Henkel#Beauty Care

{{Infobox company

| name = Henkel AG & Co. KGaA

| logo = Henkel-Logo.svg

| logo_size = 200px

| image = Henkel Düsseldorf HolthausenP8190172.JPG

| image_caption = Henkel's headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{FWB|HEN}} (Common shares)
{{FWB|HEN3}} (Preference shares)
DAX compoment (HEN3)

| foundation = {{start date and age|1876|9|26|df=y}}

| founder = Friedrich Karl Henkel

| location_city = Düsseldorf

| location_country = Germany

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Carsten Knobel (CEO and chairman of the executive board), Simone Bagel-Trah (chairwoman of the Shareholders' Committee & Supervisory Board)

| products = laundry and cleaning products, beauty care, adhesives and sealants

| industry = Consumer goods

| revenue = {{increase}} €21.586 billion (2024){{cite web |url=https://www.henkel.com/resource/blob/2043318/9b8425a944b077ab7165b775398c72a1/data/2024-annual-report.pdf |title=Annual Report 2024 |access-date=2025-03-12 |publisher=Henkel}}

| operating_income = {{increase}} €2.831 billion (2024)

| net_income = {{increase}} €2.032 billion (2024)

| assets = {{decrease}} €17.534 billion (2024)

| equity = {{increase}} €7.367 billion (2024)

| num_employees = 47,150 (2024)

| subsid = Henkel North American Consumer Goods

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.henkel.com/|henkel.com}}

}}

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, commonly known as Henkel, is a German multinational chemical and consumer goods company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany. Founded in 1876, the DAX company is organized into two globally operating business units (Consumer Brands, Adhesive Technologies) and is known for brands such as Loctite, Persil,In an agreement with Unilever, the Persil brand is only used by Henkel in mainland Europe (with the exception of France), while Unilever only uses the brand in the UK, Ireland, Oceania and other markets. Fa, Pritt, Dial and Purex.

In the fiscal year 2024, Henkel reported sales of around 21.6 billion euros and an operating profit of 2.831 billion euros. Henkel holds 47,150 employees with more than 80% working outside of Germany.

History

File:Henkel headquarters in Düsseldorf, Germany.jpg]]

The company was founded in 1876 in Aachen as Henkel & Cie{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Henkel-KGaA-Company-History.html |title=History of Henkel KGaA – FundingUniverse |website=Fundinguniverse.com |access-date=28 September 2016}} by Friedrich Karl Henkel and two other partners who were owners of a factory producing sodium silicate.{{cite book|first1= Greg |last1=Thain|first2= John |last2=Bradley |title=FMCG: The Power of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods|url={{Google Books |i8MABAAAQBAJ|page=140|plain-url=yes}}|date=2014|publisher=First Edition Design Publishing|isbn=9781622876471|pages=140–142 |via=Google Books}} They marketed his first product, "Universalwaschmittel", a universal detergent based on sodium silicate.{{cite web |url=https://www.henkel.com/brands-and-businesses/laundry-and-home-care |title=Laundry & Home Care |work=Henkel }}

In 1878, Henkel bought out the two partners, and the first German brand-name detergent appeared: Henkel's Bleich-Soda. Made from sodium silicate and soda, it was the result of Fritz Henkel's own research. The soda was obtained from Matthes & Weber in Duisburg, a company that Henkel first bought in 1917 then sold in 1994. That year, to take advantage of the better transport links and sales opportunities, Henkel relocated his company to Düsseldorf on the Rhine. Düsseldorf was the gateway to the Ruhr region, which became the most important industrial area of the German Empire from the 19th century onward.

In 1879, Fritz Henkel was entered as the sole owner in the register of companies. Within a year, sales of Henkel's Bleaching Soda outpaced production at the rented factory on the Schützenstraße in Düsseldorf. Fritz Henkel decided to build his own factory with a direct link to the railway network.

In 1883, to improve liquidity and make better use of the company's travelling sales staff, Fritz Henkel decided to sell merchandise in addition to his detergents. The range included the colorant ultramarine, gloss starch, a liquid cleaning agent, a pomade for cleaning, beef extract, and a hair pomade. In 1886, Henkel opened its first international sales office in Austria. Carl Pathe had gone to Vienna as a representative the year before, and in 1893, Henkel established its first business links with England and Italy.

