Henkel Releases 32nd Sustainability Report Highlighting Progress on Climate Protection, Social Engagement, and Waste Reduction
In 2022, Henkel released its 2030+ Sustainability Ambition Framework, which outlined new and additional ambitions for the company in response to global developments. One of the most notable achievements of the year was Henkel’s reduction of CO2 emissions in production by 55 percent per metric ton of product compared to the base year of 2010, as well as an increase in the proportion of electricity purchased from renewable sources to 70 percent. By 2030, the company aims to achieve a climate-positive carbon footprint for its worldwide production and source 100 percent of its electricity for production sites from renewable sources.
In December 2022, Henkel signed a ten-year contract with IGNIS for the supply of renewable energy in the form of a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), in conjunction with the construction of two new photovoltaic plants in Spain. This move will ensure the supply of renewable energy to Henkel’s European sites, amounting to around 200 GWh per year.
“I cannot recall a year in the recent past in which the overall business environment was so challenging for our company. The war in Ukraine has deeply shaken us and has far-reaching consequences. It has shaped the economic environment, particularly the energy crisis and higher raw material prices. But it is precisely in such difficult times that it is even more important to focus on sustainability and live up to our responsibilities towards the environment and society. Despite all the challenges, we were able to make further progress on the vast majority of our ambitious sustainability targets and I would like to thank our more than 50,000 Henkel colleagues around the world for their strong commitment and dedication,” said Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel.
“In 2022, we took a significant step toward our goal of achieving a climate-positive production by 2030 by further expanding our use of renewable energy,” added Sylvie Nicol, member of the Henkel Management Board, responsible for Human Resources and Sustainability. “We were also able to make further progress on gender parity. The percentage of women in management positions increased to 38.7 percent in 2022. We are fully committed to further accelerating and stepping up our efforts with concrete programs and actions to leverage the full potential of our diversity.”
To minimize waste and its impact on the environment, Henkel continues to work towards reducing the use of packaging materials, particularly for its consumer goods, and ensuring they remain in economic cycles for as long as possible. The company aims to design 100 percent of its packaging for recycling and reuse* by 2025, with the proportion increasing to around 87 percent in 2022. Henkel also plans to increase the share of recycled plastic content in its consumer goods packaging, which was around 16 percent in 2022. By 2025, Henkel aims to reduce its waste volume by 50 percent per ton of product compared to 2010 and achieve circular use of its production waste material by 2030.
In addition to its environmental goals, Henkel has made significant strides in social engagement, with the company exceeding its aim to improve the lives of 30 million people worldwide through social projects and donations by 2030. This was due in part to Henkel’s contributions to combating the global COVID-19 pandemic and supporting victims of the war in Ukraine. Henkel also aims to promote equal opportunities by continuously increasing the ratio of women in management positions and achieving gender parity across all management levels by 2025. In 2022, the percentage of women in management positions was around 38.7 percent, representing a further increase from the previous year.
Henkel’s Sustainability Report demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating a sustainable future and its progress towards achieving its sustainability goals. By continuing to focus on climate protection, social engagement, and waste reduction, Henkel is paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future.
Henkel prioritizes sustainability in both its consumer goods and industrial customer businesses. The company collaborates with various partners to optimize ingredients and replace fossil raw materials with renewable ones. For instance, Henkel entered into a multi-year cooperation agreement with BASF to replace fossil raw materials with renewable raw materials for up to 110,000 metric tons of ingredients per year using the biomass balance approach.
Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies industrial business develops innovative solutions to reduce emissions, increase energy and material efficiency, and recycle valuable resources. Henkel collaborates with packaging manufacturers and recycling specialists to develop recycling-optimized adhesives for circular flexible packaging. The adhesives’ recyclability has been certified by independent institutes.
To encourage employee engagement on sustainability, Henkel rolled out a global “Sustainability at Heart” engagement program in March 2022. The program, which expands the company’s existing training offerings, aims to inform and train employees more comprehensively on sustainability. More than 5,800 employees took part in the “Sustainability Pioneer” training, developed in collaboration with the IESE Business School, in 2022 alone. Henkel aims to motivate and support employees in actively promoting sustainability in their working environment and personal lives.
* Excluding products where ingredients or residue may affect recyclability or pollute recycling streams.
SOURCE: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
