Science and Creativity Go Hand in Hand at IFF

At International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), science and creativity go hand in hand in the company’s mission to create a better world. Its history is rife with shining examples of that commitment starting with cofounders Stafford Allen and Charles May’s efforts to produce pure essential oils in the 1830s, a departure from relied-upon sawdust. Fast forward to 2005, when the company’s award-winning sensory perception technology allowed active ingredients to be released from various textiles. The innovation was endless.

In 2019, the company pushed its mission even further. It adopted a new brand purpose to redefine how it cares for the world’s resources, and it has infused that consideration into everything it’s done ever since.

Plant-Based Purpose

As consumers seek healthier and more sustainable diets, IFF has worked to meet their needs on various fronts. Through a Culinary Design Center in Denmark, the company has aimed to provide global cuisine creators with specialized plant-based expertise. It features a high-end pilot manufacturing site and a studio for live streaming and remote sensory evaluations.

IFF’s efforts have been just as fruitful in the realm of plant-based supplements. In March 2023, it announced success in encapsulating high viscosity liquid and semiliquid nutritional ingredients in a soft gel dietary supplement. This allows manufacturers to develop plant-based soft-shell capsules to match the performance of animal-based gelatin, meeting an increasing consumer need for plant-based supplements.

Reimagined Programming

For years, IFF’s reimagine programs accelerate innovation and create agility in fast-paced food and beverage markets. Some of the programs include:

• Reimagine Clean: This cultivates the next era of clean label innovation, driven by a growing demand for cleaner products and responsible production. It has produced a portfolio of natural and organic offerings and advanced enzyme fermentation technologies.

• Reimagine Waste: This leverages sustainable and regenerative design to cultivate sustainable and traceable innovation throughout the food and beverage supply chain, leaning on upcycled ingredients and maximized resources.

• Reimagine Delivery: This develops technology to capture sensitive ingredients, protecting them throughout the product life cycle and optimizing their release for consumption.

Data-Driven Solutions

Whether it is the company’s world-class flavor solutions or its personalized fragrance offerings tailored to consumer needs, the reliance on data has been paramount to success. As executive vice president, chief information officer, and chief digital officer, Vic Verma plays a significant role in aligning IFF’s vision to “Do More Good” with its technology strategy and direction. He is also responsible for the digital technology transformation program and overseeing infrastructure, data, application delivery, and end user services across the enterprise.

Ajit Patankar, business unit head of manufacturing at Tata Consultancy services, had an opportunity to work closely with Verma and to see his dedication to IFF’s mission.

“TCS has been a strategic partner in IFF’s growth and transformation journey for fifteen years. Working closely with Vic over the years, we appreciate his forward-thinking approach and strategic behavior to collaborate with partners to realize his vision,” Patankar says. “In this journey, TCS helped IFF accelerate innovation, seamlessly integrate acquired businesses, and enhance user experience to support their future growth by harnessing the power of cloud, self-healing infrastructure capabilities, and next-generation framework for service delivery.”

A Better Tomorrow

IFF has made many strides on helping its customers achieve their own environment, social, and governance goals. One has been through replacing petrochemicals with naturally derived and biodegradable biopolymers. Everyday household items like laundry detergents tend to use fossil-derived materials that aren’t biodegradable and increase carbon footprint. Through the use of a world-class biotechnology called Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials, IFF has been able to offer customers the purity and consistency they need.