In 1903, Schwarzkopf, founded by Hans Schwarzkopf (1874, Danzig – 12 February 1921, Berlin), launched a powder shampoo. Persil came in 1907 as the first "self-acting laundry detergent." In 1893, Fritz Henkel Jr. (1875–1930) joined the firm as an apprentice. After receiving commercial training, he became his father's right-hand man in commercial matters. He put Henkel's business on a sound footing, developed its already successful advertising further and was responsible for the company's field service. On 25 July 1904, he became a partner in Henkel, which transformed into a general commercial partnership. By this time, 110 people were employed at the Holthausen site. On 25 April 1905, Dr. Hugo Henkel (1881–1952), the youngest son of Fritz Henkel Sr., joined the company as a chemist. He was in charge of Chemical Products and Technology. Over the years, he laid the foundations of systematic research and introduced advanced technologies and new materials. In 1908, he became a personally liable partner in the company.

In 1912, total production in Düsseldorf-Holthausen rose to 49,890 tons. At 19,750 tons, Persil laundry detergent accounted for 40% of this, five years after its market launch. The number of employees increased by 89 relative to the previous year, resulting in a total workforce of 1,024. A first-aid center was set up in the plant and a full-time nurse was employed. In the previous year, Henkel had installed ball fields and play areas to encourage exercise during break times. Female employees could attend the plant's own housekeeping school during the lunch break.

On 11 January 1923, troops from France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr. The occupation made delivery of adhesives from suppliers used for the packaging of Persil unreliable. The disruption caused Henkel to internally manufacture adhesives for its own needs. Henkel found there was a demand for adhesives on the market, and on 22 June 1923, the first adhesive shipment left the plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_com/hs.xsl/11813_COE_HTML.htm |title=Henkel - Milestones |access-date=25 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505222006/http://henkel.com/cps/rde/xchg/henkel_com/hs.xsl/11813_COE_HTML.htm |archive-date=5 May 2009 }}

In 1930, Hugo Henkel took charge of the company. Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, he joined the Nazi Party (membership number 2,266,961) and served as a member of the Düsseldorf City Council.{{cite book |last1=Viehöver |first1=Ulrich |title=Die EinflussReichen : Henkel, Otto und Co - wer in Deutschland Geld und Macht hat. |date=2006 |publisher=Campus |location=Frankfurt am Main |isbn=3-593-37667-9 |page=208 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qFpwAgAAQBAJ |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=de}} In the following years, the Henkel company received several awards by the regime and was designated a National Socialist Model Enterprise by the Beauty of Labour organization.{{cite book |last1=Hund |first1=Wulf D. |title=Wie die Deutschen weiß wurden: Kleine (Heimat)Geschichte des Rassismus. |date=2017 |publisher=Springer Verlag |location=Stuttgart |isbn=978-3-476-04500-3 |page=152 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uDIyDwAAQBAJ |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=de}}

After being pressured by the local party chapter, Hugo Henkel stepped down as managing director in 1938. Werner Lüps, the oldest grandson of company founder Fritz Henkel, took his position until his death in 1942. Lüps was a fervent supporter of the National Socialist cause even before 1933 and used the fact that Hermann Göring, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, was a distant paternal relative, to be promoted.{{cite book |last1=Feldenkirchen |first1=Wilfried |last2=Hilger |first2=Susanne |title=Menschen und Marken. 125 Jahre Henkel 1876–2001 |date=2001 |publisher=Henkel KGaA |isbn=3-923324-79-0 |page=69 |url=https://www.henkel.de/resource/blob/264392/0c65103fb9ed05c33c6511fc1ade9f15/data/menschen-und-marken-125-jahre-henkel.pdf |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=de}} During his rule, the company increased its shares of Degussa AG significantly, especially after the Kristallnacht in November 1938.{{cite book |last1=Hayes |first1=Peter |title=Die Degussa im Dritten Reich: Von der Zusammenarbeit zur Mittäterschaft |date=2004 |publisher=C.H. Beck |location=München |isbn=3-406-52204-1 |page=77 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3a2_aeEBKLAC |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=de}}

