This year’s theme

Ready to celebrate Earth Day in a big way? April 22, 2025, marks 55 years of standing up for the planet—clean air, healthy oceans, fertile soil, thriving wildlife, and human well-being. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, calls for bold action and collective effort. More than one billion people across 192 countries will join the movement. What began in 1970 continues to unite communities worldwide in protection of the Earth.

On Facebook, EarthDay.org unveiled the official Earth Day poster—an arresting piece by acclaimed artist Alexis Rockman, honoring the 55th anniversary of this global event. This Earth Day, make a promise. Choose renewables, rethink daily choices, and share what matters! The power to protect the planet lives in each of us.

Renewable energy now – triple renewable energy by 2030

Across the U.S., solar power has surged—growing more than tenfold over the last decade. The U.S. and China are now leading global renewable energy investments. China is currently setting the pace, dominating both wind and solar energy. In 2024 alone, it built twice as much new capacity as the rest of the world combined.

Momentum continues around the globe. Uruguay transformed its energy sector from oil dependence to generating 98% of its electricity from renewables. In India, national targets aim for 50% of energy needs to come from clean sources by 2030. Kenya leads in Africa, where geothermal power now fuels nearly half of the country’s electricity.

Further east, Australia continues to embrace solar energy—one in three homes now uses rooftop panels. In Brazil, hydroelectric power produced nearly 68% of total electricity in 2023.

Europe’s numbers keep climbing, too. In Denmark, wind turbines generate more than 50% of the country’s electricity. In Germany, total public electricity generation from renewable energy sources reached a record share of 62.7 percent in 2024 (including wind power, photovoltaic systems, and hydropower). Solar power reached a new record of 72.2 terawatt hours in 2024, exceeding government targets! Since 2016, Norway has generated 98% of its electricity from renewable sources, with hydropower being the primary contributor. Spain aims high in its push for clean energy. In 2024, renewables supply 56% of its electricity—six points higher than last year’s record.

The health benefits of opting for clean energy

Nearly 3.8 billion people still lack access to the Modern Energy Minimum (MEM), defined as using less than 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per person each year. This represents the basic threshold for lifting communities out of poverty.

Renewable energy can flip the script. Expanding clean energy access unlocks better living conditions, more vigorous health, and a more sustainable future.

Cleaner air means healthier lungs and hearts. Renewable energy slashes air pollution, helping reduce asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, and strokes. The impact on women’s Health looks even more profound. Exposure to pollution and contaminated water links to breast cancer, ovarian diseases, and maternal health complications. Fewer greenhouse gas emissions also ease the effects of climate change—like heatwaves, floods, and the spread of disease.

Clean energy boosts mental health as well! Cleaner environments can lower stress, reduce anxiety, and help communities feel more secure in the face of climate changes. A shift to renewables extends beyond energy. It relates to health, dignity, and a brighter future for billions.

How to take action and get involved

How can you, as an individual, make a difference this Earth Day and beyond? Ecosend offers plenty of positive information and ideas, while nature.org urges you to join changemakers in action and pledge support through a donation. Everyone can take action through passing on education, advocacy, and mobilization.

Integrate Earth Day lessons into the curriculum in education, or attend, plan, or register for a local event! Earth Hub offers a platform to inspire and empower individuals to take action for Earth Action Day and beyond. It hosts quizzes, toolkits, fact sheets, petitions, news and stories, and press releases. Pledge to Earth Action on social media. You can also find Earth Day templates to print, educate, and color with children!

Leading up to Earth Day and Earth Month, Symrise posted support in March of Tune Off, Tune In: For Earth Hour! Sustainability forms the heart of Symrise, extending from responsible sourcing to eco-conscious innovations. For ideas on how to be more sustainable this Earth Day 2025, visit the Easy Being Green blog.

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Join the movement for a cleaner, more sustainable future! Water fuels life, shaping communities and ecosystems. Bold action drives real change, and the Water Framework Directive continues to spark progress. In 2025, World Water Day on March 22 shines a spotlight on Glacier Preservation, uniting people worldwide to protect Earth’s vital water sources. Last year’s theme, Leveraging Water for Peace, showed how water connects and strengthens communities. This year brings fresh opportunities to make an even more significant impact. Stay tuned for updates from UN-Water, get inspired by global efforts, and participate in the change!

