Vanilla Bean Project Sets Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Vanilla Bean Project Sets Sail Across the Atlantic Ocean

Leading the way to decarbonize the global supply chain for vanilla

[Lakeland, MN] — February 6, 2025 — Vanilla Bean Project, a manufacturer of premium pure vanilla extract announces their first commercial-scale shipment of vanilla beans across the Atlantic Ocean with Grain de Sail Logistics, a French pioneer in wind-powered maritime shipping.

This voyage marks a significant step toward the decarbonization of a global agricultural supply chain by reducing the environmental footprint and Scope 3 emissions generated from traditional ocean transportation of agricultural products. Vanilla Bean Project intends to expand its shipping lane by 2027 to cover all 9,000 nautical miles from Madagascar to Minnesota – traveling from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, and then onward across the Atlantic.

On April 5, 2025, Vanilla Bean Project’s cargo will depart Saint-Malo, France aboard the Grain de Sail II, a state-of-the-art, wind-powered cargo sailboat. After a three-week transit at sea, the cargo will arrive in New York City. This first shipment comprises extraction-grade vanilla beans, raw material that will be manufactured into a specialty grade of the lowest-emission-available bulk pure vanilla extract.

"As companies around the globe are looking to reduce their carbon footprint, our customers are falling in love with our simple solution," said Andy Kubiak, Founder of the Vanilla Bean Project. "We are tremendously proud that in 2025, Vanilla Bean Project will offer the lowest-emission-available bulk pure vanilla extract in Non-Organic, Organic, and Regenerative Organic Certified® formats to food manufacturers as an ingredient."

According to the UN, one-third of global carbon emissions relate to agriculture, food, and transportation. In the food industry, Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are well-defined and easy to manage, typically making up 10–15% of a company’s total carbon footprint. In contrast, Scope 3 emissions—primarily linked to a company’s supply chain—are indirect, more complex to address, and account for the remaining 85–90%. Legislation mandating Scope 3 emission reporting for large corporations based in or doing business in California will begin in 2027.

Grain de Sail, a leader in eco-friendly sail cargo, is already transporting chocolate and wine from France to New York. In 2024, they completed eight voyages covering over 26,000 nautical miles and have transported hundreds of tons of goods aboard their custom-designed vessels that transport goods across the Atlantic using the power of the wind.

This wind-powered approach lowers the carbon emissions associated with ocean transportation by up to 95% compared to current options. Grain de Sail’s next sail cargo vessel, Grain de Sail III, will carry eight times the payload of the current sail cargo vessel that they operate on the Atlantic.

Last year Vanilla Bean Project was the first company in the world to manufacture Regenerative Organic Certified pure vanilla extract. Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) is a revolutionary new third-party audited certification for food, textiles, and personal care. Regenerative Organic Certified farms and products meet the highest organic standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness.

Many companies in the natural food sector are already active leaders in the voluntary market to reduce carbon emissions related to food and agriculture. “We created resilient global supply chains from the ground up to supply bulk pure vanilla extract business to our customers,” said Kubiak. “Using Regenerative Organic Certification as a baseline, we now offer clients unparalleled control over Scope 3 emissions. We modernized the vanilla trade, offering a new choice for consumers today and future generations.”

Media Contact:

Sara Kubiak
Vanilla Bean Project
sara@vanillabeanproject.com
651-646-7100

About The Vanilla Bean Project
Based in Lakeland, Minnesota, the Vanilla Bean Project is a pioneering vanilla extract manufacturer committed to producing superior quality products while actively contributing to a better and more environmentally conscious world. Vanilla Bean Project makes world-changing vanilla.

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