At Henkel, sustainability is a core business factor. Every year the company outlines its main ecological and social developments in its sustainability report.
"Sustainability is one of Henkel's outstanding attributes – and an important success factor," said Kasper Rorsted, chairman of the management board of Henkel. "Our ambition is to combine the best possible product quality with effective environmental protection and social responsibility."
The 40-page 'Sustainability Report 2009' reflects how firmly these principles are anchored throughout the entire value chain – in purchasing and supplier management, production and logistics, sustainable brands and technologies just as much as in employee relations and social engagement.
Henkel works continuously to make its own processes as energy-efficient and resource-conserving as possible. To do this, the company has set itself ambitious targets for saving water, energy and waste, and avoiding occupational accidents. The 2005-2009 sustainability performance shows the success achieved; for example, carbon dioxide emissions decreased by 25%, water consumption by 37% and the volume of waste by 12% – per metric ton of output in each case. Over the same period, the number of occupational accidents fell by 57%.
Every innovation contributes to sustainability
The idea of sustainability coins the innovation process at Henkel. All new brands and technologies contribute to sustainable development in at least one of its focal areas: energy and climate; water and wastewater; materials and waste; health and safety; and social progress. This also applies to the development of new packaging adhesives. The latest example is the hotmelt Technomelt Supra Cool 130 for effective bonding of cartons and food packaging. It combines exceptionally high adhesive strength with a low processing temperature.
Whereas hotmelts are conventionally processed at 170°C, Henkel has achieved a first by reducing the melt temperature for an adhesive from the Supra technology family to 130°C. Not only does this mean savings of up to 50% in energy costs, but also a reduction in adhesive consumption values between 30% and 40% compared with conventional hotmelts.
The sustainability report, wide-ranging information on Henkel's sustainable and socially responsible business practices, as well as all rankings and ratings, can be found at Henkel's website.
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