“Have your say” on water and more

The European Commission invites voices to be heard. The Have Your Say’ portal, available in 24 EU languages, welcomes stakeholder feedback for four weeks after publication.

The European Commission prioritizes ‘Water Efficiency First’ to tackle water management challenges. This approach boosts water reuse and circularity, driving sector-wide investment and innovation. A key moment in this effort occurs on March 6 in Brussels, when stakeholders gather for the ‘Towards a Water Resilience Strategy for the European Union’ roundtable. This event aligns with European Ocean Days and the Mission Ocean and Waters Forum.

Solutions emerge worldwide. The third UpLink Aquapreneur Challenge seeks innovations to reduce water contamination. In China, the Sponge City initiative uses nature-based strategies to retain water at its source, with 16 pilot cities leading the way.

India, set to surpass 1.5 billion people by 2029, is turning a major challenge into an opportunity. With growing urbanization, cities and regional governments are driving ambitious water reuse initiatives, scaling sewage treatment, and investing in innovative infrastructure to secure a sustainable water future.

Singapore steps up with the Research, Innovation, and Enterprise Plan 2025, allocating $220 million for water technology and resource circularity, including Imagine H2O. Meanwhile, Africa’s Water Vision 2025  provides a strategic framework to combat extreme water challenges across the continent.

The momentum is growing. Governments, businesses, and innovators are reshaping the future of water. Join the conversation. Be part of the solution!

Algae and regenerative agriculture offer answers

Climate shifts and water scarcity fuel a surplus of algae—and new opportunities. AlgaePrize 2025–2027, the U.S. Department of Energy’s third algae innovation challenge, invites students to unlock its potential. Already, algae transforms industries, from food and cosmetics to biofuels and pharmaceuticals. As research advances, its impact will only grow.

Leaders in algae innovation will gather at ACI’s 13th European Algae Industry Summit, held on April 2 and 3, 2025, in Antwerp, Belgium.

Algae-based textiles are becoming the next frontier sustainably. Dutch designer Tjeerd Veenhoven pioneered algae as a biodegradable paint, paving the way for fabric innovation. Unlike polyester, which lingers for 200 years, algae textiles compost naturally, providing UV protection and moisture-wicking benefits.

Algae-based products are transforming industries, with a market projected to hit $6.6 billion by 2027. As science and design merge, algae is a powerful force for a sustainable future.

Regenerative and precision farming benefits the planet and boosts profits. Some studies suggest farmers using these methods see earnings grow by up to 120%. Technology transforms agriculture. Predictive performance analytics, powered by AI and machine learning, turn historical data into actionable insights. Farmers forecast conditions, prevent losses, and optimize yields, shifting from reactive to proactive strategies. The impact reaches far and wide. AI in agriculture will grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to  $4.7 billion by 2028. Digital agriculture elevates the agricultural GDP of low- and middle-income countries by $450 billion, or 28% per annum.

With Earth Month approaching, Symrise is advancing sustainable solutions with innovative algae and regenerative farming initiatives. These efforts restore ecosystems, improve soil health, and cut agriculture’s carbon footprint. The goal? Climate neutrality by 2030 and a push to keep global warming below two degrees Celsius. Sustainable change starts with action. What steps drive the future of farming? Join the conversation below!

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Consumers drive the shift to sustainable packaging 

Are you rethinking how you dispose of packaging—composting or choosing eco-friendly alternatives? You’ve got good company. As consumer demand for greener choices grows, the beauty industry responds with innovative solutions like waterless products and dissolvable packaging. A recent McKinsey & Company survey across 11 countries highlights this shift, with 69% of consumers ranking compostable packaging as their top choice. Plant-based materials and renewable plastic films also scored high, while paper packaging trended in India and the UK.

Interestingly, Japanese consumers favored recycled plastics as much as compostable options. The least preferred materials included metal containers, multi-material packaging, and aluminum foil. The survey also found that 60–70% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable packaging, and over half would buy more if these options would cost the same.