During World War II, several hundred foreign civilian slavery workers and prisoners of war were working for the company.{{cite book |last1=Feldenkirchen |first1=Wilfried |last2=Hilger |first2=Susanne |title=Menschen und Marken. 125 Jahre Henkel 1876–2001 |date=2001 |publisher=Henkel KGaA |location=Düsseldorf |isbn=3-923324-79-0 |pages=94–98 |url=https://www.henkel.de/resource/blob/264392/0c65103fb9ed05c33c6511fc1ade9f15/data/menschen-und-marken-125-jahre-henkel.pdf |access-date=24 April 2020 |language=de}}

On 16 April 1945, American troops occupied Henkel's Düsseldorf site. On 5 June, the British military command in Düsseldorf took over from the Americans. From 20 July, the British military government gradually granted permission for the production of adhesives, P3 and water-glass by Henkel, and for soaps and detergents as well as shoe polish by Thompson. In February 1946, Matthes & Weber in Duisburg was given permission to process available raw materials into soda. On 20 September 1945, five members of the Henkel family and another seven members of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board were interned.

In 1949, the launch of Schauma shampoo by Schwarzkopf marked the start of the most successful German shampoos.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-09625-0002, Berlin, Alexanderplatz, Persil-Werbung.jpg, 1951]]

In 1954, Henkel-subsidiary Dreiring launched Fa soap, a new type of toilet soap. From 1970 onward it was joined by a series of Fa deodorants, shower gels and bubble baths, making Fa one of the best known umbrella brands in the toiletry sector.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

Pritt, the world's first glue stick, made its debut in 1969. Over the years, other products were introduced under this brand, underlining Henkel's importance in the office and stationery supplies sector. Exports of Pritt began in the same year, eventually making this Henkel's most widespread global brand. Vernel fabric softener and enzyme-based bioactive Persil 70 appeared.File:3 Lynn Garrison SE5s for wallpaper paste ad 1973.png SE5s for Henkel wallpaper paste ad, Leixlip, Ireland 1973]]

Starting in the 1960s, Henkel has combined organic growth with strategic company acquisitions:

In 1960, by acquiring Standard Chemical Products, Inc. (known as Henkel Inc from 1971), Henkel entered the U.S. chemical products market.
In 1962, Henkel acquired Sichel-Werke AG, Hannover, its main German competitor in the adhesives sector.
In 1974, Henkel acquired shares in The Clorox Company to facilitate the production and sale of certain products developed by Henkel for household and bulk consumers (sold in 2004).
In 1983, Henkel acquired the AOK facial care range from the company von Heyden GmbH and thus strengthened its position in the cosmetics retail trade.
In 1991, Henkel acquired Teroson of Heidelberg (in existence since 1898) and integrated it into its Adhesives and Surface Technologies business sectors.{{cite web |url= https://www.timeline.henkel.com/?id=683824|title= 1991 - Integration of Teroson in Heidelberg|publisher=Henkel|website=Henkel Timeline|access-date=September 30, 2022}}
In 1995, Henkel acquired the cosmetics company Hans Schwarzkopf GmbH.
In 1996, Henkel acquired Thiem Automotive, a division of National Starch and Chemical Company. The acquisition included a manufacturing plant in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.[ {{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19960716&id=RXAaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6892,136215|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503214837/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19960716&id=RXAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_S0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6892,136215|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 May 2016|title=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Google News Archive Search|date=3 May 2016}}
In 1997, Henkel purchased the Loctite Corporation.
The purchase of The Dial Corporation in 2004 was Henkel's biggest acquisition in its history at the time. This renowned American personal care and household cleaning products company gave Henkel a strong foothold on the North American market.
In 2004, Henkel also acquired the American cosmetics company Advanced Research Laboratories (ARL), that has developed and marketed hair cosmetics.
Also in 2004, Henkel acquired Orbseal.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/about-henkel/company-history-11789.htm|title=History|last=Henkel|work=henkel.com|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204042411/http://www.henkel.com/about-henkel/company-history-11789.htm|archive-date=4 February 2014|url-status=dead}} The former Orbseal plant in Richmond, MO was converted to a Henkel plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/permits/henkel-richmondr2013cp.pdf |title=Permit to Construct |access-date=22 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309201018/http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/permits/henkel-richmondr2013cp.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2014 }}
In April 2008, Henkel acquired National Starch,{{Cite web|url=https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2008/04/03/9113490/henkel-closes-ici-national-starch-acquisitions|title=Henkel closes ICI National Starch acquisitions|last=Watts|first=Mark|website=Icis|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}} the adhesives and electronic materials businesses previously owned by AkzoNobel. In 2007, the two business segments of National Starch generated sales of £1.25 billion (about €1.83 billion). The purchase price was £2.7 billion (about €3.7 billion).

