Press release -
“Fragrance serves essential consumer needs; we must step up to support sustainability” says IFRA at Global Fragrance Summit 2022
Geneva/São Paulo, 14 November 2022 – The fourth Global Fragrance Summit – the first to be held in Latin America – saw fragrance industry stakeholders from around the world join for three days of discussion and debate. Under the headline of the Scent of Change, the Summit examined innovation, biodiversity and sustainability – and what the sector can do to continuously respond to consumers’ needs for health, hygiene and well-being.
“The fragrance industry has a mission”, said Hans Holger Gliewe, Chairman of the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). “That is to promote the safe and sustainable use of fragrances. Over the past few days, we have seen and heard about what the industry is doing to advance science-based policy making and evolve its sustainability framework”.
Over three days 150 physical and online guests explored topics such as the IFRA Standards, sustainability, microplastics, the place of business in biodiversity, innovation trends shaping the industry, and more. The Summit concluded with a visit to Brazilian cosmetics and fragrance producer Natura & Co. and a masterclass on the art of sustainable perfumery.
“I am delighted we were able to bring fragrance industry stakeholders together in Latin America to discuss key issues and shape solutions through collective initiatives”, said Martina Bianchini, President of IFRA. “The Global Fragrance Summit serves as an important opportunity for the sector and its value chain partners to leverage shared expertise and reflect upon the success of common initiatives”.
The discussions held at the Global Fragrance Summit this year are particularly timely in light of moves by regulators around the world that could severely restrict the use of a very large proportion of synthetic and natural ingredients. Many of these natural fragrance ingredients have been in use for hundreds of years and are fundamental to consumer enjoyment. These restrictions or prohibitions would impact the creation of thousands of formulations.
“Policy makers must be cognisant of the unintended consequences which the proposed regulatory changes could mean to a sector such as ours”, said Mr Gliewe after the event. “We want ambitious but workable rules for our sector. We work in close collaboration with all involved stakeholders. The participation at the Summit of leading sustainability organisations, such as UNEP and WWF, shows the importance of this cooperation”.
IFRA is committed to safety, sustainability and industry innovation. The Global Fragrance Summit demonstrated the industry’s ambition to collaborate with stakeholders upstream and downstream in the fragrance value chain. This cooperation will help us get fit for the future, leverage existing collective initiatives, and develop new alliances and partnerships.
Global Fragrance Summit 2022 took place in São Paulo, Brazil from 8-10 November. 150 guests were in attendance alongside 50 speakers from around the world. Find out more at www.globalfragrancesummit.org
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The International Fragrance Association, founded in 1973, represents the interests of the fragrance industry worldwide. IFRA comprises seven multinational Regular Members and 23 national associations in four global regions representing hundreds of small and medium-sized fragrance ingredient manufacturers, as well as supporting members. Its mission is to promote the safe use of fragrance for everyone’s enjoyment.
Fragrances are a key platform technology used by consumer goods companies – for fine fragrances, personal care products, household care and more.
IFRA’s flagship safe use program, the IFRA Standards, applies safety management measures based on scientific assessment and the evaluations of an independent Expert Panel. The program is at the heart of the IFRA Code of Practice, which applies to all IFRA members globally, including members of IFRA’s national associations. The Code also requires members to abide by local, national and international regulation, and to apply good manufacturing practices.