Growing and expanding opportunity

Trend forecaster WGSN predicts a surge in no-trace and minimal-impact beauty products, pushing single-use formats toward sustainability. To make this a reality, they stress the importance of materials and formulas that treat marine and land ecosystems with care. Think dissolvable, compostable, and biodegradable options that make disposal a breeze. Waterless solutions like powders and solids also gain traction, offering longer shelf life and improved hygiene. Having tracked these trends for a while, WGSN’s “Designed to Disappear” has set out to become a hot topic for 2026. Curious about the products you can invest in right now? Keep reading!

Next-gen future of beauty

Let’s explore some innovative cleansing basics, starting with Melbourne-based  Conserving Beauty dissolvable Micellar Oil Cleansing Wipes. These hygienic 2-in-1 oil cleansers and makeup removers effectively dissolve makeup and SPF while moisturizing and protecting the skin barrier. Say goodbye to bacteria-laden washroom towels—these wipes dissolve in water after use and come in compostable, plastic-free packaging.

For haircare, Kitsch’s Rice Bar Shampoo and Conditioner Bars offer 100% compostable, zero-impact, and plastic-free options. After months of research, they packed luxury salon-quality ingredients into convenient, travel-friendly bars. Meanwhile, UK-based Sbtrct has introduced the world’s first solid retinoid. Their Granactive Retinoid at 2% works with Squalane to even skin tone, improve texture, and reduce fine lines, all with less irritation.

South Africa’s Skoon takes a different approach with their waterless NanoPillow serums, which transform into liquid when activated by a face mist. Consumers are increasingly drawn to ‘naked’ products with minimal packaging to eliminate excess. Lush continues to lead this ‘no-trace’ mission, as seen in their “Desert Island” video. Their latest innovation, Naked Mascara, features a tube-shaped solid butter and wax formula available in four colors with reusable wands. Lush is paving the way for the future of beauty by avoiding traditional plastic tubes.

For color cosmetics, Alima Pure offers refillable, waterless products. Since 2008, they’ve operated carbon-neutral by offsetting 100% of their corporate carbon emissions through the Carbon Fund. Also, they are participating in the Green Source Renewable Power Program, sourcing energy from solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal.

Addressing a significant sustainability concern, Fluu has reinvented menstrual pads with their Flushtec technology, transforming pads into plant fibers. This provides a guilt-free alternative to plastic-filled period care that won’t end up in landfills.

Check out the Zero Waste Store for a full range of beauty and lifestyle products that embrace this disappearing act. As a company dedicated to sustainable innovations, Symrise has followed the ” traceless beauty” trend we covered on our blog last year. Share your favorite forward-thinking beauty brands and solutions below!

As a company focused on sustainable innovations, Symrise has been following developments in net zero packaging and covered the topic on the blog last year. Weigh in below on your favorite forward-thinking beauty brands and solutions!

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Embracing simple ways to do better

Today’s younger cohorts are reshaping their approach to everyday transportation, diverging from traditional car-centric lifestyles. Instead, they gravitate towards walkable communities and embrace micromobility solutions like bikes and scooters, seeking efficiency and sustainability. Moreover, Gen Z individuals are carving out spaces in urban settings, where they find respite from the digital overload by indulging in simple, nature-oriented hobbies. These activities provide a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life and foster a deeper connection with the environment. By recognizing and participating in these shifts, you can become part of a movement toward a more balanced and harmonious way of living. So, delve into the details below to explore how to engage actively in this transformative journey!

Walkable cities & micro-mobility

Euronews, along with a 2024 Compare the Market Australia report, unveiled a fascinating discovery: Europe gives home to nine of the world’s most walkable cities! Picture yourself strolling through the romantic streets of Venice, Italy, or getting lost in the enchanting alleys of Prague, Czech Republic. Feel the vibrant energy of Split, Croatia, as you wander through its historic streets. In Munich, Germany, a staggering 86% of the population lives within walking distance of a car-free space, making it a haven for pedestrians. And let’s remember Amsterdam, Netherlands, where walkers and cyclists reign supreme, exploring its charming canals and picturesque streets. 

