Supplier Partnerships

Responsible Sourcing

Our Commitment to Sourcing Responsibly

Our commitment to responsible sourcing means we strive to improve the quality of life in farming communities, helping to make them more stable, resilient and prosperous. We annually re-evaluate where our efforts and investments will create the most value and how we can continue to reach more people.

Strengthening Local Communities

CASE STUDY

SUPPORTING PATCHOULI FARMING IN INDONESIA

The patchouli oil supply chain in Indonesia faces significant environmental, social and economic challenges – from deforestation and plastic waste to the high number of intermediaries involved in the process that can hinder transparency. Ensuring ethical practices means reducing our environmental impact and supporting workers and grower communities. In 2021, we continued our shared value program to support patchouli farming communities in Indonesia through For Life certification in three main geographic areas (Bali, Sulawesi and Flores), where, to date, nearly 900 farmers have been For Life certified.

We also support local reforestation efforts to protect the biodiversity of the region — establishing community seedling nurseries, supporting women’s empowerment through the nurseries and offering sustainable resources management training on topics such as sustainable firewood collection.

LMR Naturals by IFF: Patchouli Indonesia

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Our impact is focused in three main geographic areas in Indonesia:

Bali

Sulawesi

Flores

To support reforestation and protect biodiversity, we have planted more than 85,000 trees since 2019 – comprising 19 distinct species – restoring approximately 2,000 hectares.

CASE STUDY

DEVELOPING BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED, TRACEABLE SUPPLY CHAINS

In 2018, IFF began using blockchain technology as a tool to ensure ingredient traceability by accurately notarizing the flow of raw materials from the crop to the customer in an inviolable manner. This process helps farmers by building a bridge with consumers while increasing trust and transparency. For example:

Blackcurrant bud in France

In collaboration with a partner, LMR Naturals by IFF ensures that data registered into the blockchain are permanently timestamped, forgery-proof and decentralized. When a farmer transfers raw material to the local cooperative, the registry captures key information, such as date of delivery, weight/volume and the farm and parcel location of the crop. When the cooperative then transfers the material to the processor, data is again captured to confirm receipt and verify batch composition.

Vanilla in Madagascar

LMR Naturals by IFF, along with our strategic customers and partners, are using blockchain to create a tamper-proof record of each vanilla bean’s journey throughout the supply chain. Beginning with a cooperative of 450 smallholder farmers in Madagascar, the technology traces the beans along their path from farm to final product. In addition to bringing greater transparency to consumers, the program will also facilitate positive impacts across the value chain, including for local community livelihoods.

Explore our Blockchain-Enabled Traceable Vanilla Partnership

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“IFF and LMR are proud to leverage our transparent and responsible sourcing principles on vanilla for our customers in a country like Madagascar, where this sustainable vanilla supply chain improves the livelihood of hundreds of families.”

– Bertrand de Preville, General Manager, LMR Naturals by IFF

CASE STUDY

SUSTAINABLY SOURCING VANILLA IN MADAGASCAR

In addition to supporting a blockchain-enabled vanilla supply chain in Madagascar, we are also working with a partner to address the most pressing economic, environmental and raw material challenges in this region, including:

Improving vanilla quality and productivity

In 2021, we continued to work closely with our farmers’ association, made up of more than 3,000 farmers in three cooperatives, approximately 25% of whom are female. Through the association, we are providing a variety of benefits and support, including training on good agricultural practices for sustainable vanilla cultivation. The program aims to increase producer yields and achieve high-quality product which can be maintained in the long term.

Engaging communities and improving livelihoods

We set up a series of community and healthcare access programs for association members and their families, including training in crop diversification beyond vanilla to support new income opportunities. In 2021, we arranged access to free healthcare with local doctors and hospitals for more than 3,000 producers and their families in the community. We also participated in rebuilding schools and safely distributing nearly 1,000 kits of school supplies for the 2021/2022 school year to children of farmers.

Preserving ecosystems

We continued to expand our reforestation pilot program during 2021. Building on the two tree nurseries that we set up in 2019, we distributed more than 23,000 seedlings to farmers to plant on their land. To date, 3,000 farmers from three cooperatives have planted more than 30,000 trees and received 76 days of training on agroforestry and ecosystems preservation.

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