Symrise is bringing industry perspectives to COP30 and connected events in Belém, underscoring a strong commitment to climate action and biodiversity. A major highlight includes the TED Countdown session, where Symrise—together with partner CO2 AI—launches the Houston platform, a digital tool for measuring carbon footprints at both product and corporate level. The company also co-chaired the Sustainable Business Bioeconomy Working Group. With these actions, Symrise demonstrates how digital innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and practical solutions drive measurable progress for climate, nature, and local communities across priority supply chains.
By hosting the TED Countdown event “The Essence of Carbon” with CO2 AI, Symrise underlines its commitment to data-driven climate action. At the session, held during COP30, the partners will launch the Houston platform and present it to a select group of customers and guests—marking a major step in Symrise’s sustainability journey. Both parties will showcase how digital tools accelerate decarbonization in operations and products, supporting credible, scalable transparency on emissions along the value chain.
The digital tool enables Symrise to measure and manage product- and corporate-level carbon footprints with precision and efficiency. By integrating this carbon data, Houston empowers teams to gain real-time insights, prioritize impactful interventions, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations. The platform’s robust governance structure supports traceability and transparency, reinforcing Symrise’s ambition to advance in scalable decarbonization.
Prior to the COP30 conference, Symrise also co-chaired the Sustainable Business Bioeconomy Working Group. This role allowed the company to contribute private-sector perspectives that link climate action, biodiversity, and social progress. Promoting the bioeconomy within the COP solutions agenda enables Symrise to enter into collaborative partnerships with global organizations and share practical experience from inclusive sourcing programs and circular technologies.
“Launching the Houston platform marks a milestone in our decarbonization journey. CO2 AI’s platform acts as enabler to accelerate our vision of one carbon accounting language serving both corporate and product purposes. By integrating this robust solution, we empower our organization and partners to make data-driven decisions with full confidence and to accelerate progress on our sustainability goals,” says Dr Isabella Tonaco, Chief Sustainability Officer at Symrise. “As co-chair of the Bioeconomy Working Group, I joined industry peers to accelerate progress together advancing collaborative work that turns proven pilots into scalable practice.”
Symrise’s engagement at COP30 also extends to the BMZ/GIZ Combú Island dialogue. It is joining a select group of stakeholders—including the German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development—to advance public-private bilateral dialogues between German and Brazil to foster economic development and strengthen both nations partnership “Bridging the Gap” initiative. “Our partnership with Symrise and Natura shows how inclusive business models work in practice—bringing indigenous and local products to market, raising and stabilizing incomes, and empowering the guardians of the Amazon Rainforest”, says Reem Alabali Radovan, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. The program empowers local communities in the Amazon through deforestation-free, traceable value chains and regenerative agriculture. Each project aims to turn collaboration into practical outcomes for climate, nature, and people. Also, within the series of events at COP30, Symrise has signed a letter of intent and partners with Deutsche Bank and other industry players to mobilize financial support for rainforest protection for Honduras and Suriname.
“COP30 convenes leaders ready to scale what works. Our programs aim to unite climate action, biodiversity protection, and social progress—so customers and communities thrive together,” explains Dr Stephanie Cossmann, Member of the Executive Board for Human Resources (Labor Director), Legal and Sustainability. “At Symrise, we see biodiversity as fundamental to our business and our commitment to sustainability. We act with purpose to drive effective measures that reduce global emissions and protect our planet for future generations.”
