Cosmetics and perfume ingredient supplier Symrise tops Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index
Symrise received the ranking after the CDP evaluated 350 companies across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The Project aims to encourage companies to be transparent about their impact on natural resources as well as to lessen that effect.
“We hold the largest collection globally of self reported climate change, water and forest-risk data. Through our global system companies, investors and cities are better able to mitigate risk, capitalize on opportunities and make investment decisions that drive action towards a more sustainable world,” according to the organization’s website.
On the supply side
Symrise launched in 2003, went public in 2006 and posted €1,830bn in sales last year. The company supplies cosmetics, perfume and personal care manufacturers, like Unilever, with active ingredients, functional ingredients and raw materials.
The company also supplies food and beverage producers as well as natural supplement and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Sustainability
The company joined up with the German development corporation earlier this year to improve the wellbeing of individuals and the environment along the Symrise vanilla supply chain. “Our goal is to source 100 percent of our vanilla from sustainable sources by 2017 – regardless of its final application.”
Toward biodiversity
Symrise has set three objectives for the year 2020, and sustainable sourcing of raw materials is one of them. The company is also looking to have its sites designed in an eco-conscious way and to have its team more informed on the topic of biodiversity preservation.
To better meet these goals, in May of this year the company partnered with the Global Nature Fund and the Union for Ethical Bio Trade, non-profits working in service of nature and biodiversity respectively.
The company understands that flora and fauna are 1,000 times more likely to become extinct because of human influence than environmental factors, yet acknowledges that many issues guide its decisions in this area: “There is another important aspect to our commitment to biodiversity besides ensuring raw materials supplies. We also want to take advantage of entrepreneurial opportunities,” said Dr. Helmut Frieden, head of the sustainability board, who is in charge of compliance.
New facilities
Just last month, Symrise opened new application laboratories as well as sales and marketing offices in Lagos Nigeria. The company plans to develop regionally specific fragrances and flavours and be in close communication with area authorities.
“With about 175 million inhabitants, abundant mineral and national resources, Nigeria has the potential to become one of the top 10 economies in the world,” explained Dr. Heinz-Jurgen Bertram, CEO, at the opening ceremony for the Nigeria LTD site.
