SUSTAINABILITY

As reflected in our corporate values, we are committed to leadership in sustainability. As leaders, we aim to pioneer new solutions for sustainable development while continuing to shape our business responsibly and increasing our economic success.

Services

Our strategy

Our sustainability strategy is inspired by our purpose: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. With our pioneering spirit, our knowledge, our products and technologies, we want to enrich and improve the lives of billions of people every day – and shape a viable future for the next generations.

Sustainability is thus a central element in our vision of the future. We want to actively drive the transformation to a sustainable economy and society, help protect and regenerate nature, contribute to strong communities and strengthen the trust of our stakeholders.

Our 2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework sets our long-term ambitions in the three dimensions of Regenerative Planet, Thriving Communities and Trusted Partner and links to our high aspiration of achieving a “Transformational Impact for the Good of Generations”.

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TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT FOR THE GOOD OF GENERATIONS

Regenerative Planet

We are on a journey toward an environmental transformation of our business model. To achieve this ambition, we intend to transform our processes, products and use of raw materials in the direction of a resource-efficient, net-zero future. We are focusing on climate change mitigation measures, a functional circular economy and the protection of nature and biodiversity.

CLIMATE

Become a net-zero business by decarbonizing our operations and raw materials.

CIRCULARITY

Advance circularity through our products, packaging and technologies.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Protect and restore biodiversity with a focus on forests, land and water, and ensure responsible resource stewardship.

Two children and a woman in a research coat colour a picture at a table

Thriving Communities

We do everything we can to help people live better lives. Our social responsibility is to promote equity, strengthen diversity and respect human rights. We offer our employees lifelong learning opportunities, and an attractive and healthy working environment. We advocate for social progress and access to education worldwide, and we provide assistance in emergency situations.

EQUITY

Strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion, respect human rights and enhance the livelihoods of people.

EDUCATION

Support lifelong learning and education, and motivate people to take action for sustainability.

WELLBEING

Foster health and wellbeing, and help drive social progress.

Trusted Partner

We draw on our value-oriented corporate culture and our scientific and technological expertise to strengthen our performance while maintaining our integrity. We deliver safe and best-in-class product and technology solutions to our customers and consumers. We integrate sustainability in our portfolio and in our business processes, and provide transparent reporting on this to our stakeholders.

PERFORMANCE

Reliably deliver best-in-class product performance and chemical safety as the foundation of our business success.

TRANSPARENCY

Integrate sustainability into our business governance with transparent reporting, disclosure and engagement.

COLLABORATION

Scale sustainability impact with our partners, leading to responsible business practices in our supply chain.

Looking ahead, we are well prepared: sustainability is deeply anchored in our business strategy and alive in our purpose. With that foundation, our sustainable transformation continues!

Sylvie Nicol, Executive Vice President Human Resources and Chair of Henkel’s Sustainability Council

Levers for Change

Eye of a woman looking into a microscope

Products & Technologies

a white and black colored women that hug each other on a basketball field

People

Black and white colored person shaking hands

Partnerships

Our achievements 2024

Our sustainability strategy revolves around implementing our ambitions through concrete measures and projects to achieve practical progress. Below you find selected achievements of 2024:

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-39 %
waste*

*Per ton of products ‏(Base year 2010), without construction and demolition debris

41.9 %
ratio of women
in management

~39,700
smallholder farmers reached since 2013

94 %
traceability of palm ‏(kernel) oil back to the mill

65 %
traceability of palm ‏(kernel) oil back to the plantation

89 %
of packaging designed recyclable or reusable

47 %
energy from renewable sources

~3,200
Henkel suppliers underwent a TfD assessment or audit

-23 %
water withdrawal*

*Per ton of products ‏(Base year 2010)

25 %
share of recyclate in consumer goods packaging

-20 %
reduced scope 1,2 & 3 GHG emissions ‏(vs. 2021)

External sustainability assessments

Henkel Awarded Platinum Assessment Category

In 2024, Henkel was awarded the Gold Medal by sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. This recognition places us among the top 5 percent of companies assessed, highlighting our strong commitment to sustainability.

