Preserving Forests
Deforestation-free Actions
Since 2017, we have been advancing biodiversity protection across our various collaborations with customers to help them produce deforestation-free products.
We know that forests play a vital role in providing livelihoods for over one billion people, hosting 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and mitigating climate change by absorbing emitted carbon dioxide. At Firmenich, we work continuously to ensure that our supply chain protects this valuable resource against the menace of deforestation.
Transparency & Reforestation
To help preserve forests ecosystems, we directly collaborate with suppliers through the CDP Platform to further drive transparency in our supply chain. We know that 56% of suppliers who respond to CDP Forests questionnaire have assessed forest-related risks.
In 2020, 687 companies in the world disclosed their forest impact through CDP – a 27% increase vs. past year. As an ethical company, we are proud to help increase transparency on such a crucial issue by involving our key suppliers.
Since 2011, our company has been investing in the Livelihoods Funds, alongside eight other companies, with the ambition to improve food security in rural communities and increase farmers' incomes through ecosystem restoration, agroforestry and rural energy programs.
In 2015, we joined the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (L3F), focusing on improving the productivity, income and livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This year, L3F used its strong expertise in agroecology and sustainable sourcing to launch a project to help transition a growing but highly controversial industry: palm oil by 2030.
Responsible Palm Oil
Since 2018, Firmenich has been a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). This leading non-profit organisation is committed to increasing transparency in the palm oil supply chain and preventing deforestation caused by unsustainable palm oil exploitation.
This year we have taken our commitment even further by updating our Palm Oil statement and sharing our 2020 performance of sourcing 100% RSPO certified palm oil. Following the successful certification of our production sites in Switzerland (2020) and the UK (2021), we have also committed to certify all production sites to RSPO Mass Balance by 2025. Our commitment aims to even impact local farmers as we promoted the L3F's palm oil project.
"With regards to natural ingredients, such as palm oil and palm oil derivatives, we have set rigorous standards for sustainability.”
Gianluca Colombo
Chief Procurement Officer
Embracing Nature
Nature gives us everything. It inspires our creations, supplies us with precious ingredients and drives our innovation.
