Sustainability
Safeguarding people, the planet, and supply chains for future generations
Message from Bell’s CEO
Ron Stark
President & CEO
“Bell Flavors and Fragrances, Inc. is a global supplier of flavors, fragrances and botanicals creating products that captivate the world’s taste buds and stimulate the senses.
Bell is a signatory member of the IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Charter, which is built around five focus areas: Responsible Sourcing, Environmental Footprint, Employee Well-being, Product Safety, and Transparency.
Whether reducing use of finite resources, careful management of renewable resources, responsible employment practices, promoting leading-edge safety standards, or nurturing of relationships with stakeholders, customers and consumers, all aspects of a business value chain can benefit from our sustainable approach.
We are committed to conducting business in a sustainable manner, adhering to international standards on the environment, human rights and business ethics.
As a family-owned business, we are dedicated to protecting our employees, communities and the global environment. We have made progress on many fronts including waste reduction, lower emissions, employee safety, sustainable development and ethical sourcing. While there is more to achieve to reach our goals, I am proud to share the progress achieved in the past year.”
Our Approach
Bell Flavors & Fragrances, Inc. has been a signatory member of the IFRA-IOFI Sustainability Charter since 2021, which is built around five focus areas:
We also have current initiatives and future plans in place to more closely align with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals as part of their 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Bell is a member of the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (SEDEX). Through this organization we undergo an annual SEDEX Members Ethical Trade Audit in which an external auditor examines Bell’s adherence to the four pillars of SEDEX: Labor Standards, Environment Ethics, Health and Safety, and Business Ethics. Bell has been highly successful during this audit, consistently scoring 99% or above.
On an annual basis, we perform our own sustainability assessment through the EcoVadis platform. We have been steadily improving our score over the last four years, currently we have a Silver Medal and are at the 88th percentile of participating companies. These two measurements give Bell a high level of transparency toward our goals and we are happy to share our progress with our customers.
Sustainability Targets & Progress
North America (United States, Mexico & Canada)
Near Term: 5-10 Years
As stakeholders demand an increased awareness for sustainable business practices, Bell Flavors & Fragrances is committed to improving our Environmental, Social and Governance programs. We strive to conform to industry standards and have established benchmarks in place for continued improvement.
Utilizing the SEDEX and EcoVadis platforms, we continue to leverage the knowledge and expertise of these globally recognized programs to further propel our sustainability journey. We aspire to make incremental improvements to our carbon footprint, increase usage of renewable energy, achieve zero landfill waste and reduce our impact on the environment. Equally important, we will further engage our local communities to provide a positive, lasting impact on the people we serve.
While the focus has been on our U.S. facilities, 2025 will bring an expansion to the management of our North American facilities in Canada and Mexico, broadening our reach to Bell’s global locations in subsequent years. Historically utilized reduction targets have been carried forward to present, however, the establishment of Science Based Targets (SBT) in 2025 will more closely align Bell with globally accepted measures.
Net Zero by 2050
While elimination of all carbon-based energy sources in a production facility is not feasible, the possibility of net zero emissions can be accomplished through carbon offsets such as tree planting or sponsoring new renewable energy capacity.
CO2 Emissions
In 2024, Bell began reporting activities for its North American production facilities. While sustainability programs at our Canada and Mexico facilities have been in place for many years, a more robust effort to leverage U.S. sustainability initiatives will be employed in 2025, with substantial progress expected in the coming years.
With additional focus and the consolidation of data for our North American facilities, the magnitude emissions reduction progress achieved at Bell thus far has become more evident. While the results are substantial, the journey to Net Zero by 2050 will continue as we build on the successes of the past few years.
Bell’s goals for CO2 reductions have historically included our Northbrook, IL and Middletown, NY locations, however, they have expanded to incorporate two additional North American plants.
2024 Goals & Progress
Total CO2 Emissions Goal: 5% Year-Over-Year (YOY) Reduction
2022-2023: 47.1% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: 25.8% YOY Reduction
In 2024, three of the four North American facilities experienced an increase in production, resulting in an energy intensity reduction of 39.9%.
Our Canada facility achieved net negative emissions in both 2023 and 2024, with 99% of electricity generated from renewable sources and an increase in recycled materials.
Electricity
2024 Goals & Progress
Bell’s four North American production facilities currently utilize 71% renewable energy. With a higher percentage contracted for 2025, we expect the total renewable percentage will increase to approximately 92%.
