Global Fragrance Summit concludes in Singapore with a focus on sustainability and innovation

Building on the previous day’s focus on global standards and harmonisation, the second day turned to the question of how sustainability and innovation can strengthen responsible growth across the fragrance value chain.

Alexander Mohr, President of IFRA, introduced the sustainability showcase, reminding participants that environmental and social responsibility have become non-negotiable. “Sustainability is not an add-on,” he said. “It is the framework through which our industry secures its future”.

Speakers including Cordula Mock-Knoblauch (BASF), Fabiana Servantes Munhoz (IFF), Matthias Vey (IFRA) and Rik Kutsch (UEBT) outlined how supply-chain transparency, biodiversity protection, and ethical biotrade can deliver measurable progress.

The afternoon sessions focused on innovation and digital transformation. Johanna Monange, Founder and CEO of Maison 21G, described how artificial intelligence, craft, and culture can coexist to make perfumery more inclusive and sustainable. Joa Kim, Vice President Perfumer at IFF, presented advances in fragrance encapsulation for sustainable scent delivery. Michelle Salomon, Vice President at Moodify AI showed how digital tools can accelerate reformulation and compliance.

A subsequent discussion featuring Renaud Joly from dsm-firmenich, Johanna Monange, Joa Kim, and Michelle Salomon examined how innovation can uphold both safety and creativity.

In the closing panel, Alexander Mohr, Steffen Götz BASF, Shreedhar Iyer (Takasago), Rob Roggebrand (Procter & Gamble) and Levenza Toh (dsm-firmenich) explored how Asia-Pacific’s scientific and regulatory leadership is influencing global fragrance policy and market trends.

Summing up the two-day event, Paul Andersson, IFRA Chairman, said: “This Summit has shown how our sector can meet new challenges through standards, science, and cooperation. By combining sustainability with innovation, we are laying the foundations for a fragrance industry that is safe, responsible and forward-looking.”

The Summit concludes on 17 October with a guided visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, celebrating fragrance’s botanical roots and the collaboration between nature and creativity that defines the industry.