Henkel is “Most Sustainable Brand”

12-12-2008: Combining economic success with corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a core issue for Henkel throughout its more than 130-year history, according to the company. The globally active brands manufacturer has now received the accolade of “Germany’s Most Sustainable Brand”. The award is in recognition of exemplary performance in sustainability management and the associated communication work.

At the first ever German Sustainability Congress, the award for being Germany’s “Most Sustainable Brand” went to Henkel, providing the company with yet another major accolade for its activities in this field. “We are happy to receive this award. My special thanks go to our 55000 employees worldwide. It is their award. Henkel has been working on the sustainability topic for more than 130 years. Sustainability is part of our DNA,” said Kasper Rorsted, Henkel’s CEO. “We are strongly convinced that this topic is more important today than ever before. We see enormous potential for innovations that combine performance and quality with responsibility for people and environment.”

For the first time in 2008, the German Sustainability Awards – on which also HRH The Prince of Wales congratulated the winners – were conferred to companies that combine in an exemplary manner economic success with social responsibility and protection of the environment. The high-caliber, independent jury was to focus particularly on consistency in sustainability management and evidence of a thorough approach to communications on sustainability topics.

One of the main factors for Henkel’s selection was that the company had begun very early on to address the challenges of sustainability, developing a comprehensive CSR strategy. This has been systematically disseminated throughout the company and encompasses all stages of its value chain. There was also recognition for Henkel’s deliberate and methodical approach in designating as its focal areas the fields of Energy and Climate, Water and Wastewater, Materials and Waste, Safety and Health and Social Progress. This approach has led to further important contributions being made to sustainable development through the company’s business activities and products. Indeed, all Henkel’s new developments are expected to combine performance with responsibility for people and the environment, with a contribution being made in at least one of these focal areas.