While total energy usage was flat from 2023-2024, the production facilities supported a 26% increase in production volumes, greatly reducing the energy intensity for electricity.
2022-2023: 6.2% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: 1.7% YOY Reduction
Due to the completion of numerous energy savings projects, electricity consumed at our Middletown, NY and Northbrook, IL facilities has declined. See reductions above for both U.S. facilities.
2022-2023: 7.1% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: 14.6% YOY Reduction
Increased production volumes have decreased our Scope 2 energy intensity.
For Bell’s North American facilities, electric energy intensity results are listed above.
Renewable Energy Usage Goal: 80% utilization by 2026; 100% utilization by 2030
Each year, the percentage of contracted renewable electricity has increased with the purchase of Green-e Energy Certified National Wind RECs. We will increase our percentage of electricity used each year until we reach 100% renewable sources.
The electric grid in Canada is powered by 99% renewable generation, with only 1% derived from fossil fuels. Additionally, Mexico is undergoing an ambitious expansion of renewable capabilities.
As of 2022, the Mexican government and state-owned utility reports 26% of the power generated from renewable sources. The aggressive goal of the government is to expand to 35% renewable by 2025.
Northbrook, IL
2023: 25% Renewable
2024: 50% Renewable
2025: 75% Renewable
Middletown, NY
2023: 0% Renewable
2024: 7.79% Renewable
2025: 25% Renewable
Broussard, Canada
2023: 99% Renewable
2024: 99% Renewable
2025: 99% Renewable
Guadalajara, Mexico
2023: 26% Renewable
2024: 26% Renewable
2025: 26% Renewable
Natural Gas & Propane
2024 Goals & Progress
Bell’s Scope 1 emissions increased: natural gas usage in our Northbrook, IL and Middletown, NY facilities saw significant increases, as both locations ramped up spray dry production. There was also a substantial increase in Canada due to colder temperatures.
2023-2024: 18.9% YOY Increase (Middletown, NY)
2023-2024: 24.6% YOY Increase (Northbrook, IL)
2022-2023: 16.3% YOY Reduction (North America)
2023-2024: 7.1% YOY Increase (North America)
Water
2024 Goals & Progress
Total Water Usage Goal: 5% Year-Over-Year (YOY) Reduction
2022-2023: 14.1% YOY Increase
2023-2024: 10.1% YOY Reduction
Complying with all regulations for discharges into local municipalities has always been a fundamental goal for Bell. Citations for violation of local requirements have been minimal throughout the years. In fact, our Mexico facility completed an on-site water treatment plant in 2022 to better meet local discharge standards.
Water usage has a direct correlation with production volumes; about 20% of water input becomes part of the products shipped to our customers. Efforts to concentrate our flavors, reducing both water used and transportation costs, are ongoing. Efficient fixtures in bathrooms and wash stations have been installed and leaks are promptly repaired.
Bell’s production facilities are designed to monitor and contain any spills and avoid incursion into storm water runoff drains. Other water conservation measures are currently being considered to reduce our footprint.
Waste
2024 Goals & Progress
Total Waste Generation Goal: Zero Landfill Waste by 2030
2022-2023: 0.8% Reduction
2023-2024: 11.5% Reduction
Bell takes active measures to minimize waste and handles all waste generated in a safe, legal, and responsible way. We use recycled materials in our new packaging wherever possible and recycle used packaging such as cardboard, pallets, metal and plastic containers.
While Bell generates both hazardous and non-hazardous waste at its facilities, we minimize the impact of waste disposal through various strategies including materials recycling, reusable packaging and improved production processes.
Hazardous waste is generated from expired materials, quality failures and obsolete items. In 2023, we made a concerted effort to remove these materials from our inventory and improve manufacturing processes in order to minimize hazardous waste generation. The pandemic-driven uncertainty in the supply chain led to higher inventories and the risk of increased expired material volumes, as revealed in our data from 2023.
Changes to inventory levels, better forecasting and scheduling processes as well as improved manufacturing performance helped to notably reduce waste disposal activities in 2024. Efforts are currently underway to move the hazardous waste stream to a trusted supplier that can recover and reuse the solvents in these materials.
Solid waste going to the landfill has been continually reduced at Bell, with additional items undergoing recycling and improved tracking of waste weight. With the goal of eliminating all landfill waste by 2030, new resources are being deployed to shift this waste stream to a more sustainable process.