Speaking of Amsterdam, Micromobility Europe, taking place June 5-6, will be jam-packed with opportunities to ride the most innovative new electric scooters, bikes, boards, and buggies. The conference will explore critical issues redefining urban mobility: the energy crisis, post-COVID street space, last-mile delivery, WFH trends, 15-minute cities, supply chain disruptions, urban sustainability, and more! IKEA may have lead at the forefront of this trend in 2020 when they tested a parking lot-free store in Vienna to encourage walking, biking, and mass transportation. The retailer’s urban strategy centers on smaller stores and green features, enabling car-free shopping, aligning with their goal to operate “climate positive” by 2030. IKEA believes today’s labor force wants to live in urban areas, ditch automobiles, walk, or take public transportation.

Young people, old hobbies

Have you noticed trendy Gen Z types of bird-watching, urban fishing, and foraging in cities on social media? You have made the right observation. Young people are embracing this trend of “slow living” with “old” or “grandpa” hobbies, attempting to connect with nature and cut down on screen time. With 362.4M posts on TikTok, one hobby is experiencing a surprising renaissance: bird-watching. Gen Z seems to feature a cohort of ornithologists, connecting with birds as a type of mindfulness to help distract and calm the mind. Modern birding apps are becoming popular for bird-watchers on the go, iBird Pro Guide to Birds. In London, Leica Camera hosted a recent urban bird walk with conservationist Ella Kaye and the Feminist Bird Club. The Urban Birder World offers remarkable bird tours, from urban birding in Mongolia to migration watching in Lesvos, Greece.

Gen Z gone fishing? Fishing-centric content on TikTok has also taken off, with searches for terms like #streetfishing, #carpfishing and #predatorfishing on the rise. Similarly, fishing has become a popular leisure activity on the Chinese TikTok sister app Douyin, with related posts gathering over 80 billion views. Then, some celebrities are fueling the calming reputation of fishing, including Rihanna and Rita Ora, who say angling relaxes them. Londoner Ora has taken advantage of Fishing Booker, offering more than the Thames and three types of fishery in the city, including rivers, canals, and stillwaters. 

Staying on the topic of urban pursuits, foraging has surged in popularity. People have realized that cities abound with edible vegetation, including tree nuts, plant roots, mushrooms, and even flowers, growing freely. Experts suggest that beginner hobbyists get familiar with local laws and what has been deemed safe to consume/harvest. The demand for wild food educators has grown so rapidly they’re cropping up with safe foraging tips and techniques. How about a foraging tour in Berlin by Edible Alchemy?

Do just one thing

Danny Seo, a global environmental lifestyle expert, believes you can make more conscious changes one at a time. A permanent guest on The Drew Barrymore Show, he recently published Do Just One Thing: 365 Ideas for a Better You, Life, and Planet.

At Symrise, we believe in empowering you to make better daily decisions. Please share some of the positive chanwges you have made recently and comment below!

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Cool beans and why 2024 might become the year of legumes

Scientists, nutritionists, chefs, and foodies have wondered, “How can we feed the world and keep our planet alive for future generations?” Lab-grown meat? Edible insects? 3D-printed food? The answer may lie in a small and mighty ancient source that can play a crucial role in feeding people while fighting climate change. Paul Newnham, Executive Director of the UN’s SDG2 Advocacy Hub, said, “While there is no singular way to solve our complex challenges, there is a powerful ingredient: beans.” The Hub’s Beans Is How campaign aims to double global consumption by 2028, promoting beans as a simple and versatile ingredient.

Legumes play critical role towards a broader shift

Euromonitor recently reported a pattern among consumers restricting animal-based products from their diets, with 54% Gen Z and 34% Baby Boomers shifting habits. Amelia Christie-Miller, founder of The Bold Bean Co, a luxury brand found at Sainburys, M&S, and Waitrose, had pursued a mission to make legumes the stars of the show, instead of the side dish. Christie-Miller, who previously worked in food sustainability, says, “Forget lab-grown meat. Beans are the ultimate plant protein.” The exciting recipes on Bold Bean Co’s Instagram page attest to their main character’s energy, from red bean ragu to mushroom bean-otto (a risotto made from beans). You can also opt for simple beans on toast for breakfast!