In 2008, Henkel KGaA became Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. That same year, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Lehner retired from his position as Chairman of the Management Board of Henkel KGaA. He was succeeded by Kasper Rorsted.{{cite web |url=http://www.datamonitor.com/store/News/henkel_ceo_will_resign_in_2008?productid=A1E54D0E-4D36-4042-B89B-691E91F1F78B |title=Datamonitor Research Store - Henkel CEO will resign in 2008 |website=www.datamonitor.com |access-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121145353/http://www.datamonitor.com/store/News/henkel_ceo_will_resign_in_2008?productid=A1E54D0E-4D36-4042-B89B-691E91F1F78B |archive-date=21 January 2013 |url-status=dead}} In September 2009, Simone Bagel-Trah was elected as new Chairwoman by the Henkel Shareholders' Committee as well as Henkel's Supervisory Board.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/henkel-headlines/2009-23184-20090818-simone-bagel-trah-new-chair-22896.htm|title=Newsroom|last=Henkel|work=henkel.com|access-date=28 September 2016}} The retirement of Albrecht Woeste, who had been member of the Committee since 1976 and its president since 1990,{{Cite journal|title=Gruppo Henkel. Cambio al vertice |journal=La Chimica & l'Industria |publisher=Società Chimica Italiana|issue= 9|date = November 2009|page=8|language=it}} marked the transition from the fourth generation of the Henkel family to the fifth.

On 5 May 2011, Jyothy Laboratories bought 50.97% stake in Henkel India. It has offered to buy 20% more in Henkel India through a compulsory open offer mandated by SEBI norms.{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/news/29516908_1_henkel-india-henkel-ag-henko|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403025951/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/news/29516908_1_henkel-india-henkel-ag-henko|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 April 2012|title=Jyothy Laboratories buys Henkel AG stake in India subsidiary for Rs 617 crore — The Economic Times|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=28 September 2016}}

In 2014, Henkel offered to buy French-based laundry aids-to-shoe polish manufacturer Spotless for 940 million Euros (about $1.3 billion) in cash.{{cite web|author=Alex Webb |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-06-05/henkel-buys-french-cleaning-company-spotless-for-1-3-billion |title=Henkel Accelerates M&A Pace With $1.3 Billion Spotless Deal |publisher=Bloomberg |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=28 September 2016}} The deal would slightly increase Henkel's share of the $82 billion global laundry care market to 8.7%, still well behind Procter & Gamble's 26.6% and the 14.8% market share held by Unilever, which sells Persil detergent—a Henkel brand—in some markets.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-henkel-kgaa-acquisition-idUSKBN0EG1A420140605 Germany's Henkel expands laundry brands with $1.3 billion French deal, Victoria Bryan and Martinne Geller, Reuters news agency, 5 June 2014]. Retrieved: 31 May 2015. The takeover, which was subject to approval from antitrust authorities, was completed in May 2015.[http://www.spotlessgroup.eu/news Avis de projet de fusion (Notice of Merger), Spotless Group corporate website, 28 May 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013238/http://spotlessgroup.eu/news |date=4 April 2015 }}. Retrieved: 31 May 2015.

