Our Impact so far
Water intensity ↓ 23%
70% waste recycled
EcoVadis Platinum
£1.23m invested in our communities

At CPL, sustainability is about people just as much as the planet. It’s the everyday decisions we make as a team that create real impact — for our communities, our industry and future generations.
Head of Sustainability
Emily Heron
Our ESG Report
We don’t want our sustainability efforts to be just a ‘green tick’ on the proverbial corporate agenda; something to think of once a year and then discard. We are convinced, now more than ever, that CPL’s purpose is to play our part to change the world for good.
CEO, Chris Pickthall

At CPL Aromas, sustainability isn’t a side project — it’s how we show up in the world. Every year, the stakes feel higher: hotter temperatures, pressure on ecosystems, and communities facing challenges they didn’t create. But these realities only strengthen our belief that business has a responsibility to do better. That’s why we’re changing how fragrance is made — reducing our footprint, cutting waste, choosing more responsible materials and empowering our teams across the world to make small, everyday decisions that add up to real impact.
Our approach is simple: care for the planet, support our people, innovate responsibly and source with integrity. And we’re already seeing what’s possible when we work with purpose — from zero‑waste milestones to low‑impact technologies and long‑standing community partnerships that change lives, not headlines. Sustainability isn’t a badge for us; it’s a commitment to creating something better, together.
Our four pillar approach to sustainability.
Sustainability is at the heart of our business. We embrace responsibility to integrate more sustainable, honest, ethical and responsible working practices into everything we do – which is echoed in our new vision and strategy, to lead positive, transformational change.

Environment
2024 was a turning point – the year the world crossed the 1.5°C threshold for the first time and the hottest year ever measured. Two thirds of Earth’s surface endured record-breaking heat, from oceans to mountain regions, pushing ecosystems, agriculture and whole communities closer to breaking point. And while there were climate justice win, like the revocation of the Cumbria coal mine and the UK High Court declaring the government’s climate strategy unlawful, they weren’t enough to slow the accelerating climate crisis. That’s why our environmental work at CPL has to stretch beyond compliance. It must actively reduce harm, restore resilience and contribute to solutions. In a world where extremes are becoming the norm, we know that the way we manage our environmental impact must be both ambitious and practical and our targets reflect that urgency.
Energy & Emissions
At CPL, our work begins with emissions. We are committed to reaching carbon neutral operations across Scope 1 and 2 by 2030, a goal anchored in increasing renewable energy and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. We’ve already made meaningful progress: in 2024/25, we cut our Scope 1 emissions by 23%, thanks to the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles and a reduction in natural gas use.
Our energy profile is shifting too contributing to a 20% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since our 2018. These milestones show what’s possible when we combine focused investment with everyday operational change.
Water Scarcity
Water, too, is becoming more unpredictable worldwide. Half of the world’s population now experiences severe water scarcity at least one month each year. That reality shapes our approach across all CPL sites.
We have already cut water use per tonne by 23%, reaching our 2030 goal well ahead of schedule – but we know this is only the beginning. We continue to explore reuse systems, water saving technologies and site specific solutions such as rainwater harvesting.
Waste Minimisation
The world can’t afford more waste. We’re working towards zero waste to landfill across all manufacturing sites by 2030, shifting away from the “take make dispose” mindset and towards one that keeps materials in circulation for as long as possible.
Both our Brixworth and Dubai sites now send zero waste to landfill, leading the way for the rest of our global operations. We’re continuing to increase reuse and recycling rates while strengthening recovery options for materials that can’t yet be recycled.
Our planet is changing fast, and so are we. At CPL, caring for the environment means rethinking how we source, produce and innovate so that every fragrance leaves a lighter footprint. From cutting emissions and reducing waste to protecting natural resources, we’re working every day to do right by the world that inspires our creations.

