Firmenich, a Swiss company producing perfumes and aromas with a turnover of almost 4 billion euros led by Ilaria Resta for two years, has been recognized by Etisphere as one of the most ethical companies of 2022, who tells how she managed the critical issues of the moment and new projects of the Genevan giant.
«The fragrance market exploded after the pandemic – says Resta, global president, perfumery & executive board director of Firmenich -. According to Npd, perfume sales in 2021 grew by 45%. The approach of consumers who are asking for more transparency, sustainability and safety has changed and we are moving in this direction. When I arrived at the company in the middle of the pandemic, I decided to redefine our development strategy by focusing on the concept of positive perfumery with the aim of having a positive impact on people, nature and the climate by focusing on three assets: innovation, sustainability and digitalization. Positive perfumery, but also aware: by 2030 we want our products to be 99% composed of biodegradable and 100% renewable ingredients, that our carbon footprint be reduced by 25% compared to 2020 “.
The digital transformation passes from artificial intelligence and new forms of customer service. Two years ago, Lab 4.0 journey was launched, a project to accelerate automation from the factory to the laboratory and last year Scentmate, a platform based on artificial intelligence to guide brands and consumers to the choice of the most suitable perfume with shipments on time record.
Italy is a very important market for the company present in our country with a branch since 1974. «We have created numerous successes such as Bright Crystal for Versace and Light Blue for Dolce & Gabbana – continues Resta -. And in 2021 we have seen great growth with the production of so-called pandemic products such as sanitizers and cleaners for the home and the person. We also have a thirty-year partnership with Culti in the luxury home fragrance segment.