Ecosystem conversion and restoration
While International Flavors & Fragrances has a target to achieve conversion-free supply chains, it does not cover all high-risk commodities. Also, the company does not disclose details and outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects in areas affected by its own operations or by its suppliers.
GHG emissions
International Flavors & Fragrances should set time-bound targets to reduce its scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions as well as report progress against all its scope 1, 2 and 3 targets. Crucially, the company needs to reduce its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and its targets need to align with a 1.5-degree trajectory.
Impact and dependencies assessment
While International Flavors & Fragrances supports biodiversity and ecosystem regeneration globally, and has conducted hot-spot screenings for palm oil and deforestation, it has an opportunity to assess and disclose its impacts on nature, including biodiversity, within its own operations and its upstream business relationships. Additionally, the company could benefit from assessing and disclosing its dependencies on nature both within its operations and in its upstream business relationships, incorporating tools and standards like the Rainforest Alliance’s refreshed risk methodology.
Invasive species
International Flavors & Fragrances has not identified any activities that could lead to the introduction of invasive alien species in its own operations.
Key areas and species
International Flavors & Fragrances has an opportunity to disclose locations within or adjacent to areas important for biodiversity, both in its own operations and its supplier locations. It could also disclose existing species populations existing in or adjacent to both its own and its suppliers’ locations, as well as the conservation status of species identified at its own sites according to national and international lists.
Resource exploitation and circularity performance
International Flavors & Fragrances has an opportunity to disclose its inputs according to an international standard, and to report quantitatively on its group-wide circularity performance. The company also has an opportunity to disclose a target to improve soil health in its production or sourcing practices and to report progress against it.
Solid and air pollution
International Flavors & Fragrances should commit to avoid developing or marketing new chemicals or products with SVHC (substance of very high concern) properties, as well as work on reducing the production of hazardous substances. While the company discloses training to reduce waste, it discloses an increase in hazardous waste in the last reporting year. The company could also provide quantitative evidence regarding plastic use reduction and use of sustainable packaging, including the amount of plastic waste generated and proportions directed from or to disposal. Additionally, tt has an opportunity to disclose time-bound targets to reduce air pollutants across the most material parts of its value chain.
Water
International Flavors & Fragrances has an opportunity to disclose quantitative evidence of reductions in water withdrawal across its own operations. While the company discloses reduction targets related to water intensity, it has an opportunity to disclose a target to reduce water withdrawal across its own operations and report progress against it. The company also has an opportunity to disclose additional information on water pollution, including water pollution metrics, and targets to reduce the same. Finally, International Flavors & Fragrances does not disclose its processes for implementing preventive and corrective action plans for identified specific risks to the right to water and sanitation in its own operations.
