Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are current business buzzwords – and with good reason. We must all pull our weight to safeguard sustainable development.

At Givaudan, sustainability is a crucial focus area that affects our external and our internal business. For instance we always try to make sure that the production of our raw materials is sustainable. The replanting of vanilla beans and tonka beans is a prime example.

We also continuously look for ways to help our customers successfully develop innovative products that fit the underlying “Save the Planet” movement, which is affecting the five global consumer mega trends in different ways. In our region, this recently resulted in a series of seminars about sustainable innovation and development.

It is obvious that sustainability and CSR are growing in importance for our customers. Before, negotiations and agreements mainly dealt with such subjects as prices, payment terms and lead times. Today, the focus is more on carbon footprint and, with code of conduct high on the list, issues such as discrimination and child labour.

Locally all Givaudan sites analyse their business to see how sustainability and CSR can improve. The process is driven by what we call Green Teams. At the Givaudan North Europe HQ in Lund, some local initiatives include waste recycling, changing to low-energy lamps and using “green” ways to travel. On the social side, we are supporting employee health programmes, but we also support homeless people and a youth handball team.

This issue of our newsletter presents various sides of sustainability. It is encouraging to see that so many people care. And while no one can do everything, everyone can do something.

Pleasant reading!

Rickard Kristensson
Sales Director, Givaudan North Europe

PS: A virtual conference is a sustainable way of “getting together” to discuss business. Read more about it in this issue.


Picture: iStock