Industry Leader at ISS ESG

Henkel retained its Prime Status from ISS EG . With the rating B, Henkel was the best performer in the consumer goods sector.

Included in FTSE4Good since 2001

Henkel is once again included in the FTSE4Good ethical index , which was introduced by the Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange in 2001.

MSCI ESG Rating

In 2024, Henkel was assigned an MSCI ESG rating of “AAA”. MSCI ESG Research provides MSCI ESG Ratings on global public and a few private companies on a scale of AAA (leader) to CCC (laggard), according to exposure to industry-specific ESG risks and the ability to manage those risks relative to peers.

^{Disclaimer: The inclusion of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA in any MSCI index, and the use of MSCI logos, trademarks, service marks or index names herein, do not constitute a sponsorship, endorsement or promotion of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA by MSCI or any of its affiliates. The MSCI indices are the exclusive property of MSCI. MSCI and the MSCI index names and logos are trademarks or service marks of MSCI or its affiliates.}

Carbon Disclosure Project

Henkel has been participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project ‏(CDP) since 2004 to foster transparency in our markets and for our investors. In 2023, the company achieved an “A–” rating in climate change and a “B” in water. For its commitment to forests, Henkel received an “A–” rating for palm oil and a “B” for wood/paper.

Our positions

At Henkel, we are committed to entering in dialog with others who are just like us dedicated to respecting diversity of opinion and constructive exchange of ideas. This is what prompted us to take an active part in important socio-political debates, by taking a closer look at selected topical issues.

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Collaboration and partnerships

WEF Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders

Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel joined the WEF Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders.

WBCSD

In 1993, Henkel joined the World Industry Council for the Environment. In 1996, the Council merged with another industry initiative to form the WBCSD, which Henkel is also a founding member.

Chemie3

In 2013, Henkel started supporting this initiative of the German Chemical Industry Association ‏(VCI), the Mining, Chemical and Energy Industrial Union ‏(IG BCE) and the German Federation of Chemical Emplovers’ Associations ‏(BAVC).

Charter for Sustainable Cleaning

The A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning is a voluntary initiative of the international soaps, detergents and cleaning products industry and was introduced with the intention of making positive contributions to society and for the environment.

Responsible Care

In 1995, Henkel committed to the chemical industry’s international Responsible Care initiative.

EPPA

The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing ‏(EPPA) is a joint initiative of the European Commission, the European trade associations of seven industry sectors, and individual companies.

The Diversity Charter

The Diversity Charter is a fundamental commitment to treating people in an enterprise with fairness and dignity. Companies which sign this charter commit to creating a working environment that is free of discrimination and exclusion.

AIM-PROGRESS

“AIM-PROGRESS” is a forum set up by companies in the consumer goods industry. It was established in order to enable and promote responsible procurement practices and sustainable production systems.

Together for Sustainability

In 2011, Henkel and five other companies in the chemical industry established an initiative entitled “Together for Sustainability – The Chemical Initiative for Sustainable Supply Chains.”

RSPO

To develop and promote new solutions for sustainable harvesting and use of palm oil throughout the value chain, we have been actively supporting the aim of the “Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil” ‏(RSPO) for years.

Solidaridad

Henkel is partnering with the international development organization Solidaridad to promote sustainable palm oil and support smallholder farmers.

Fonap

The aim of the Forum is to boost significantly the proportion of segregated, certified sustainable palm oil on the German, Austrian and Swiss markets and to make 100% certified palm oil available for these markets as soon as possible.

Alliance to End Plastic Waste

In 2019 Henkel joined the Alliance to end plastic waste as one of the founding members. The global Alliance has the mission to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean.

SIFE

SIFE is an international non-profit organization which works together with leading corporations and educational establishments with the aim of encouraging university students to take the initiative within their communities.

Fair Company initiative

More than 1,000 companies support the Fair Company initiative which promotes fair internships and the provision of real opportunities for university graduates.