Dutch firm Odournet smells big opportunity in odour management in India

With stricter environmental norms being established in India, the Netherlands-based Odournet Group, a global specialist in odour sensory evaluation, is anticipating manifold increase in demand for its odour measurement and management services in the country. “Accurate testing for odour is virtually non-existent in India. Right now we are creating awareness about importance of odour management and we are witnessing encouraging response from the customer,” said Fabio Buhr, senior odour expert, Odournet Holding India Pvt Ltd.
 
Odournet offers its services in mainly four verticals - environmental odour management, product & material testing, odour measurement equipment, and accredited calibration & proficiency testing for other labs. At present, product & material testing accounts for a major share of its revenues in India compared to environmental services, which is in contrast with its global revenue mix where environmental odour management is the leading business generator.
 
“Globally, especially in Europe & North America, environmental projects account for a large part of our revenues. This is mainly because industries in these regions have to adhere to guidelines for containing odour emission within stated odour units at the industry perimeter or near residential areas,” added Buhr.
 
At present there is no regulation in India for controlling odour emission. This is the reason why demand for environmental services is slow compared to product & material testing business, he explained.
 
However, with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) planning to implement norms for odour emission, Odournet expects more business from environmental services. “We see huge growth potential for environmental project business in India, especially with pollution control board contemplating to incorporate odour management norms for industries,” he added.
 
At present, CPCB is demanding odour management plan for new projects, especially in waste and wastewater treatment sectors. Even BIS is also in process of framing standards for odour measurement in the country. While the focus is on waste and wastewater treatment plants, the standards are expected to be rolled out across the country for other industries as well. “Some of the companies from chemicals and agrochemicals (fertilisers) sectors have been approaching Odournet as they feel that CPCB will soon bring out some standards on odour emission. So they want to be prepared for such regulation in future,” said Buhr.
 
In March 2015, Odournet, which started its operations in India in 2013, commenced operations at its odour laboratory for odour sensory evaluation in Goa. The laboratory offers whole range of Odournet solutions, including environmental odour management consultancy services to assist industries to identify, assess, manage, and control odorous emissions, and sensory evaluation of products and materials.
 
“We have the advantage of using our global infrastructure (offices) to solve local challenges at local cost. With our new lab in Goa, we have been able to cut cost significant as we are less dependent on overseas offices. We aim to fortify Indian facility, which caters to Asian market, as we witness increasing in demand for odour evaluation and management in the country,” added Buhr.