research in research & technology food & beverage at Symrise. 

“The brand supports manufacturers to develop unique food and beverage products while responding to the consumer need for sustainable and planet-friendly consumption.”

By Sichong Wang