Case study

Sustainable Vanilla
Initiative

Client

IDH

Sector

Sustainability

Location

Utrecht, NL

Services

Branding, Web, Editorial, Social, Software

Year

2024

sustainablevanilla.org

Driving a stable and sustainable vanilla sector.

Hand-pollinating a vanilla flower at origin

Overview

Launched in 2015, the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative unites the companies behind more than 70% of the world's vanilla market, from consumer goods manufacturers and flavour houses to international traders and Malagasy exporters, in a shared commitment to a stable, sustainable vanilla sector. Facilitated by IDH, SVI drives progress on market governance, farmer livelihoods, forest protection, and the elimination of child labour.

Photography

Imagery captured at origin, putting faces to the initiative: the farmers and communities behind every vanilla pod.

Improving quality by significantly reducing early harvesting of green vanilla.

Colour palette

Four colours taken straight from the crop: the orchid's gold, the cured pod's deep brown, the cream of a bloom at pollination, and the green of a living vine.

Golden Orchid

#fdc543

Cured Pod

#401611

Pollination Bloom

#fdedd3

Living Vine

#6eba66

Website

The initiative's digital home, bringing mission, members, and progress together in one place, extended with a dedicated platform where members connect and collaborate.

Driving a stable and
sustainable vanilla sector

What is SVI?

The Sustainable Vanilla Initiative (SVI) was launched in 2015 as a voluntary industry initiative with the aim to promote the long-term stable supply of high-quality, natural vanilla that is produced in a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable way.

KNOW MORE ABOUT SVI

Current members range from consumer goods manufacturers, flavour houses, international traders and local exporters

70%

SVI represents over 70% of the global vanilla market

We drive sustainability in vanilla supply chains

Participating companies share a commitment to pre-competitive projects to improve quality, product traceability, good market governance, and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who form the foundation of the global vanilla bean trade.

Sector Governance+

Grow a stable market for sustainable and traceable vanilla.

Livelihood+

Forest Positive+

Child Labour+

The SVI ten-year report shown on a tablet

10 Years of Driving
Sustainability in Vanilla

Over the past decade, the Sustainable Vanilla Initiative has grown from a small group of companies into a trusted platform representing over 70% of the market. This booklet highlights our collective progress, the challenges still ahead, and the foundations we've built to drive meaningful change toward 2030 and beyond.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Become a Member of SVI

Becoming a member of SVI means being part of a community that includes major consumer goods manufacturers, international vanilla bean traders and exporters. SVI convenes 70% of private sector actors across the vanilla supply chain and will help you scale up your business sustainably.

These sensible solutions aim to generate positive impact and value across the supply chain for producers and businesses.

JOIN US

Drive sector-wide change

Drive industry change and pre-competitive alignment through joint approaches.

Share knowledge and good practices

Generate a common knowledge base through joint studies, tools and sharing of good practices

Engage with stakeholders

Engage with governments and expert organisations to identify joint solutions around governance, forestry, living income and child safeguarding.

Measure positive collective impact

Track progress through common tools and guidance.

Vanilla drying beside a village path in the SAVA

Who can become
a member of SVI?

Membership is open to international companies and local exporters in the vanilla supply chain committed to driving long term stability and sustainability in the vanilla sector.

SVI members range from major consumer goods manufacturers and global flavors and fragrances companies to international vanilla bean traders, cooperatives and exporters selling vanilla extracts.

News