Innovation
Innovation has always powered the fragrance world, but today it carries a new kind of responsibility. In a decade marked by record heat, extreme weather and rising pressure on natural systems, the question is no longer what can we create, but how can we create it with far less impact? At CPL, innovation is where creativity meets climate action. Our teams are re‑engineering fragrance technologies so they perform beautifully while using fewer resources – less energy, less water, less waste.
Our Technologies
At CPL, our technologies are built to avoid harm by design. Innovation should never come at the planet’s expense. AromaCore Bio, our patented biodegradable encapsulation technology, delivers long‑lasting fragrance without microplastics – a direct challenge to the legacy systems that contributed to environmental persistence.
And with EcoBoost, we’re re‑engineering fragrance creation itself. By enabling high‑impact formulations at 10% of their usual dosage, EcoBoost cuts energy use, reduces packaging and transport impacts, and slashes waste across the full product lifecycle. These technologies exist because the world demanded a different way forward.
Our Ingredients
Fragrance begins long before it reaches a bottle. It begins in ecosystems that are under strain from heatwaves, shifting rainfall and degraded soils.
That’s why our palette is moving towards ingredients that do more good, with less harm. Our creations reached over 82% average biodegradability, showing that sustainability can be built into scent at a molecular level. We’re also expanding the use of upcycled materials, ensuring nothing of value goes to waste. turning by products into high quality notes and reducing dependence on virgin agricultural resources – proving that great ingredients don’t have to cost the planet.
Our Communications
The climate and nature crisis makes one thing absolutely clear: silence doesn’t help anyone. In an era where climate activists are being silenced, sued, or even harmed, transparency has become an act of responsibility, and communication a tool for change.
At CPL, we believe in speaking openly about our progress, our challenges and our impacts. Through our ESG Reports and communications, we strive to share clear, honest stories that help our customers, partners and colleagues understand not just what we’re doing, but why it matters. Innovation doesn’t stop at invention. It becomes real when we share it, scale it, and spark change beyond ourselves.
Innovation is where creativity meets responsibility. We’re constantly exploring new ways to make fragrances that smell incredible while using fewer resources and creating less waste. From low impact technologies to biodegradable solutions, our innovations are designed to protect the planet without compromising on quality.
People
If the climate crisis is reshaping our world, the human crisis that sits beside it is just as pressing. Extreme heat, rising living costs, displacement, and inequality are affecting communities everywhere — and the people who feel it most deeply are often those with the least power to change it. Against this backdrop, taking care of people isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the foundation of a sustainable and resilient business.
Our Teams
At CPL, our teams are the centre of everything we do. We’re committed to creating workplaces where people feel supported, valued and deeply connected to their work and purpose. In 2024/25, colleagues invested more than 10,000 hours in learning and development, building skills that help them thrive personally and professionally.
We’re committed to nurturing talent at every level, creating global pathways for career growth and ensuring everyone feels part of a community, not just a company. Our culture is built on empathy, openness and shared responsibility — because meaningful sustainability starts with the people who drive it forward every day.
Our Safety
In 2024/25, our teams delivered over 1.58 million safe working hours, reflecting a culture where wellbeing is not just prioritised, but woven into daily practice. From enhanced safety training to stronger site-level controls, we continually evolve our approach to ensure every colleague returns home safe – physically and mentally.
We believe in fostering a culture where people can raise concerns, challenge the status quo and advocate for better outcomes without fear. Safety isn’t just compliance – it’s care. And it’s fundamental to the future we’re building.
Our Communities
Climate change is affecting communities unevenly, often hitting hardest where resources and opportunities are most limited. These are the same communities that grow ingredients, supply raw materials and shape the foundations of the fragrance industry.
Together we’ve contributed over £5.5 million, supporting more than 70 projects that strengthen livelihoods, protect rights, empower women and build climate resilience. These aren’t one off interventions; they’re relationships built on solidarity and shared purpose. Our communities are part of our global family. Supporting them is part of who we are.
People are the reason we can create, innovate and grow with purpose. We’re building an culture where every colleague feels safe, supported and able to thrive. But our responsibility doesn’t stop at our own teams. Around the world, we work closely with communities to strengthen livelihoods, expand opportunities and create long lasting, positive change.

Sourcing
Every fragrance begins long before it reaches a bottle. It starts in fields, forests and farming communities around the world — places that are already feeling the strain of rising temperatures, unpredictable weather and water scarcity. With 2024 confirmed as the hottest year in global history, and ecosystems under mounting pressure, the way we source ingredients has never mattered more. Responsible sourcing at CPL is built on the belief that fragrance should never come at the expense of people or the planet.
Supply Chains
Behind every fragrance ingredient is a supply chain shaped by real people, real landscapes and, increasingly, real climate pressure. Growers and producers are facing the front line of climate disruption.
That’s why our approach goes beyond compliance to long term partnership. Across our sourcing regions, we work to uphold fair labour practices, improve livelihoods and support community development. Our responsible sourcing programme has already assessed over 70% of our supply chain on their sustainability commitments, ensuring ethical practices and environmental stewardship remain at the heart of ingredient production.
Responsible Ingredients
Fragrance begins long before it reaches a bottle. It begins in soil, in communities, in landscapes that are now under unprecedented pressure from accelerating climate change.
Our responsibly sourced ingredients come from supply chains that protect people, respect nature and operate transparently.
To earn this status, ingredients are verified through rigorous assessments, audits and continuous improvement plans. By 2024/25, we had 82 responsibly sourced ingredients, each reflecting long term partnerships that support communities and safeguard the ecosystems our industry depends on.
Carbon Footprint
Our goal is to carbon footprint every CPL fragrance by 2030. To get there, we’re gathering Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data for as many ingredients as possible. So far, we’ve collected data for 69% of our Top 100 materials, representing 37% of our total palette.
This growing dataset allows us to build accurate fragrance‑level footprints, identify emissions hotspots and work with suppliers to reduce impact across our value chain. By 2030, every CPL fragrance will have a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint.
Behind every fragrance is a story – of growers, communities and landscapes across the world. That’s why responsible sourcing matters so deeply to us. We work closely with partners to choose ingredients that respect people and protect nature, supporting livelihoods and improving resilience in the places our materials come from.
















