The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has connected with the Indonesian Essential Oil Council (DAI) and the Indonesian Flavor and Fragrant Association (AFFI), to form a partnership to develop and document a best practice case study for responsible sourcing of patchouli in Indonesia.
The objective of this partnership is to increase learning, education and prosperity through the study, acting responsibly to protect consumers and the environment.
"This collaborative project aims to address sustainability issues throughout the fragrance value chain, in partnership with the essential oil industry, and with a particular focus on patchouli and its derivatives. The project will involve industry players, academic and research institutions, local communities, and farmers from various regions in Indonesia to ensure its successful implementation," said Irdika Mansur, the Chairman of the Indonesian Essential Oil Council, during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing of the Sustainable Patchouli, in Jakarta, March 7, 2023.
As a sign of the beginning of the partnership, three parties signed the Sustainable Patchouli Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
IFRA president Martina Bianchini stated, "As a global organization, IFRA has a long-standing commitment to the safe use of fragrances in daily life. IFRA, together with the International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI), launched a Sustainability Charter establishing a collective framework to address sustainability issues and opportunities along the value chains of the flavor and fragrance industry."
"Entering our 50th anniversary, we strive to be a model of global collaboration on the safe use of fragrance, from responsible sourcing to finished consumer goods. IFRA will continue to support the fragrance industry developments worldwide through the safe and sustainable use of fragrances."
As part of this effort, IFRA will fund the case study of patchouli in Indonesia until the end of 2024. Irdika Mansur, the chairman of the Indonesian Essential Oil Council, also noted that this multistakeholder cooperation represents a strategic step for DAI in advancing the essential oil industry as a key raw material provider for flavors and fragrances in Indonesia. "This patchouli project will benefit all stakeholders in the essential oil industry," he added.
Hanny Wijaya, the president of AFFI, shared, “Being a national association member of IFRA, AFFI is supporting the Sustainability Charter initiative from IFRA and IOFI, therefore AFFI is well positioned to extend the needs and interests of the flavor and fragrance industry in Indonesia in practically all aspects of the project and do so with the cultural understanding and local wisdom in the executions of duties and responsibilities in the project. At the same time, due to its long association with and involvement in DAI’s works in promoting, facilitating and advocating the Indonesian essential oils industry, we also have a pretty comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by growers, distillers, producers and marketers/exporters of essential oil products, including patchouli, and contribute to sustainable solutions."
During its implementation, DAI will coordinate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that project activities adhere to the sustainability standards agreed upon by all parties. DAI will carry out the patchouli study and development project, and all three parties will document the case studies and best practices for patchouli development as a sustainable source of natural ingredients.
