Henkel: Passion for Excellence and Sustainability

Henkel is a worldwide leader in industrial and consumer products. Among its most popular brands are Loctite, Schwarzkopf and Persil. Since its founding in 1876, Henkel has positioned itself to lead the industry.

Based in Düsseldorf, Germany, Henkel employs 47,000 wokers worldwide. Henkel is considered as one of the most internally-aligned German companies in the world. The company operates three core businesses namely, Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Home Care.

Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies is a world leader in sealants, adhesives and surface treatments used for industrial, craftsmen and consumer markets. Its adhesives and sealants are used in multitude of applications in a wide range of target groups. In 2011, Adhesive Technologies contributed about 50% of Henkel revenues, amounting to €7,746 million.

Beauty Care has its products distributed worldwide. Its most popular brand, Schwarzkopf & Henkel, is one of the best in the world in oral hygiene, skin care, toiletries, hair styling and hair care products, and hair colorants. Schwarzkopf professional, on the other hand, leads the world in providing salon products. Beauty Care has generated revenues of €3,399 million in 2011, representing 22% of Henkel’s total sales that year.

Home Care is perhaps one of the most important segments of Henkel. Henkel started in the business with this segment. Among the primary products of Home Care are household cleaners and laundry soaps, majority of which are heavy duty detergent soaps and other special detergents. In 2011, Home Care sales were reported at €4,304 million for 27% of Henkel’s 2011 revenues.

Henkel has special focus in sustainable development. For instance in 1958, Henkel’s research led to the development of low-foam soap. This is the company’s response to the German Detergents Act of 1961 which aimed to deal with the problem of mountains of foam in lakes and rivers.

Henkel was one of the founders of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, showing its commitment to sustainability. Then in 2003, the company participated in the United Nations Global Compact and expressed its commitment to The Ten Principles that deal with corruption, environment, labor and human rights issues.