Caring About Communities
Human Rights in Our Value Chain
Our family culture has inspired us to care and contribute to many causes through volunteering and philanthropic efforts.
Despite the impact of COVID-19, our affiliates continued to offer donations to meet the health and nutrition needs of disadvantaged groups, enabling our colleagues to lend their support to local organizations that work directly with those in need.
“For decades, philanthropy has been a key part of Firmenich’s culture."
Matthew Furner
Chairman of the Firmenich Charitable Foundation
Human Rights at Source
To address human rights with our suppliers, our strategy is first to raise awareness and train the entire procurement community on human rights as well as on emerging human rights laws and management practices. Whenever possible, our future projects will include a human rights driver, be it related to a living wage, children’s education or women empowerment.
In 2021, we designed two new projects at source:
Case Studies
Madagascar – Mahadera Agricultural Training Center
In 2020, we launched this educational project in Antsirabe (Madagascar) with our vanilla sourcing partner Authentic Products. Our aim is to support a more sustainable future for vanilla farming families, empowering local rural youth but also improving their long-term livelihoods through courses in farm and financial management. In addition to this centre, we have invested locally to ensure that we are making a real contribution to strengthening agricultural activities in the region and ensuring a sustainable future for these communities.
Morocco – The Cooperative Azhour in Dar Bel Amri
In 2018, we launched the Azhour in Dar Bel Amri project in partnership with Les Arômes du Maroc (our partner producer). This project aims to improve the lives of 200 seasonal orange flower pickers via the bottling and sale of floral water to help them supplement their income. Our NGO partner CARE has monitored the programme and reports encouraging results: 50 participants report satisfaction with a greater sense of empowerment and improved income.
Path2Farm™ – Digital Traceability
The Path2Farm™ program is a breakthrough digital traceability solution for naturals sourcing. As a fully transparent source of information, this proprietary digital platform delivers tangible and guaranteed data to mitigate risks linked to human rights issues, including forced and child labor, and to ensure best product quality compliance. By working hand in hand with our local long-term partners, we ensure the complete and respectful control of our natural ingredients value chain.
Caring About People
From the farmers and workers in our supply chains to our colleagues, customers and consumers – people are at the heart of everything we do. We care for every person touched in any way by our business. Caring about people starts by ensuring their fundamental human rights.