SWITZERLAND – The Swiss flavors and fragrance company, Firmenich has joined the RE100, an initiative comprising global companies that endeavour to use 100% renewable energy for electricity.

The group has announced that it has achieved using 100% renewable electricity at its manufacturing sites in the US and Europe, and has committed to meet its ambitious goal of 100% renewable electricity across all of its production sites by 2020.

Firmenich joins more than 160 major businesses in the global RE100 initiative including Unilever, DSM, Goldman Sachs, Tetra Pak, H&M, Elopak, AB InBev, Bloomberg, Walmart, P&G, Coca Cola Enterprises, Google and others.

Led by the international non-profit ‘The Climate Group’ in partnership with ‘CDP’, RE100 consists of the world’s most influential companies working to increase demand for and delivery of renewable energy.

“With all of our manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Europe currently 100% powered by renewable electricity, I am confident we will reach our goal of 100% for all our sites worldwide by 2020,” said Gilbert Ghostine, CEO Firmenich.

“It is critical that business partners together to tackle climate change with a sense of urgency, which is why we have joined RE100 and the 160 world-class companies committed to driving the world’s economy towards sustainability.” 

Firmenich 2020 goals: 20% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions, 25% decrease of water use rate in water, zero waste to landfill and eliminating use of ozone-depleting refrigerant gases.

The ambitious journey
Firmenich announced its ambitious Environmental Goals for 2020 in 2015 with a vision to become a carbon neutral company.

The firm targets a 20% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions and a 25% decrease of water use in water stressed areas.

Firmenich joined the Science Based Targets initiative, an organisation comprising of 149 companies in October last year, adopting the science-based targets to tackle climate change.

The Swiss company committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions by 39% and Scope 3 emissions by 20% by 2030.

“To achieve our goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2020, we are not only relying on the purchase of green electricity, we are also collaborating with our suppliers to develop onsite clean solutions such as wind power and solar energy,” said Neil McFarlane, Senior VP Quality, Health, Safety, Security & Environment, Firmenich.

“We look forward to partnering with RE100 and its member companies to push our thinking and help ease the transition towards a more sustainable global economy.” 

Firmenich 2020 goals include 20% reduction in absolute CO2 emissions, 25% decrease of water use rate in water, zero waste to landfill and eliminating use of ozone-depleting refrigerant gases.