On November 6, 2025, IFF announced the installation of a nature-based hydrogen production facility at its scent R&D manufacturing plant in Benicarló, Spain. According to the company’s press release, this innovation makes IFF the first company in the fragrance industry to rely on renewable electricity for hydrogenation reactions used in manufacturing key fragrance ingredients.
IFF partnered with Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest producers of renewable energy. The production site’s system can make 100 tons of hydrogen annually using renewable energy and includes a built-in compressor to store the hydrogen on site.
“The Benicarló site’s new hydrogen production capability is a major shift from the traditional ‘gray hydrogen’ production methods like steam methane reforming, which relies on fossil fuels and offsite production,” said Jaime Gomezflores, senior vice president of operations at IFF. “This is the first step to providing technology and expanding production to reduce emissions in the future.”
The new production facility is part of IFF’s 10-year renewable hydrogen energy agreement with Iberdrola. Further, this new site helps address the company’s sustainability goals of net zero emissions by 2040.