An ancient source to living longer trending today

Want the secret to living to 100 or more? Dr. Michelle H. Loy, an integrative medicine physician at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, suggests that legumes form the shared component linking Blue Zone and Mediterranean diets. One longer-standing study found that legumes represent the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities. A recent article in The New York Times cited just one cup of cooked beans, lentils, or peas contains 15 grams of protein, just under a quarter of the daily needs of an average adult. The fiber in legumes supports digestive health and encourages beneficial gut microbes. Additionally, legumes may lower LDL cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar, and potentially reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Legumes have been trending at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, where those in the know look for standout brands. Chocho, an ancient legume, contains more protein than any plant source, as delivered in the brand Mikuna, which proves beneficial for smoothies and other tasty treats. Chocho grows in the Andes Mountains and is regenerative and drought-resistant. Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, have been trending as a main ingredient in hummus, a popular Middle Eastern Dip. In 2023, Zooba, an Egyptian fast-casual restaurant, earned a spot among the Middle East/North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants. They specialize in Ta’ameya, a fava bean-based patty similar to falafel. In addition to opening in Soho, New York, a Kuwait location debuts shortly!

Looking for a tasty twist on chickpeas? The New York Times recently offered a recipe for Five-star Indian butter chickpeas for no-energy nights. The excess water from chickpeas, or aquafaba, got discovered less than a decade ago and has more recently gone mainstream. The revolution came in 2015 when a software engineer named Goose Wohlt whipped up a broth. Wohlt dubbed the frothy discovery “aquafaba,” combining the Latin aqua (water) with faba (bean). The egg replacer’s popularity went viral. The Zero Waste Chef offers a recipe for making aquafaba at home to save money and bypass the BPA (or BPS or BPF) in the plastic lining of cans.

Chickpeas and Aquafaba going user-friendly with Symrise

Noting the rise in plant-based eating, Symrise thought of a convenient way to use chickpea and aquafaba flakes in sauces, spreads, dressings, ready meals, and healthy snacks. They offer all the good things by containing no EU allergen and being gluten-free and non-GMO. Also, they come with a shelf life of up to eighteen months. The range also benefits from the Symrise expertise in sustainable sourcing. As such, the chickpea ingredients satisfy the preferences of environmentally conscious consumers concerned about their dietary impact.

Are you excited by legumes’ plant-based opportunities? Let us know how you plan to incorporate them into your healthy eating!

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How you can celebrate and make a difference

Are you feeling excited by the arrival of spring and the glorious display of nature in the Northern Hemisphere? Chances tend towards yes, and along with Easter, Passover, Eid al-Fitr, and numerous other celebrations, International Earth Day takes place on April 22, 2024.  In 1990, Denis Hayes, originating the first 1970 Earth Day U.S., took the event internationally and organized it similarly in 141 nations. The movement gained momentum in 2016 when many of the countries involved signed the landmark Paris Agreement, enacting climate protection. Around the world, communities began to engage in Earth Day Week actions, tackling environmental issues. On Earth Day 2020, over 100 million people observed the 50^th anniversary, now called the most extensive online mass mobilization in history. This year, the United Nations marks the second Mother Earth Day, emphasizing the urgent need for a shift to a sustainable economy aligned with the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. How can you help? Read on!

Earthday.org leads the way with a focused theme

While The Nature Conservancy and ecochallenge.org offer fantastic Earth Day and even Earth Month ideas to take action, the advice can seem overwhelming. In recent years, EARTHDAY.ORG developed a theme to spread an attainable goal for Earth Day events. The theme for 2024, Planet vs. Plastics, commits to ending plastics for the sake of planetary and human health. Earthday.org aims for a 60% reduction in all plastics production by 2040. While the EU has made strides in banning single-use plastics, small ways exist you can participate and make better choices every day.

