IFF has installed a nature‑based hydrogen production facility at its Benicarló, Spain, Scent R&D and fragrance ingredients plant. The new plant can generate 100 tons of clean hydrogen each year using renewable electricity supplied by Iberdrola, enabling on‑site hydrogenation reactions for more than 50 key fragrance ingredients.
The shift from gray hydrogen produced by steam methane reforming to green hydrogen is expected to cut about 2,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually and reduce the life‑cycle carbon footprint of IFF’s fragrance ingredients. The facility is part of a 10‑year renewable hydrogen agreement with Iberdrola and positions IFF as the first fragrance‑industry player to rely on renewable electricity for hydrogenation.
The green hydrogen initiative supports IFF’s broader “Do More Good” sustainability plan, which targets a 50 % reduction in scope‑1 and scope‑2 emissions and a 30 % cut in scope‑3 emissions by 2030, with a net‑zero goal by 2040. By producing hydrogen on‑site, IFF can avoid the price volatility and supply constraints associated with external gray hydrogen purchases, potentially delivering long‑term cost efficiencies.
Jaime Gomezflores, senior vice president of global operations manufacturing for IFF Scent, said the new capability “represents a major shift from traditional gray hydrogen production methods and is the first step to providing technology and expanding production to reduce operational emissions in the future.” The partnership with Iberdrola also underscores the company’s commitment to renewable energy procurement and to embedding sustainability throughout its manufacturing network.
Industry observers note that IFF’s move could set a precedent for other fragrance and chemical manufacturers, as the global green hydrogen market expands and the cost of producing green hydrogen continues to decline. The facility’s ability to supply hydrogen directly to fragrance‑ingredient synthesis may give IFF a competitive edge as consumers and regulators increasingly demand greener ingredients.
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