IFF Pioneers Green Hydrogen Production for Sustainable Fragrance Manufacturing in Spain

IFF has inaugurated a pioneering nature-based hydrogen production facility at its Scent R&D and fragrance ingredients manufacturing site in Benicarló, Spain, marking a major milestone in sustainable fragrance production. In partnership with Iberdrola, one of the world’s leading renewable energy producers, IFF has become the first company in the fragrance industry to utilise renewable electricity for hydrogenation reactions essential to the creation of key fragrance ingredients.

The facility, powered entirely by solar energy, can produce up to 100 tonnes of clean hydrogen annually and includes an on-site storage compressor system, significantly reducing product life cycle emissions and enabling IFF’s global customers to advance their decarbonisation objectives. Replacing conventional fossil fuel-based “grey hydrogen” methods, such as steam methane reforming, with green hydrogen will cut approximately 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The Benicarló site, dedicated to producing more than 50 core ingredients including Cashmeran and Kharismal, benefits from Spain’s favourable renewable energy resources and growing industrial demand for sustainable solutions.

This initiative forms part of a 10-year renewable hydrogen agreement with Iberdrola and supports IFF’s broader environmental goals to reduce direct emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 50% and indirect emissions (Scope 3) by 30% by 2030, with the ultimate ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2040. The Benicarló facility serves as a blueprint for green innovation across IFF’s global manufacturing network, reinforcing its commitment to “Do More Good” for people and the planet.

Complementing this milestone, IFF has also launched ENVIROCAP™, an ECHA-compliant, biodegradable scent delivery system for fabric care, and entered a partnership with Reservas Votorantim to support sustainable bioprospecting within Brazil’s largest private Atlantic Forest reserve.

Source: IFF