Corporate Social Responsibiliy report 2024
Alland & Robert has released its new 2024 Corporate Responsibility report.
Discover Alland & Robert’s sustainability policy in 2024 as well as our actions to support our stakeholders and preserve the environment.
This report also covers our low-carbon commitments, our certifications and Corporate Foundation.
Exciting News!
We are thrilled to announce the release of our comprehensive 2024 CSR Report, a detailed 80-page document that delves deep into our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.
This report is a culmination of extensive consolidation work and aims to answer many questions from our customers and stakeholders. It showcases our commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and ethical business practices. Comprehensive data and indicators reflect an in-depth work in corporate responsibility.
As the leading company in sustainability and ethics in the gum acacia industry, Alland & Robert is taking responsibillity for crafting and communicating a clear vision for a sustainable future and an ethical industry. This involves setting ambitious, achievable goals and developing comprehensive strategies to reach them. We work hard to ensure that our organization remains at the forefront of sustainability and durability.
We are proud to be able to share the vision the Alland & Robert will be deploying in the future:
A family business specializing in acacia gum, Alland & Robert offers natural, plant-based and low-carbon solutions for healthier and more sustainable diets.
Alland & Robert preserves traditional know-how by supporting the acacia gum harvest and the resilient development of local communities.
Here’s a sneak peek of our 2024 CSR Report
🔹 Introduction: The report begins with a heartfelt introduction by our CEO, Charles Alland, followed by an overview of Alland & Robert business and core values.
🔹 CSR Approach: We provide clear explanations on our sustainability approach and how we prioritized the key CSR issues. We detail the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals we focus on as part of our membership to the United Nations Global Compact.
🔹 4 Main Sections enter in further details:
- > Protect the Planet: Our strategies and policies focused on environmental protection.
- > Have a Positive Impact: Initiatives aimed at creating a positive societal impact.
- > Local Communities: Efforts to support and engage with local communities.
- > Support Each Member of Our Team: Policies and programs dedicated to the well-being and development of our team members.
- Each section includes our company policy, key issues and relevant indicators.
At the end of the report, a comprehensive list of additional documentation is available for clients seeking more detailed information.
We believe this report will provide valuable insights and answer many of our stakeholders questions about our CSR initiatives.
Thank you for reading and for your continued support in making a positive impact!
Would you like to receive our Corporate Social Responsibility report for 2024?
Complete the form. You will receive the Report by email (You may not receive it immediatly, it may take a little while).
Alland & Robert may use your contact data to keep you informed of its products and services by email or by phone. You can withdraw your marketing consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in such email or by sending an email to info@allandetrobert.fr.
More information on our processing can be found in our Privacy Notice. By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Notice.
Corporate Foundation Alland: Activity report 2023
Alland & Robert’s Corporate Foundation has released its 2023 activity report.
Alland & Robert created its Corporate Fondation in 2021 to strengthen its commitments in Africa and in countries where natural gums are harvested. The purpose of this foundation is to support and monitor various projects in the countries where Alland & Robert operate, and more generally, on the African continent.
2023 marks the third year of existence of the Foundation.
It is also the beginning of the support to emergency projects in Sudan to respond the acute needs arising from the military conflict that broke out in April 2023.
In 2024, the support projects will be extended to child protection and food security to provide humanitarian aid and relief to Sudanese populations who are in Sudan or who are seeking refuge at the Chad border.
In 2023, the Corporate Foundation supported projects in 8 African countries:
Sudan, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ethiopia, Niger and Central African Republic, with a focus on 2 main areas:
> Supporting local communities : Alland & Robert’s business activity led the company to operate in rural areas of Africa, where trees grow naturally. In gum harvesting areas of the Sahel, the quality of life can be threatened by desertification of land, drought or lack of access to services. The Corporate Foundation Alland concentrates its efforts on supporting the communities living in these harvesting areas, and on helping people lifting themselves out of poverty.
> Preserving the environment and biodiversity: Natural gum harvesting areas border the African Sahel desert. These areas are particularly affected by global warming and are prone to desertification due to the practice of cutting down trees for cooking and firewood. The Corporate Foundation Alland actively fights for the preservation of trees. We lead initiatives to protect local species in their native environment and to fight against desertification and climate change. We also work with the Great Green Wall to help restore degraded lands. These projects are initiated and created thanks to the know-how of Alland & Robert, which has over 138 years of expertise in natural gums and partnerships with African communities.
More information of our Corporate Foundation activities?
Complete the form. You will receive the Activity Report by email.
(You may not receive it immediatly, it may take a little while)
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Alland & Robert may use your contact data to keep you informed of its products and services by email or by phone. You can withdraw your marketing consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in such email or by sending an email to info@allandetrobert.fr.
More information on our processing can be found in our Privacy Notice. By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Notice.
AGENDA: All the 2024 tradeshows !
AGENDA OF THE YEAR 2024
Join the Alland & Robert teams at:
♦ JANUARY 16-18: COSMET’AGORA
Paris, Lavollée booth
- ♦ MARCH: CFIA
Rennes, Firmalis booth
- ♦ MARCH 19-21: FI CHINA
Shanghai, DKSH China booth
- ♦ APRIL 16-18: IN COSMETICS
Paris, booth 1S119
- ♦ MAY 1-2: SUPPLIERS’ DAY
New York, DKSH North America booth 1119
- ♦ JULY 15-17: IFT
Chicago, Farbest Brands booth 2816
- ♦ SEPTEMBER 4-6: FI ASIA
Jakarta, DKSH Indonesia booth B1B08
- ♦ OCTOBER 29-31: SSW
Las Vegas, Farbest Brands booth 4071
- ♦ NOVEMBER 19-21: FI EUROPE
Frankfurt, Booth 3.0F80
Alland & Robert obtains first ever fair trade certification for acacia gum
The Fair For Life certification reflects the long standing commitment of Alland & Robert towards its industry and local communities.
FairFor Life-certified acacia gum is now available through Alland & Robert, for both seyal and senegal qualities. This is the first time that such a certification is obtained in the gum acacia industry, reflecting our unique commitment towards our supply chain and the local communities we work with. Alland & Robert advocates for ethical supply chains and leads by exemplarity. We constantly seek to surpass ourselves and go beyond regulatory requirements and customers’expectations, in order to be the leader of a fair industry that respects human rights and the environment. Products displaying the FFL label are guaranteed to come from environmentally friendly processes practiced by fairly paid farmers, from a transparent and traceable supply chain.
Violaine Fauvarque, sustainability manager at Alland & Robert, declared: « This certification is the result of our ambitious corporate and social responsibility policy. To us, this is the recognition of our long-term efforts towards a gum acacia supply chain that is beneficial to all parties involved. Fair trade promotes healthy and beneficial trade for people and the Earth. Participating in this collective effort makes us particularly proud”.
Charles Alland, CEO of Alland & Robert, said: “As the leading expert of acacia gum worldwide, we have a responsibility to our stakeholders. Our commitment to fair relations and sustainable products has been part of this company and its values since our beginnings . This certification embodies our unique work towards the local communities, and it strengthens our lasting relationships with our suppliers in the Sahel. We are extremely proud to be the first to achieve this certification, as we know it will meet the consumers’ demand for ethics, traceability, and transparency “.
The Fair For Life certification is an international standard for Fair Trade and responsible supply-chains.
Fair for Life promotes an approach of Fair Trade that allows producers and harvesters to take charge of their destinies through the recognition of their work. It is a collective and meaningful construction of life and society. The Fair For Life certification is also a guarantee of strict economic, social and environmental standards, set by the Ecocert group.
Fair Trade is part of a broader context of sustainable development within a region that safeguards and supports the local social fabric, particularly in rural settings.
Particularly demanding, the FAIR FOR LIFE label guarantees:
💰 a fair purchase price higher than market prices,
🤝 purchase commitments over 3 years minimum,
📉 a protection mechanism for producers in the event of a crisis,
🙏 decent and safe working conditions throughout the sector,
💪 strengthening the autonomy of producers,
🌍 environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
These principles apply throughout the whole supply chain covering producers, traders, manufacturers and brand holders.
This certification comes in addition to several other initiatives of Alland & Robert for an ethical and sustainable supply-chain, such as being a member of the SEDEX (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) since 2006, committing to the WE-USE-WILD pledge from NGO TRAFFIC and launching a reforestation initiative in partnership with NGO TREE AID.
Alland & Robert becomes a member of the VALORIAL network for food innovation
Alland & Robert is proud to announce that we’ve become a member of the French network Valorial, the first network devoted to agri-food innovation through a collaborative approach.
Product innovation is at the heart of the success of Alland & Robert, thanks to a constantly evolving Research & Development strategy.
Joining Valorial enables us to continue our work in applied and basic research while collaborating with other organizations, sharing development projects and creating innovation challenges. With nearly 400 members including manufacturers, research centers and higher education establishments, the Valorial network brings together a community of over 10,000 innovators driven by the same ambition: imagining the food of tomorrow.
In addition, because Valorial is located in France’s Grand Ouest region (Europe’s leading agri-food hub), it’s a great opportunity for Alland & Robert to participate to local projects and get involved in our home region of Normandy !
On the occasion of Alland & Robert joining the network, Valorial interviewed our R&D Director Dr. Isabelle Jaouen, and the article is available online.
A dedicated team and high-technology equipment
Today’s knowledge provides the foundation for future innovation. We aim at supporting our clients in providing the most natural, safe and environmental friendly products to end-customers.
Alland & Robert laboratory is based in Normandy, working on developping recipes, testing products, and meeting the customers expectations.
A team of 4 is fully dedicated to Applied Research in order to continuously launch innovation projects and develop the applications of tree exudates. In addition, our laboratory regularly acquires the latest equipment, and we use a trained panel for sensory analysis in applicative research.
Partnerships with universities and research organizations
Alland & Robert has developped close partnerships with various internationally recognized universities, and we develop R&D programs in order to acquire the best knowledge of gum, with the support of Ph.D students, master trainees and up-to-date research teams.
Alland & Robert is committed to a strong partnership with IATE (University of Montpellier, France), an international laboratory renowned for their knowledge and expertise about acacia gum. In addition, we regularly work with various food innovation and research networks.
Situation in Sudan: a statement from the Association for International Promotion of Gums
As a member of AIPG (Association for International Promotion of Gums), Alland & Robert relays the below statement regarding the situation of the gum acacia industry in Sudan.
April 28, 2023 – AIPG Information on current supply situation of gum arabic
AIPG members are aware of the extremely problematic situation in Sudan and sincerely hope that a peaceful solution will soon be found.
AIPG members are monitoring the development of the situation and keep in touch with their local contacts. Based on decades of experience in the Sudan business and generally as producers, importers and manufacturers of natural products from all over the world, AIPG members do not believe that the supply situation of end users of gum Arabic is at risk.
Like many other importers, our member companies keep sufficient stocks of gum Arabic imported from Sudan and other countries in their warehouses, so that possible interruptions in supply – for whatever reason that might occur – can be absorbed.
Further on, it must also be considered that Sudan is not the only supplier country for gum Arabic, as also countries like Chad and Nigeria significantly contribute to the supply continuity of the market. Thus, in AIPG´s estimation, immediate supply bottlenecks are not to be expected because of the current events in Sudan.
***
This statement will be updated if necessary.
Charles Alland appointed as chairman and CEO of Alland & Robert
On 31 March 2023, Charles Alland was appointed CEO of Alland & Robert, taking over the reins from his father Frédéric Alland. Charles will continue to develop the company internationally and diversify into new markets.
