Firmenich China Leads on Equality in the Workplace, Reaching Next Level of Global EDGE Certification

Following Successful Elimination of Gender Inequalities, Firmenich Takes Further Action Globally Focusing on Ethnic Minorities, LGBTIQ+ & Differently-abled Workforce

SHANGHAI, March 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Firmenich China, an affiliate of the world's largest privately-owned perfume and taste company, today successfully upgraded its EDGE Certification for gender equality in the workplace to the next level: "Move" status. Only two companies in China currently have this certification. Recognizing the Group's ever more inclusive culture, the leading business certification standard for gender equality awarded Firmenich Move status across all of its markets for its progress in expanding diverse representation at all levels and a strong sense of belonging among its diverse workforce. Firmenich continues to lead in workplace equality, having been the first in its industry globally, and the 7^th company in the world to achieve global certification in 2018 at Assess level.

"I am very proud that Firmenich is one of only two companies in China that currently has EDGE MOVE certification, raising the bar for gender equality under EDGE's demanding benchmarks for continuous improvement," said Paul Andersson, President, Firmenich China. "EDGE recognizes our concrete achievements in embedding equality in China and across our operations globally, as an employer of choice and a trusted and reliable partner for our customers. With women representing exactly 50% of our local management, we are at full parity and well ahead of the national average of 30%."

"The remarkable leap forward Firmenich China has made in two years from the first level to the second level of EDGE Certification, EDGE Move, demonstrates that intentional, prioritized and measured actions undeniably accelerate progress towards gender balance, diversity and inclusion," said Aniela Unguresan, Co-founder of EDGE Certified Foundation. "Specifically, Firmenich's global EDGE Move certification illustrates the company's progress in terms of gender representation and proactive management of pay equity across its main countries of operation."

"Firmenich continues to set the standard for excellence as the best place to work in our industry. Since our first global EDGE certification in 2018, we have achieved significant milestones, from no gender pay gap worldwide to systematically implementing diverse talent pools," said Susan Shao-Chun ZHANG, HR Director Greater China at Firmenich. "While I am very proud of our achievements, we are focusing on new frontiers with targeted action that goes beyond gender. It's about embracing the power of inclusion of minority groups, securing effective representation and engagement of people with different abilities, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds and sexual orientation."

Building on its achievements, the Group's new Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy sets ambitious 2030 people goals, including commitments on human rights, ethnic pay equity, creating 5,000 job opportunities across the globe for youth and continuing to raise the representation of differently-abled people in its global workforce to 10%.

Firmenich China emerged from the rigorous assessment as an employer clearly dedicated to gender equality, with policies in place for pay equity, an inclusive company culture, and high ratings from its colleagues on equal hiring opportunities. In particular the Chinese affiliate has an exceptional maternity leave retention rate with 100% of women remaining with the company 12 months following their return from maternity leave. Committed to helping its colleagues balance their professional and personal priorities, this best-in-class result is testament to the success of its parental leave program, coupled with flexible work arrangements, and dedicated mother-baby care facilities in the main buildings at Firmenich.

EDGE Certification at the global level entails a global evaluation of Firmenich data and processes, as well as a comprehensive survey of its employees worldwide. Firmenich, globally and in China, emerged from the assessment as an employer that is meeting and exceeding core certification criteria around hiring, pay, retention, development and engagement of its employees.

About Firmenich

Firmenich, the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895, and has been family-owned for 125 years. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company specialized in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, Firmenich offers its customers superior innovation in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients, and proprietary technologies including biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.9 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2020. More information about Firmenich is available at  www.firmenich.com

Firmenich China is committed to gender equality in the workplace and part of a group that is certified EDGE MOVE at the global level.

About EDGE Certification
EDGE is the leading global assessment methodology and business certification standard for gender equality. It measures where organizations stand in terms of gender balance across their pipeline, pay equity, effectiveness of policies and practices to ensure equitable career flows as well as inclusiveness of their culture. Launched at the World Economic Forum in 2011, EDGE has been designed to help companies not only create an optimal workplace for women and men, but also benefit from it. EDGE stands for Economic Dividends for Gender Equality and is distinguished by its rigor and focus on business impact. EDGE assessment methodology was developed by the EDGE Certified Foundation, which continues to act as the guardian of EDGE methodology and certification standards. Its commercial arm, EDGE Strategy, works with companies to prepare them for the EDGE Certification. EDGE Certification's diverse customer base consists of 200 large organizations in 44 countries across five continents, representing 29 different industries and employing globally more than 2.4 million employees.

For more information, visit edge-cert.org  

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