New certification expands options for customers and underlines Givaudan’s commitment to sustainability. Givaudan announces new Rainforest Alliance certification for a selection of its vanilla extracts marketed in Europe. The certification attests to the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting communities and protecting the environment, embodied by its Sourcing4Good programme.
“This certification not only meets the growing demands of environmentally conscious consumers but also fosters a sustainable future for communities and ecosystems alike,” said Gwen Kastler, Regional Product Manager Vanilla. “Givaudan’s Rainforest Alliance certified vanilla products empower our customers to proudly showcase the frog seal on their packaging, helping consumers to make more conscientious purchasing decisions.”
Rainforest Alliance offers a widely recognised certification programme for sustainable agricultural practices that supports farmers in implementing practices that protect the environment, improve their livelihoods, promote the human rights of farm workers, and help them mitigate and adapt to climate change. SOMAVA, a joint venture between Givaudan and Henri Fraise Fils et Cie begun in 2014, works directly with farmers in Rainforest Alliance Certified villages. The certification enables full traceability for a selection of vanilla beans cultivated in Madagascar for use in one of the company’s European extraction facilities, located in the Netherlands.
The recent certification represents one of Givaudan’s many initiatives to support local livelihoods and biodiversity in Madagascar. With the help of its implementing partners, the Givaudan Foundation has built or renovated 30 schools, providing a positive learning environment for more than 4,500 children. It has also provided access to two healthcare centres serving over 1,000 patients annually, and facilitated access to clean water for over 10,000 villagers. As part of the company’s efforts to improve environmental sustainability, the Givaudan Foundation supported the provision of 4,000 energy-efficient cooking stoves for vanilla farmer households, environmental education in 10 schools, and the establishment of energy-efficient institutional kitchens in two schools.
