Innovation

Firmenich progressed more than a century to bring the company to its leading position with a business representing two billion Swiss francs. In 1986, Firmenich expanded its business to New Jersey by acquiring a chemical company. Soon after this conversion, the chemical plant employed some New Jersey residents. Now the Newark Firmenich plant has around 100 New Jersey residents who love their job. They are a service-based business that produces new chemicals to finished chemicals to create fragrances. They create a unique flavor of fragrance for perfume companies. These kinds of innovations are occurring with the advancements in technology. But that’s not the only factor that influences innovation. The most important factor that contributes to these innovations is their skilled employees. Firmenich's team of researchers, perfumers, and other experts are committed to advancing science and technology with green chemistry principles at the core. The purpose of the innovation is to contribute to greater health, nutrition, and hygiene while preserving nature’s most precious resources. They do this innovation for the future consumer and use the technical expertise to create a solution to meet those necessities. They convert raw material ingredients into an enjoyable ingredient.

Inspiration

They want to look out for the community and the people in it, so they dont want a big carbon foot print.

Overall impact

Firmenich, a creator and founder of positive emotion to enhance well being naturally, is the world’s largest privately-owned company specialized in the perfume and taste industry. Firmenich consistently innovates and delivers on breakthrough ideas. The company’s main goal is to improve quality of life through nutrition, hygiene, and sanitation by creating emotion through the presence of smell and taste. Their focus is on flourishing inclusive growth for people, society, and the planet. Firmenich is one of the few companies that is committed to making their business work for people and the planet, and who also implanted the sustainable development goals in their growth strategy. The innovation techniques that Newark Firmenich uses are new methods of making chemicals and helping the environment to reduce its carbon footprint. Their business model is sourcing, innovation, and creating customer satisfaction. The company is also affiliated with at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development goals.

Business benefit

After getting to know about the company’s background, it is clear how much they give importance to their employees. One of the United Nations' sustainable development goals is to achieve gender equality. Gender inequality still exists in many societies. Many women still lack access to employment opportunities, education, and healthcare. In Firmenich, fair labor practices are the core foundation of this business. Towards 100% gender equality certification, the company is helping its people by building a rewarding career which creates a future for both the company and the employees. They are reaching the next level of excellence in gender equality by providing recruitment, promotion, leadership training, mentoring and flexible working. The second goal Firmenich set is the environment goal to become carbon neutral. Their upcoming goal for 2020 is to reduce environmental sustainability by minimizing the footprint and maximizing efficiency with determined reduction targets in energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, water and reducing wastage of resources. Firmenich is making a big change towards climate change by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and by purchasing solar power energy savers.

Firmenich innovations are mostly focused on the positive impact on their customers, suppliers, and communities. The innovations are helpful to the community and the environment as the company plans on reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 20% in 2020. The emissions were decreased by 30.2% in 2019 compared to in 2015. It has also helped in reducing waste in landfills by 56.3% compared to in 2015. They are also helping the workers by working toward inequality in the workplace, and it 2019 they got the EDGE certification for gender inequality in the workplace. Their innovations will not only help the company itself but also help in protecting our environment. By reducing environmental sustainability, it will keep the company energy efficient which will have a great long term effect on our society within the environment. They are helping our society move towards a more sustainable lifestyle, while also developing more efficient ways to improve their fragrances. The main goal for this company is about providing a sustainable environment for the customer while also producing their products. “Produce the best quality products and also maintain a sustainable environment for our society and future production.” Their innovations are aimed to make the company more sustainable and to create equality in the workplace. While doing this they are helping themselves become more efficient and helping the surrounding environment.

Social and environmental benefit

It helps the environment because they are not polluting the planet and not hurting the environment around us.

Interview

Claudio Barbosa, Operating Manager