Fragrance industry coalitions collab to scale sustainable Indonesian patchouli

09 Mar 2023 --- A best practice case study for the responsible sourcing of patchouli in Indonesia led by key industry players is underway. Led by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA), the Indonesian Essential Oil Council (DAI) and the Indonesian Flavor and Fragrant Association (AFFI), the partnership aims to increase education about sustainable patchouli while protecting consumers and the environment.

“This collaborative project aims to address sustainability issues throughout the fragrance value chain, in partnership with the essential oil industry and with a particular focus on patchouli and its derivatives,” says Irdika Mansur, chairman of the Indonesian Essential Oil Council.

Signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the other organizations, the IFRA has committed to funding the case study of patchouli until the end of 2024.

Patchouli perfection
The project will involve industry players, academic and research institutions, local communities and farmers from various regions in Indonesia. To this effect, IFRA and the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) launched a Sustainability Charter establishing a collective framework to address sustainability issues along value chains in the industry.

The multi-stakeholder cooperation is deemed a strategic step for DAI to advance the essential oil industry as a key raw material provider for flavors and fragrances in the region. “This patchouli project will benefit all stakeholders in the essential oil industry,” says Mansur.The cooperation seeks to advance the essential oil industry as a key raw material provider for fragrances.

AFFI brings extensive know-how of the challenges growers, distillers, producers and exporters of essential oil products face due to its collaboration with DAI which it will leverage to implement sustainable solutions for patchouli production.

Fragrance with a message
During implementation, DAI will coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that project activities adhere to the sustainability standards agreed upon by the various parties.

DAI will also carry out the patchouli study and development project, and all three parties will document the case studies and best practices for patchouli development as a sustainable source of natural ingredients.

“Being a national association member of IFRA, AFFI is supporting the Sustainability Charter initiative. AFFI is, therefore, well positioned to extend the needs and interests of the flavor and fragrance industry in Indonesia in practically all aspects of the project,” says Hanny Wijaya, president at AFFI.

Patchouli maintains its star ingredient positioning across fragrance innovation and finished product launches. In related developments, beauty specialist Givaudan Active Beauty debuted Patchoul’Up, a “100% upcycled” ingredient for dry flakey scalp, which also balances the scalp microbiome and sebum production.

Edited by Inga de Jong

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