Recycling
2024 Goals & Progress
Making every effort to divert waste from landfills, Bell has numerous strategies in place to repurpose our solid waste. The ratio of recycled vs. landfill tons is about 1:2.
⇒ Middletown, NY: Uses single stream recycling with the supplier hauling corrugate, steel, plastic and fiber drums, and 275 Gallon IBC totes to their facility for reprocessing. Fifty-five gallon metal drums and totes are reconditioned for reuse, plastic containers are ground to be converted to resin, and corrugate and fiber drums are recycled into pulp.
⇒ Northbrook, IL: Recycles office paper and corrugate, ensures totes and drums are reconditioned, purchases bulk oils in returnable totes, and sends used pallets back to our supplier to recondition or use as parts.
⇒ Guadalajara, Mexico: Sends food wastes to a composter, and corrugate, pallets, scrap metal and empty containers are sent to a company providing recycling services.
⇒ Broussard, Canada: Recycles paper and cardboard, and uses reusable totes for two products.
Emissions Reduction (Energy Intensity)
Bell uses an energy intensity measure to track reductions in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. While it is important to reduce the absolute quantity of emissions, progress against activity is a more meaningful measure of our efforts.
Energy Intensity is measured by the quantity of energy required per unit of output or activity, so ultimately, using less energy to produce a product reduces the intensity.
2024 Goals & Progress
Scope 1 Reductions/Lbs. Produced Goal: 5% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: 7.3% Increase
Scope 2 Reductions/Lbs. Produced Goal: 5% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: 54.3% Reduction
Scope 3 Reductions Goal: N/A
Note: Emissions will be captured in 2025 and targets will be published in 2026
Responsible Sourcing
Bell enforces strict supplier standards on manufacturing, sanitation, food safety and quality, and human rights to preserve the integrity of its supply chain.
We are proud to partner with strategic suppliers that focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing to provide solutions for customers and consumers that demand transparency and alignment with their social and environmental values.
Bell holds suppliers to extremely high standards regarding manufacturing processes, sanitary work environments, and human rights. We require documentation from suppliers and brokers to ensure we are meeting the needs of customers, uphold product quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain food safety and quality standards.
We strive to increase our spend with suppliers demonstrating robust sustainability initiatives – see graphs below.
All aspects of Bell’s value chain can contribute to a more sustainable future and are firmly anchored in our Ethical Code of Conduct, a critical document sent to suppliers that satisfies SEDEX ETI Base Code criteria.
Sustainable Procurement
2024 Goals & Progress
This past year, Bell gained a better understanding of the sustainability efforts our suppliers have in place. Bell suppliers showcasing sustainability programs, a supplier code of ethics and EcoVadis evaluations, as well as corporate SEDEX membership, has increased. However, spend percentages for SEDEX and EcoVadis membership as a percentage of total supplier spend, decreased in Northbrook, IL. Overall, our suppliers have benefitted from a significant, double digit spend increase from 2023 to 2024.
Goals:
- Increase spend with suppliers demonstrating a supplier code of conduct by 5%
Northbrook, IL: 4.8% | Middletown, NY: 42.4%
2. Increase spend with suppliers having a sustainability policy in place by 5%
Northbrook, IL: 12.4% | Middletown, NY: 4%
3. Increase spend with suppliers presenting an EcoVadis medal(s) by 5%
Northbrook, IL: -8% | Middletown, NY: 8%
4. Increase spend with suppliers having SEDEX corporate membership by 5%
Northbrook, IL: -6% | Middletown, NY: 7.1%
Environmental Footprint
Our conservation actions are driven by the desire to minimize resource usage and protect the environment for future generations. Reducing our dependence and usage of carbon-based energy sources, conserving water and minimizing our waste streams are key initiatives at Bell. We take active measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions via a variety of energy saving activities, seek opportunities to minimize air pollution, and track our carbon footprint using the GHG Protocol.
In recent years, we:
⇒ Converted high wattage light fixtures to energy efficient LED fixtures with automatic shutoff devices
⇒ Replaced inefficient HVAC units and air compressors
⇒ Installed variable speed drives on high energy equipment
⇒ Increased utilization of renewable energy
⇒ Improved usage of teleconferencing to reduce travel
⇒ Installed 5 EV charging stations at our global headquarter in Northbrook, IL
In recognition of our energy reduction projects in 2024, Bell was acknowledged by ComEd, our electric utility provider, as an Energy Efficiency Champion.
