Welcome to the IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Report

Welcome to the first annual IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Report.

Formally launched last year, the Charter has been long in the making. Since 2016 we have worked with members and external experts to discuss, develop and refine the program and create an ambitious new approach to sustainability across the two industries.

The Charter is a voluntary framework that has been signed by 126 companies. It represents a collective commitment to making the difference for the planet, for people and for our business across five Focus Areas - responsible sourcing, reducing our environmental footprint, employee well-being, product safety, and transparency and partnerships.

In this Sustainability Report, we get an opportunity to present the state of play - how these companies are fulfilling or working towards the Commitments in the Charter. 

The results are impressive, both in terms of the percentage of the industries by market share and in terms of individual companies (our industries including many small or medium-sized enterprises).

The results reflect the fact that many companies have long-standing sustainable development commitments and have been engaged in initiatives for many years. In the coming years we hope to further improve thanks to the Charter's collective framework and the tools provided to  help raise the bar across the industry.

We cannot ignore the political, economic and social context that accompanies this first annual Sustainability Report. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate our lives and our businesses, and has emphasized the need for greater sustainability. 

Although the Charter is a project that has been years in the making, its time has truly come: an opportunity to underline our sectors’ commitment to more responsible sourcing and production, to employee well-being, and to economic sustainability. 

We will continue to highlight and reinforce this commitment both through the Charter and in our work on public policy globally, including the EU Green Deal and the US Sustainability Agenda, as well as initiatives in Asia-Pacific and Latin America.

This first Sustainability Report represents a benchmark for us to measure progress in future years. We hope to see, in the next twelve months, more companies making progress along the sustainability path, and more companies committing to the Charter.

IFRA and IOFI will continue to provide signatories and all members with its best efforts, expertise and support to help maintain the fragrance and flavor industries' continuous efforts on sustainability, in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.