Sustainability is a key priority for the fragrance industry, but the lack of a standardised method to assess environmental impact has made it challenging to compare evaluation tools across different companies.
At MANE, we are committed to driving sustainability through science-based methodologies. That’s why in 2011, we developed GREEN MOTION™, the first publicly available tool that assesses the environmental impact of fragrance ingredients, compositions and finished products. Based on the 12 principles of green chemistry, this tool provides a quantitative score out of 100 and helps brands and perfumers make more informed, sustainable choices.
However, as many fragrance houses developed their own assessment methodology, a need emerged for a unified, industry-wide approach. To address this challenge, the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) collaborated with Beyond Benign and industry experts—including MANE—and developed the IFRA Green Chemistry Compass.
What is the IFRA Green Chemistry Compass?
The IFRA Green Chemistry Compass is a freely accessible tool that evaluates the environmental impact of fragrance ingredients through the lens of the 12 principles of green chemistry. Instead of attributing a numerical score, the IFRA Green Chemistry Compass gives each ingredient eight colour-coded ratings corresponding to various sustainability criteria and provides recommendations for improvement.
This initiative marks a major step forward in harmonising sustainability metrics across the fragrance industry, ensuring greater transparency and alignment on green chemistry principles.
Validating a common framework: IFRA Green Chemistry Compass and GREEN MOTION™
To test the reliability of this new tool, we conducted an in-depth comparison of more than 80 fragrance ingredients, covering the full range of GREEN MOTION™ scores. The results revealed a strong correlation between the two methodologies, demonstrating that GREEN MOTION™ and IFRA’s tool are well aligned for the formulation of fragrances.
By working towards standardised environmental impact assessment, we are taking an important step towards greater clarity, comparability and transparency in sustainable fragrance practices. This effort will go a long way towards empowering brands, perfumers and suppliers to make better-informed choices for a more sustainable future.