Sustainability Management
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: Responsible Sourcing, Environmental Footprint, Employee Well-Being, Product Safety, and Transparency.
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 Eco Vadis 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
North America (U.S., Mexico & Canada)
Bell Flavors & Fragrances has set the following targets utilizing the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) and GHS Protocol Standard:
Near Term 5-10 Years
Include 2025 targets: % growth / % change
Net Zero by 2050
Environmental Footprint
• Total CO2 Emissions: -5% Year-Over-Year (YOY) Reduction
- 2022-2023: 12.3% YOY Reduction
- 2023-2024: XX.X% YOY Reduction
Environmental Footprint
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, metal, and plastic containers. Bell reviews the sustainability practices of waste haulers during the selection process and tracks all its waste generation activities. (Insert Mostardi graphs).
We take measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and track our carbon footprint using the GHG Protocol. Bell employs a variety of energy-saving activities and routinely looks for opportunities to minimize air pollution and manage our carbon footprint.
In recent years, we have been converting high wattage light fixtures to energy efficient LED fixtures with automatic shutoff devices, replaced inefficient HVAC units, increased utilization of renewable energy and improved usage of teleconferencing to reduce travel.
Total Annual CO2 Footprint
(Metric Tons CO2)
Renewable Energy Usage:
• 80% by 2026
• 100% by 2030
- 2023-2024: 25% increase
Emissions Reduction
Scope 1 Reductions: -5% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: insert % change
Scope 2 Reductions: -5% YOY Reduction
2023-2024: insert % change
Scope 3 Reductions: N/A
Note: Emissions will be captured in 2025 and targets will be published in 2026
Reduced Landfill Waste
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, metal, and plastic containers. Bell reviews the sustainability practices of waste haulers during the selection process and tracks all its waste generation activities. (Insert Mostardi graphs).
We take measures to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and track our carbon footprint using the GHG Protocol. Bell employs a variety of energy-saving activities and routinely looks for opportunities to minimize air pollution and manage our carbon footprint.
In recent years, we have been converting high wattage light fixtures to energy efficient LED fixtures with automatic shutoff devices, replaced inefficient HVAC units, increased utilization of renewable energy and improved usage of teleconferencing to reduce travel.
Solid Waste Diverted from Landfill: -20% Reduction
- 2022-2023: 3.8% Reduction
- 2023-2024: 35.9% Reduction
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 Eco Vadis. 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 channels for real time updates.
Responsible Sourcing
Bell Flavors enforces strict supplier standards on manufacturing, sanitation, food safety and quality, and human rights to preserve the integrity of its supply chain.
Bell Flavors is 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 Flavors 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.
ive to increase our spend with suppliers demonstrating robust sustainability initiatives. (link to 2024 graphs)
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 criteria. (Link to document)
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.
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 and digital material identification to ensure that the product we make is safe and meets expected quality standards.
As the final step in the process, we rigorously test our finished goods prior to shipment to ensure our customers always receive products that meet their expectations.
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