ADM recently joined other key flavor and fragrance players to sign up to the new Sustainability Charter, as part of its long-term journey to raising awareness, measuring progress, and ultimately contributing to achieving real change within the industry. Alison Taylor, VP Chief Sustainability Officer at ADM, speaks with FoodIngredientsFirst about the Charter’s significance and how industry must unite in making sustainability a core part of their businesses.

The Charter – highly adopted across the two industries – is a voluntary framework launched by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI), which represents a collective commitment to making a difference for the plant, for people and business. 

“Sustainability is a path that no one company can take alone,” states Taylor. “The Charter is designed to be aspirational, but also clear and achievable. It’s comprehensive in the commitments it outlines, focusing on a cyclical approach to some of the most important areas for a company like ADM; responsible sourcing, reducing environmental footprint, employee well-being, product safety, and transparency and partnerships,” she explains. 

Increasing positive impact
By signing up to the Charter, ADM is making a further promise to protect the planet for future generations. “As a company that takes its commitments to sustainability seriously, ADM identifies and aligns completely with the goals and principles of the Charter, and we see it as a significant opportunity to further increase our positive impact,” Taylor adds. 

She further explains how the company already works collaboratively with stakeholders – including other industry participants, governments and NGOs – to address opportunities for improvement in the agricultural supply chain. “When it comes to sustainable practices, however, it’s important to approach collaboration with a pre-competitive perspective in order to make a real difference,” she stresses. 

“We see this as the best way to bring together multiple companies with significant influence under common objectives that address global challenges. With this approach, we can help ensure we all enjoy the benefits of a healthy, happy planet for years to come.”

The significance of sustainability is further underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was particularly prominent during the quarantine measures and lockdowns which impacted supply chains, presenting new and unique ways of sourcing, safety and logistical challenges. Although a cataclysm of supply chain challenges was largely overcome efficiently and quickly, the pandemic emphasizes some of the weaknesses within global trade processes.

The Charter covers sustainability in every aspect, taking a life-cycle approach based on five focus areas – responsible sourcing, reducing environmental footprint, employee well-being, product safety, transparency and partnerships.

All signatories will provide data on progress against 18 commitments in the five focus areas, feeding into a benchmarking report that will be published early in 2021. “Reporting on progress in this way sends the message that every action taken should contribute in a meaningful, tangible way,” Taylor adds. 

Navigating challenges 
Companies like ADM are playing a critical role in supporting and maintaining the global food chain, recognizing the health of natural resources is critical to the future of sustainable food, and nourishing a growing world population. 

ADM is playing a critical role in supporting and maintaining the global food chain, recognizing the health of natural resources is critical to the future of sustainable food.“Our commitment to working with others to ensure the industry leads by example will result in a stronger ADM, and a more sustainable world,” Taylor continues. “The world today faces challenges we could not have foreseen even a few months ago, and yet we have consciously ensured that we did not step back from our sustainability program, even announcing our new sustainability goals recently.”

“The importance of these commitments becomes even more clear amid an unprecedented challenge such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Never before has our purpose – unlocking the power of nature to enrich the quality of life – been more important, and never before have we been prouder of our efforts to live up to that purpose,” she says. 

Future food
Looking ahead, Taylor talks about focusing on operating safely today without losing sight of tomorrow. “As an industry, it is paramount that we share a vision of ensuring sustainable supply chains by working in partnership with governments, producers, consumers and civil society to create a safer, more sustainable food system. Increased transparency is an important way of encouraging others within the industry to reflect and take the right steps towards this goal, and the Charter continues to be open to signatories from fragrance and flavor companies around the world,” she explains.

In addition, ADM’s recently announced a plan to reduce its absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent and its energy intensity by 15 percent by 2035. The company is able to set these after achieving its 2011 “15x20” plan, wher ADM committed to per-unit improvements in energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste to landfill by 2020, ahead of schedule. 

“Our latest plan is the result of a thorough mapping exercise in which we determined which of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aligned best with our business objectives and will allow us to make the greatest contribution possible,” Taylor says. 

“We’re extremely optimistic about the impact that these goals will have on the planet, as well as being excited about the edge these initiatives will give our customers in meeting the market challenges of the future.”