IFF (NYSE: IFF), a global innovator in flavours, fragrances, food ingredients, and biosciences, has installed a new nature-based hydrogen production facility at its Scent R&D and fragrance ingredients plant in Benicarló, Spain.
The project, developed in partnership with Iberdrola — one of the world’s largest renewable energy producers — marks the fragrance industry’s first use of renewable electricity for hydrogenation reactions in ingredient manufacturing.
Located on Spain’s eastern coast, the Benicarló site will now generate up to 100 tonnes of clean hydrogen annually using solar power.
The system incorporates an on-site compression and storage unit, eliminating reliance on fossil-fuelled hydrogen and reducing the site’s overall life cycle assessment (LCA) footprint.
The move positions IFF at the forefront of resource-efficient production methods designed to help customers worldwide meet their decarbonisation goals.
“The Benicarló site’s new hydrogen production capability is a major shift from traditional ‘gray hydrogen’ production methods like steam methane reforming, which relies on fossil fuels and offsite production,” said Jaime Gomezflores, senior vice president of global operations manufacturing for IFF Scent.
“This is the first step to providing technology and expanding the production to reduce operational emissions in the future.”
IFF’s Benicarló facility specialises in the creation of fragrance ingredients, including key compounds like Cashmeran and Kharismal.
Hydrogen plays a critical role in hydrogenation reactions across more than 50 IFF products, and the use of locally produced green hydrogen significantly cuts the site’s carbon output.
The company estimates that the transition to renewable hydrogen will prevent around 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Spain’s natural conditions make it especially suitable for renewable hydrogen production.
The region receives high levels of annual sunlight, offering both resource security and an opportunity for consistent, sustainable energy generation.
By harnessing its own solar capacity, IFF avoids dependence on external gas supply chains and fossil inputs — key challenges for resource-intensive sectors.
The facility forms part of a decade-long renewable hydrogen energy agreement with Iberdrola, integrating the site into one of Europe’s most active clean hydrogen ecosystems.
Beyond its direct environmental gains, the project serves as a model for other IFF manufacturing locations, establishing a replicable framework for low-carbon hydrogen integration in industrial processes.
IFF’s broader sustainability roadmap includes achieving a 50 per cent reduction in direct (scope 1 and 2) emissions and a 30 per cent cut in indirect (scope 3) emissions by 2030, with the aim of reaching net zero operations by 2040.
The Benicarló initiative is a key step toward these targets, underscoring IFF’s commitment to operational decarbonisation and energy transition.
