Firmenich: Best Sustainable Family Company Switzerland 2018
Success tastes sweet, but sustainable success is what Firmenich craves and relishes. Firmenich, originally a fragrance company, expanded into the flavour business in 1938 when it created raspberry, strawberry and citrus substitutes. More synthetic flavours were created for processed and preserved food. The Swiss family-owned business has been sharing scents and flavours with the world for more than 120 years. It has maintained a firm grasp on its core values, striving to be a force for positive change in the world. Firmenich sets impeccable sustainability standards for itself, and of its own accord it signed a Chamber of Commerce-backed sustainable charter in 1991. It goes above and beyond in terms of transparency and social and environmental responsibility. Firmenich publishes annual sustainability reports and has them externally vetted for accuracy. It is committed to responsible sourcing, seeking out biodegradable ingredients and supporting local farming communities. The company believes in the power of collaboration, partnering with philanthropic giants like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in emerging markets. CEO Gilbert Ghostine is an advocate for, and champion of, responsible business practices. He has shown a flair for pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. He is also committed to ending the gender pay-gap. Firmenich’s New York and Geneva operations are 100 percent gender-equality compliant, with other branches to follow suit by the end of 2018. Firmenich is in the upper echelon of industry sustainability, earning an EcoVadis rating of 82/100; the average score is half that. For its dedication to protecting the planet and its people, Firmenich has earned CFI.co’s 2018 award for Best Sustainable Family Company – Switzerland.
Proud signatories of the United Nations (UN) Global Compact, Firmenich was showcased by as a leading Swiss Company advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). See movie here: https://vimeo.com/280234373