Employee Well-Being
We believe in safety as a non-negotiable and empowering our employees to propel their careers in fulfilling ways.
Safety is a core value at Bell. All employees are trained to understand that no activity ever takes priority over ensuring that their actions minimize physical risk to themselves and others. We continuously train, audit, discuss and act upon safety topics with all employees.
At Bell, we also support our employees in learning new skills, expanding responsibilities and growing their careers. Alongside internal training and mentoring, we strongly encourage pursuing higher education through our Education Assistance Plan for those seeking to transform their work experience.
Bell is committed to the recognition and safeguarding of human rights in all the countries in which we operate. We uphold the principles of all applicable national laws and international treaties concerning human rights, social rights, and labor rights, as well as the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Labor Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. We expect this same commitment from all companies we do business with and hold them to this fundamental standard.
We currently have the following programs in place:
Vaccinations | Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness | Mental Health | Productivity | Sanitation | Emergency Preparedness | Air and Water Quality | Safety Training and Equipment | Annual Hearing and Respiratory Testing | Vision Testing | Safety Gear Reimbursement | Uniforms
Bell takes personal data security very seriously and has multiple systems in place that are designed to safeguard proprietary employee and customer information. This software identifies and eliminates attempted malicious incursions into our data systems, providing automatic updates to our security, training employees on identifying phishing emails and ensuring the integrity of our data by constantly monitoring our digital platforms.
In addition to these initiatives, Bell hosts a variety of employee events and engagements throughout the year, including an employee/family summer picnic with activities for all ages, holiday gift bags, summer ice cream truck, turkey giveaway at Thanksgiving and a December holiday party.
Community Engagement
Beyond crafting captivating flavors and fragrances, we actively give back — partnering with local communities and empowering future generations through education and outreach.
At Bell’s global headquarter, we established a summer internship program that provides college students an opportunity to learn new skills, gain real-world job experience and be mentored by Bell leadership. In 2024, Bell hosted 10 summer interns.
Bell contributes to the local business community in Northbrook, IL, with one executive serving on the Board of Directors for the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber serves local businesses, connecting them to government resources, providing training, and mentoring small business leaders. Acting as a connection between the local business community and charitable organizations, the Chamber also serves disadvantaged communities.
Bell has provided our facilities and content for leadership training, shares parking lots with the local fire department and supports fundraising efforts of the Chamber.
Our global company has donated time and monetary contributions to a variety organizations, ranging from local school booster clubs to community theaters, summer camps for critically ill children, local food pantries, nursing homes and more. Read on to find out how we made a lasting impact in 2024.
Product Safety
Bell is committed to providing products that, when used as intended, are always safe for human or animal use. We build quality and safety into our sourcing processes by carefully vetting the suppliers we purchase from and via thorough inspection and testing of inbound raw materials.
Quality and safety are ingrained in our manufacturing systems through clear formulation, accurate weighment, digital material identification and strict adherence to state and federal regulations to ensure that the products we produce are not only safe, but meet unwavering quality standards.
As the final step in the process, we rigorously test our finished goods analytically and organoleptically prior to shipment to ensure our customers always receive products that meet their expectations.
Transparency
At Bell Flavors & Fragrances, transparency isn’t just a principle—it’s the foundation of our sustainability efforts. We believe that you deserve to know more about your flavors and fragrances and the steps we’re taking to minimize our environmental footprint. Our approach to sustainability is built on ethical sourcing, eco-friendly processes, and continuous improvement. By openly sharing our progress, challenges, and goals, we aim to build a lasting relationship based on trust and shared responsibility.
In 2024, we publicly shared our sustainability targets, outlining the areas we’re working to improve. By sharing our goals and holding ourselves accountable, we strive to build a more sustainable future for the flavors and fragrances industry.
Additionally, we continue to be open about organizations we partner with, which global certifications we hold and how we measure up from audits such as Safe Quality Food and EcoVadis. To stay up-to-speed on the latest Bell sustainability, quality improvement and safety news, explore our News section and check out our LinkedIn and Twitter (X) channels for real time updates.
2023 Annual Canadian Report – Fighting Against Forced Labor and Child Labor in Supply Chains Act
Rapport annuel 2023 Canada – Lutte contre les travaux forcés et le travail des enfants dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement