At Custom Flavors, we recognize the importance of giving back to the communities where we live and work, as well as to the larger world of food, beverages, and flavor development. Community service has always been one of our core values. Below, we explore how we put this commitment into action.
Supporting the Next Generation of Food Science Leaders
Custom Flavors President Alex Wendling, an alumnus of Chapman University, recently pledged $45,000 to create the Custom Flavors Scholars in Food Science fellowship. Wendling credits Chapman University’s Food Science program with guiding him to his true passion, food science, and teaching him how breakthroughs in this area can dramatically improve human lives. Now, with an established flavor development company and leader in the space, Custom Flavors is supporting further breakthroughs by supporting up to three enrolled graduate students in the food science program each year.
“Chapman set me up for my career by introducing me to several of my best friends, an entire network of colleagues in food, and some unbreakable habits in working hard and constant learning,” Wendling shared. “I hope that the Custom Flavors Scholars in Food Science fellowship will show students that there is an entire industry of business and academia that is counting on their upcoming career contributions and willing to support them in getting there.”
Learn more about this initiative here.
Investing in Our Communities
Recently, we introduced our Paid Volunteer Time Off policy. Custom Flavors employees can now take paid time off to volunteer in their communities during work hours. The choice of where and how to volunteer is completely up to them; we encourage our team members to put their time and energy into causes they care about.
In addition to this, being headquartered in a beach town, we see firsthand how pollution impacts ocean ecosystems. To combat this and spend quality time together as a team, Custom Flavors recently organized a beach cleanup day at Calafia State Beach in San Clemente, CA. Armed with gloves, bags, and a shared sense of purpose, our team worked tirelessly to remove litter and debris, helping to restore the natural beauty of our coastline.
This event is part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, demonstrating our dedication to preserving our planet for future generations. By actively participating in such initiatives, we’re not just cleaning beaches—we’re fostering a culture of sustainability and responsibility.
Our Commitment to Sustainability and the Future of Flavor Development
As longtime food flavor manufacturers, we know that reducing our carbon footprint and adopting more sustainable practices is a journey, not a race. Every year, we look for ways to make our operations greener. Here are some of the significant steps we’ve taken in recent years to achieve that goal:
- We’ve installed state-of-the-art solar systems in both of our production facilities, reducing our carbon emissions by nearly 170,000 kg.
- We offer incentives for employees who are frequently on the road to purchase electric or partial zero-emission vehicles (PZEV).
- We use energy-efficient LED lighting in our buildings to maximize the green power we produce.
- Since 2017, we’ve eliminated 180,349 kg of carbon emissions at our manufacturing locations.
- We partner with the South Orange County Wastewater Authority (SOCWA) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to minimize our environmental footprint.
Renewable energy is a key part of sustainability, and currently, our goal is for 50% of our energy to be renewable by 2025 and to use completely renewable power generation by 2030.
Our commitment to sustainability extends to the suppliers we choose to work with, too. When we source and select ingredients, we prioritize quality, sustainability, and safety. A few examples include only using glycerin certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and cocoa powder certified by the Rainforest Alliance. By doing this, alongside providing access to organic extracts, organic natural flavors, vegan flavors, and other extracts for drinks an
d foods that can fit sustainable recipes, our goal is to make it possible for more eco-friendly products to enter the market.
Creating a better future is a team effort, and we’re proud to do our part. If you’re planning to develop an eco-friendly product (or reformulate an existing product to be more sustainable), let’s work together to help your brand reach its sustainability goals.
Looking for a Custom Ingredients Manufacturer?
If you have specific requirements or restrictions, we can create a well-balanced, delicious flavor formulation that matches. Whether your product’s flavoring needs to be vegan, all-natural, non-GMO, or meet any other specific criteria, our team of dedicated flavor scientists will create exactly what your product needs.
Ready to learn more about how Custom Flavors can craft the perfect flavor for your product? Contact our team today to request your flavor samples!