Effective 1 May 2016, Hans Van Bylen took over the position as Chairman of the Henkel Management Board.[http://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2016-04-29-hans-van-bylen-is-henkels-new-ceo/675678 "Hans Van Bylen is Henkel's new CEO", Henkel corporate website, 1 May 2016]. Retrieved: 1 May 2016. Also in 2016, Henkel acquired the laundry and home care company Sun Products for 3.2 billion euros ($3.6 billion), thus becoming the No. 2 supplier in the North American laundry care market,[https://www.wsj.com/articles/henkel-hopes-to-clean-up-in-u-s-with-3-5-billion-sun-products-buy-1466749565 The Wall Street Journal, 24 June 2016]. Retrieved: 2 December 2016. and presented its new strategic priorities and financial ambition for 2020.[http://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2016-11-17-henkel-2020-focus-on-growth-digitalization-and-agility/724504 "Henkel 2020+: Focus on growth, digitalization and agility", Henkel corporate website, 17 November 2016]. Retrieved: 2 December 2016.

In 2017, Henkel announces to manage its corporate venture capital activities in a dedicated unit (Henkel Ventures) to invest up to 150 million euros in start-ups with digital or technological expertise.[http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/latest/henkel-expands-corporate-venture-capital-activities "Henkel expands corporate venture capital activities", Labels & Labeling Magazine, 27 March 2017]. Retrieved: 30 January 2017.[https://www.henkel-ventures.com/ Henkel Ventures Website]. Retrieved 30 January 2017. In the same year, Henkel buys Darex Packaging Technologies and Sonderhoff Group, expanding the Adhesive Technologies business.[https://www.inkworldmagazine.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2017-07-07/henkel-closes-acquisitions-of-darex-packaging-technologies-sonderhoff-group/24180 "Henkel Closes Acquisition of Darex Packaging Technologies", Sonderhoff Group, Ink World Magazine, 7 July 2017]. Retrieved 30 January 2018. With the acquisition of Nattura Laboratorios in 2017, Henkel also expands its footprint in the US and Latin American professional hair care market.[https://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/Article/2017/09/06/Henkel-confirms-acquisition-of-Nattura-Laboratorios "Henkel confirms acquisition of Nattura Laboratorios", 5 September 2017]. Retrieved 30 January 2018. On 7 September, Henkel inaugurates its new North American Consumer Goods headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. This move is part of the integration of The Sun Products Corporation, which Henkel acquired the year before.[https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2017-09-08-inauguration-day-henkel-dedicates-north-american-consumer-goods-headquarters-in-stamford-/795444 "Inauguration Day: Henkel dedicates North American Consumer Goods headquarters in Stamford", 8 September 2017]. Retrieved 30 January 2018. In December 2017, Henkel also closes the acquisition of Shiseido's North American hair professional business, including brands like Joico and Zotos.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-henkel-ag-acquisitions-shiseido/henkel-buys-shiseidos-u-s-professional-hair-unit-for-485-million-idUSKBN1CW0GE "Henkel buys Shiseido's U.S. professional hair unit for $485 million", 27 October 2017]. Retrieved 30 January 2018.

In October 2019, Carsten Knobel was appointed to succeed Hans Van Bylen as CEO of Henkel as of 1 January 2020.Reuters [https://web.archive.org/web/20191025180357/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-henkel-ag-ceo/henkel-names-finance-chief-carsten-knobel-as-next-ceo-idUKKBN1X31PB] Henkel names finance chief Carsten Knobel as next CEO] Retrieved on 2 January 2020. In November 2019, Henkel acquired hair care company DevaCurl from a fund managed by Ares Management Corporation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.happi.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2019-11-11/henkel-acquires-devacurl/|title=Henkel Acquires DevaCurl|website=HAPPI|date=11 November 2019 |access-date=2020-02-04}} Also in 2019 Henkel won an Innovation Award from the Adhesives and Sealants Council for "Loctite Universal Structural Bonders Powered by Hybrid Technology," which is a solution for OEM engineers looking for ways to improve assembly applications.{{Cite web |title=Innovation Awards - Adhesive and Sealant Council |url=https://www.ascouncil.org/innovation-awards |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=www.ascouncil.org}} [https://assets-002.noviams.com/novi-file-uploads/asc/innovation_awards/2019award-winner.jpeg Product Development Lead accepts ASC Innovation Award]