Spring cleaning means rethinking products and fashion

UK-based @BambuuBrush, a Certified B Corporation, is offering one option by making a real impact in the battle against plastic. They recognized that by replacing traditional plastic toothbrushes with sustainable bamboo versions, they could help change the world. You can join, too, since the toothbrush symbolizes a daily activity that could inspire more eco-conscious decisions. @BambuuBrush prevented over 60,000 kilos (132,000+ pounds) of plastic toothbrushes. Sales fundImpact Projects, from cleanups to education worldwide. Partnerships include Virgin Atlantic for the first bamboo toothbrush in the skies and with British-based Lush to stop plastic in sustainable hair products.

With another UK-based initiative in London, retailers in trendy Covent Garden participate in “Shop for Good” Earth Day events, promoting conscious shopping and sustainable zero-waste dining. Nearby, designer Stella McCartney recently launched a campaign featuring model Cara Delevigne holding only a Falabella bag, shot at a Veolia recycling plant in South London. Stella posted, “Our iconic #Falabella bag’s #vegan body is made using recycled materials, lined with ocean plastics, and its chain is made from recycled brass and recyclable aluminum.” Another sustainably minded Madrid-based fashion brand, Ecoalf, makes the mark by working with fishermen to upcycle found plastics.

In addition to toothbrushes and conscious fashion, look straight to your closet and consider German MAWA’s New Eco Collection Hangers rather than plastic ones. MAWA gets committed to the planet on many levels. GUPPYFRIEND is a unique laundry washing bag that prevents synthetic apparel microplastics from entering water supplies. Large-capacity GUPPYFRIEND bags also help keep your fashions in circulation longer.

Companies can also show responsibly. In line with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the CDP recognized Symrise for Environmental Transparency and awarded an “A” ranking. Symrise aims to procure 100% of its strategic biological raw materials from entirely sustainable sources by 2025. Join the global movement to restore our world. Comment below on how you plan to participate in Earth Day 2024!

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Tearing Down the Mountain: The Path to Net Zero Packaging and a Sustainable Future

The clock is ticking and warning us of a clear challenge. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions has become the defining challenge of our time. The latest data from NASA and NOAA highlights the urgency of the situation. With CO2 levels consistently rising since 1850, we must take action to ensure a sustainable future for generations. Where do we start? In the packaging industry, for instance. The industry plays a significant role in our fight against climate change and highlights the urgency for a focus shift. Join us as we dive into the part of paper & cartons, glass, and plastics, in the journey towards a greener tomorrow.

Paper & carton

Paper is quickly emerging as a critical player in the fight against CO2 emissions. A recent study on the environmental impacts of packaging found that single-use paper packaging produces a lower carbon footprint and requires less water than reusable plastic packaging.

Leading the charge in sustainable packaging, Swedish fast-food chain Max Burgers has adopted PulPac’s fiber-forming technology to produce the Liplid, a dry-molded coffee lid with an 80% smaller carbon footprint than traditional lids. Tech giant Samsung is also making strides in reducing its carbon footprint through sustainable packaging. For example, its Eco-Package, made from recycled materials, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tons if each is reused in homes. Samsung is also committed to eliminating plastic from all mobile phone packaging by 2025 and is already reducing waste by improving the design of its TV LED Bar trays.

Glass

Glass comes with the potential of a sustainable packaging solution due to its infinite recyclability and the potential to make its manufacture and transportation carbon-free. The glass industry is taking bold steps toward a more sustainable future. Examples include FEVE and the European Container Glass Federation. It has set the world’s first large-scale hybrid electric furnace to run on 80% renewable electricity. In addition, the UK glass manufacturing company Encirc has partnered with Glass Futures to produce 100% PCR glass using energy from ultra-low-carbon biofuels made from organic waste. This has resulted in the world’s most sustainable bottle, with a carbon footprint 90% lower than standard glass packaging. These developments begin a bright and sustainable future for glass packaging.

Plastics

The push towards a more sustainable packaging future has seen recycled plastic rise to prominence as a lower CO2 output solution that saves on transportation emissions. Brands like Moët Hennessy’s Galoupet Nomade rosé are taking things further by launching “eco-flat” PET bottles made from 100% recycled materials. These bottles weigh less than glass and come with a flattened shape, reducing unused space and optimizing efficiency. However, putting the promising results aside, we must also note the limitations of relying too heavily on plastic packaging. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported that 95% of plastic packaging is single-use, and only 2% can be recycled for one or two cycles without losing material quality. Research by the Ocean University of China even showed that increased microplastics could decrease the ability of microalgae plankton to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere. Therefore, the industry must find ways to balance sustainability with practicality in packaging.

