The Canary Report

Greenwashing in the fragrance industry

Posted on Jan 22, 2009 by Susie Collins in Blog, Products, Research, Susie Collins

Fragrance developer opens new “green” facility in New Jersey while at the same time developing goods with unregulated toxic chemicals

An international company claiming to be a leader in “sensory innovation” opens a new fragrance development facility in New Jersey, which they say is constructed with “the latest in green building technology.” Givaudan specializes in creating flavors for commercial food products and fragrances for consumer goods such as laundry products and air fresheners.

Givadan’s latest press release brags about the new “green” facility, conveniently ignoring the fact that a recent study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal law.

A company’s bragging about being “green” while developing toxic goods is called “greenwashing.” Companies practicing greenwashing advertise how environmentally friendly they are just to be politically correct in today’s world, while making their profits manufacturing or selling products that are detrimental to environmental or human health.

It is especially offensive to hear this particular company saying they have built a “science infrastructure” to develop their products while ignoring scientific data showing fragranced products to be dangerous to public health. Of great concern are hormone-mimicking phthalates used in perfumes and directly linked to hormone disruption in male fetuses and teenage girls. Phthalates in other products are also making their way into rivers and streams through sewage outlets, causing problems in reptile and fish development.

Not until the fragrance industry fully discloses all ingredients to governmental oversight agencies, and each and every one of the chemicals used is fully researched by third party, peer reviewed study and proved safe for humans and the environment, can the industry even begin to claim being “green” in any meaningful way.

Here is Givaudan’s press release about their new facility:

Geneva, Switzerland / East Hanover, New Jersey, USA –  Givaudan’s new Consumer Products Fragrance Creative Centre in East Hanover, New Jersey – USA, is now operational. The state-of-the art facility underlines Givaudan’s drive to use new ways and the latest technology to facilitate interactive, direct customer engagement for the development of innovative fragrance solutions for all functional product applications.

Givaudan’s new world class creation and development centre utilises the latest in green building technology and is second to none in terms of technological infrastructure in the North American fragrance industry. It will support Givaudan’s goal to further gain market share in all consumer product categories.

The centre encompasses a three floor creation and science wing adjoining the two floor commercial hub. The new facility significantly increases the evaluation, laboratory and science infrastructure and contains state-of-the-art odour booth technology, fabric and personal wash labs and cutting edge air care technology capabilities.

Total investment in the new creative centre amounted to USD 62 million.

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Givaudan’s wide range of expertise is categorized under the following innovation pillars: Sensory Intelligence, Sensory Creation, Sensory Technology, and Sensory Science. By further developing these capabilities, Givaudan can accomplish its goal of becoming the Essential Source of Sensory Innovation.

Givaudan flavourists create flavours for beverages, sweet goods, savoury and dairy products, as well as ingredient systems for the worlds most respected brands.

Givaudan perfumers create fragrances for air care, laundry care, home care products and fine fragrances for the world’s most respected brands.

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Tags: Chemicals, Children's Health, Environment, Food, Fragrance, Perfume, Research