Charles Alland had held the position of deputy general manager within the family business since the end of 2017. He started his career in consulting, after studying international business. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics with Politics from the University of Buckingham and graduated with a Master of Science in Management from the University College London in 2015.
“We will continue to grow and diversify our business, while at the same time investing to meet our carbon reduction goals. Acacia gum offers significant development potential in many industries where natural and plantbased product choices are a key consumer trend.”
Charles Alland, CEO Alland & Robert
Frédéric and his son Charles Alland (right) in Senegal in 2019.
ACCELERATING AND EXPANDING ALLAND & ROBERT’S DEVELOPMENT
In taking over from his father, Charles intends to continue weaving family history that began in 1884. He will continue to internationalize the company and support ongoing projects, including the construction of a fourth production workshop at the Normandy site of Saint Aubin sur Gaillon. Set for completion in 2023, this expansion will increase the company’s production capacity by 50% to meet strong global demand for acacia gum – and create around 30 new jobs.
Charles will keep exploring the multitude of opportunities offered by the cosmetics market, following the launch of Alland & Robert’s DemeCare® range in 2022.
He is also set on perpetuating the company’s scientific and technical expertise by continuing the application research conducted in Alland & Robert’s R&D laboratory. He will develop fundamental research through an exclusive partnership with the Agropolymer Engineering & Emerging Technologies (Supagro IATE) department at the University of Montpellier (Agropolymer Engineering and Emerging Technologies).
Charles Alland is – and will continue to be – very involved in Alland & Robert’s social, ethical and environmental commitments, including the projects run by the Alland Corporate Foundation, which supports local communities that harvest natural gums in Africa.
FRÉDÉRIC ALLAND SETS AN INTERNATIONAL PATH
As President and CEO of Alland & Robert from 1988 to 31 March 2023, Frédéric Alland strongly accelerated the company’s international development. This success is reflected by the fact that 95% of the company’s turnover came exports at the end of 2022.
Frédéric will remain involved in the Alland Foundation. Created in 2021, the Alland Foundation acts in partnership with Tree Aid, a British NGO specialized in reforesting African drylands and a key player in the Great Green Wall project.
Founded in 1884, Alland & Robert is a French family business and pioneer in natural tree exudates. Drawing on deep expertise in gum acacia, an all-natural additive and ingredient, Alland & Robert exports to over 70 countries. To ensure the highest product quality and sustainable practices, Alland & Robert is fully committed to an ambitious corporate social responsibility strategy. This approach is based on a large network of raw material suppliers in Africa, international certifications, a dedicated R&D team and research partnership with internationally renowned universities.
Come & visit us at IN COSMETICS 2023 !
We can’t wait to meet you in person in Barcelona for IN COSMETICS GLOBAL 2023.
The show takes place from March 28 to 30 in Fir Barcelona. Our team will be there to attend. Meet us on Hall 3, boothX15.
Why visit us at IN COSMETICS GLOBAL 2023?
Discover DemeCare®, our range of natural gums for the formulation of clean, organic and sustainable cosmetics.
DemeCare®, based on Alland & Robert’s expertise of natural gums
Our innovative range is composed of products based on acacia gum, sterculia gum, and their blends which are patented. Each product offers various functional properties and is available organic and COSMOS certified.
Alland & Robert has in-depth expertise in the functional properties of natural gums, and we believe our expertise, combined with the high-quality of our products, can be beneficial to cosmetics formulators.
Natural gums have numerous functional properties…
…including properties essential to the formulations of natural cosmetic products such as skincare, cleansing gels and make-up. From mascaras, eye-liners and lipsticks to lotions by way of creams and haircare products, vegetal gums in general and acacia gum in particular, are considered by formulators as natural, completely harmless and healthy ingredients.
Thanks to their viscosity and rheological and texturing properties, they bring
stability and texture to cosmetics. They can also be used as emulsifiers in lotions or serums which require specific textures.
Stop by booth X15 and chat with us !