Symrise 

By 2030, Symrise aims to operate climate positive and is reviewing its operations worldwide for compatibility and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our zero-waste strategy includes sustainable packaging measures such as waste reduction, reusability, and recycling. We’re already working with customers and suppliers to find innovative solutions, including paper bags instead of plastic, large barrels instead of small canisters, and reusable metal cups.

Ultimately, the most impactful way to reduce the harm caused by packaging leads through individual action. By making conscious choices to reduce our use of packaging, we can decrease the demand for it and help create a more sustainable future. So let’s take the first step toward a greener future by doing our part to reduce packaging waste.

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Imagine a future with healthy ecosystems, clean water, pure air, and healthy soil. Imagine we regulate our climate, allowing ice formations to stay intact and sea levels to remain in their natural state. Picture our oceans healthy and coral reef habitats thriving. We believe this is possible. Every decision our company makes can help bring us a step toward that reality. 

This approach goes back until the early days of our company. Ever since Dr. Haarman and Dr. Reimer, Symrise founders, first synthesized vanillin from coniferic juice in 1874, using renewable natural resources forms our DNA. We understand the value of our resources, we feel proud of our century-long responsible heritage and follow the principles of green chemistry.

Green Chemistry

Green chemistry applies a specific number of sustainable design and development principles to chemical products and processes. This method finds creative and innovative ways to reduce waste, conserve energy, and replace hazardous substances. The ordinances include energy conservation, waste reduction, and finding sustainable and renewable resources — all utilized to improve our environmental impact. 

Back in 1998, Paul Anastas and John Warner wrote the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.  They provided a visionary approach to creating chemicals in a way that protects and benefits people and the planet. We embrace this advancement, integrating it into our R&D and manufacturing processes by focusing on four essential criteria: safe use, environmental protection, resource conservation, and emission reduction.  

The Symrise Four Fundamental Green Chemistry Criteria

Safe Use:
You rely on us to meet all safety and regulatory requirements. We go above and beyond the need. Our research team continuously creates new products that are safer and cleaner for everyone.   

Environmental Protection:  
We create wealth by upcycling by-products into valuable ingredients. We utilize biodegradable orange peels to create fragrance ingredients that benefit consumers and the earth. 

Resource Conservation:
Globally, we face the ever-increasing global issue of raw material scarcity, non-biodegradable waste, and limited resources. Symrise has been using renewable plant-based by-products as ingredients since our founding days. In addition to using orange juice by-products, we also use derivatives from the pulp, paper, and sugar cane industries, for instance.  

Emission Reduction:
We understand the impacts of climate change and have committed ourselves to taking action against it. We’ve signed up with externally verified science-based targets to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Our future looks clear – we plan on becoming climate positive from 2030 onwards.

Our Ongoing Commitment to the Environment

Green Chemistry belongs to the past, present, and future of our company. We continue to employ the top chemists globally to help us find new and innovative ways to protect our precious natural resources. 

For instance, Dr. Panten, a Symrise chemist, contributed to green chemistry’s first publication on the fragrance industry. In 2003, we opened a Green Lab to investigate new molecules’ synthesis via catalysis, develop chemical processes, and optimize existing raw materials processes with less environmental impact. We have hosted Dr. Roger Sheldon, a Nobel Prize winner known for creating the E factor concept (a method calculating the ratio of the mass of waste per mass of product), at our St. Niclas symposium. 

We recognize that for a business like ours, we have embarked on a constantly evolving sustainability journey—one that we continue to pursue with energy and urgency. Thank you for joining us on our mission to keep the Earth healthy for everyone.

Together, we can make better environment-first decisions. What green methods are important to you? We value your thoughts. Tell us in the comments below. 

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Today, consumers are continuously bombarded with messaging from products on the market. Brands vie for our attention multiplying messages about their natural, sustainable benefits. As a result, more and more aware consumers have grown frustrated at the overuse of marketing “naturalness” and have come to distrust these messages. 

At Symrise, sustainability is one of our core values and drivers of innovation. We believe the attention and importance given to sustainability needs to be of the highest order. When a company truly cares about the environment, all activities, from sourcing to production are defined by this mindset. 

Through our Easy Being Green blogs, we’ll be bringing you all the information you need to cut through the noise and understand what it means for a company to be deeply committed to sustainability.  

Symrise SVP Shares Details on Symrise’s Sustainability Strategy

At Symrise, sustainability has always been an integral part of our business model, and guides us on our path to deliver health and wellbeing for the entire family. We encourage people internally and externally to act faster and better for the good of the environment, for the good of our suppliers and communities, of our employees, our clients, consumers and our shareholders.  All of us, right now, can make big changes that can greatly impact our environment.

In this first post on Symrise & Sustainability, we’re offering you complete transparency by sharing a direct message from Anne Cabotin, our SVP of Global Consumer Fragrance. This is an inside look at the mindset and strategic thinking of the highest-level leaders in our company. 

A Conversation with SVP Global Consumer Fragrance Anne Cabotin

Q. How does Symrise approach sustainability?

A. Our health and wellbeing mission, which resonates even stronger today in light of Covid-19, can only be linked with sustainability. In fact, by contributing to a sustainable business, we contribute even more to the health and wellbeing of consumers. That is why sustainability is really at the heart of our mission. Quoting our CEO Dr. Bertram, “Economic success and corporate responsibility are inextricably linked.” Our key focus has always been to make sure that sustainability at Symrise is fully embedded within the business.

Q. So how do we ensure that sustainability is part of our daily business life?

A. By having a direct reporting line to our CEO, with a CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) and a sustainability board. We also have a strong ambassador network in each region and business unit. Through this network, we encourage local actions and personal initiatives; and I am proud to say that today sustainability is of utmost concern for 10,000 people at Symrise and not only for the sustainability team. 

Q. How do we define and measure our sustainable strategy?

A. We combine both consumer and customer concerns and needs, by adhering to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. These are the most unquestionable goals, addressing critical issues such as education, poverty, life below water, life on land, for instance. Then, we actively measure our progress on each of these goals, every year, and build the subsequent roadmap for the short- mid- and long-term that will enhance care for the planet and for people.

Q. So, what exactly are our goals? 

A. Our sustainability strategy is organized into 4 interlinked tracks: footprint, innovation, sourcing and care. Here are just a few examples of what we do in each category: 

For our footprint: In Madagascar, we help fight against deforestation by planting different varieties of trees. We have planted 150,000 forest trees, as well as cocoa and clove plants.

Considering innovation: We are closely involved with green chemistry and the circular economy, as well as higher usage of renewable ingredients and high impact fragrance molecules, which give off more scent at lower quantities.

As far as sourcing: We have a very focused approach. We make sure suppliers provide traceability data, and we engage with farmers to implement sustainable agricultural practices.  Today we can trace 100% of our strategic raw materials. Because this matter is important to us, we partner with many globally recognized and respected environmental agencies for accountability and support. 

And, for our care goal: A great example of our care strategy is our activities with vanilla farmers in Madagascar. We work with over 10,000 farmers, and this guarantees the highest quality ingredients. It enables us access to unique fragrance naturals qualities while having a positive impact, improving more than 40,000 people’s livelihoods, in 84 villages, and supporting 74 primary schools in this region. 

As a result of our dedication to these goals and values, our thoughtfully crafted fragrances genuinely deliver and demonstrate our commitment to “Better living through scent.”

At Symrise, sustainability is at the forefront of every decision that we make. It’s not a marketing tool that’s tacked on at the end to entice consumers. Our strategies begin, are carried out and are assessed dependent on forward thinking about our environmental impact. This is all part of our company-wide “Because We Care” vision. 

Keep checking back for new blogs as we’ll be exploring in more detail all aspects of sustainability and sharing very transparent information on our environmental impact. We can all help in large and small ways to improve our own environmental impact. What are some of the ways you or your business are making positive changes in sustainability?

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