Financial data

class="wikitable"

|+Financial data in € billions{{Cite web|url=https://www.wallstreet-online.de/aktien/henkel-aktie/bilanz|title=Henkel Bilanz, Gewinn und Umsatz {{!}} Henkel Geschäftsbericht {{!}} 604840|website=wallstreet-online.de|access-date=2018-11-05}}

!Year

!2013

!2014

!2015

!2016

!2017

!2018

!2019

!2020

!2021

!2022

!2023

!2024

Revenue

|16.355

|16.428

|18.089

|18.714

|20.029

|19.899

|20.114

|19.250

|20.066

|22.397

|21.514

|21.586

Net Income

|1.625

|1.662

|1.968

|2.093

|2.541

|2.330

|2.103

|1.424

|1.629

|1.235

|1.340

|2.032

Assets

|19.344

|20.961

|22.323

|27.917

|28.307

|29.623

|31.403

|30.250

|32.669

|18.078

|17.965

|17.534

Employees

|46,850

|49,750

|49,450

|49,950

|51,950

|53,450

|52,650

|52,950

|52,450

|51,950

|47,750

|47,150

Sustainability

In 1992, Henkel published its first Environment Report.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/com/content_data/4.11.3_Henkel_Environment_Report_1992.pdf |title=Environment Report 1992 |access-date=18 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512214355/http://www.henkel.com/com/content_data/4.11.3_Henkel_Environment_Report_1992.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2014 }} Henkel is also a founding member of the "World Business Council for Sustainable Development" (WBCSD).{{cite web|url=http://www.wbcsd.org/home.aspx |title=WBCSD — World Business Council for Sustainable Development |work=wbcsd.org |access-date=28 September 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717023520/http://www.wbcsd.org/home.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2012 }} In 2003, Henkel declared its participation in the United Nations Global Compact and has committed itself to the Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption.{{cite web|url=http://www.unglobalcompact.org/aboutthegc/thetenprinciples/index.html|title=The Ten Principles - UN Global Compact|work=unglobalcompact.org|access-date=28 September 2016}} Since 2008, Henkel is an official member of the "Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil" (RSPO).{{cite web|url=http://www.rspo.org/en/who_is_rspo|title=How we work|work=rspo.org|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119161802/http://www.rspo.org/en/who_is_rspo|archive-date=19 January 2013|url-status=dead}} In 2012 Henkel, along with five other chemical companies, started the Together for Sustainability initiative, focused on the sustainability of its supply chain.{{cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2013-10-07-press-release-more-sustainability-in-the-chemical-supply-chain/26738|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112163725/https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2013-10-07-press-release-more-sustainability-in-the-chemical-supply-chain/26738|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2018|title=More sustainability in the chemical supply chain|work=Henkel.com|access-date=12 November 2018}}

In 2008, the company announced its sustainability targets for 2012, which were met by the end of 2010: energy consumption had decreased by 21 percent, water usage by 26 percent, and the amount of waste generated by 24 percent. Over the same period, the number of occupational accidents fell by 29 percent.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/press/press-releases-2011-2011-02-24-sustainability-targets-achieved-ahead-of-schedule.htm|title=Award for outstanding research|work=henkel.com|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014931/http://www.henkel.com/press/press-releases-2011-2011-02-24-sustainability-targets-achieved-ahead-of-schedule.htm|archive-date=19 April 2014|url-status=dead}} Presented in 2012, the goal of Henkel's new Sustainability Strategy 2030 is to achieve more with less and to triple the efficiency. The strategy's focal areas are divided into two dimensions: Under the headline "more value", the company focuses on the areas "social progress", "safety and health" and "performance". The second dimension "reduced footprint" deals with "energy and climate", "materials and waste" and "water and wastewater".{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/sustainability/our-focal-areas-14386.htm|title=Targets|last=Henkel|work=henkel.com|access-date=28 September 2016}} As a short-term goal until 2015, Henkel aims to achieve a 15 percent reduction per production unit in the focal areas energy, water and waste. At the same time, the company plans to reach a 10 percent increase in net external sales per production unit. Henkel also intends to reduce its incident rate by 20 percent.{{cite web|url=http://www.henkel.com/sustainability/our-targets-31533.htm|title=Targets|last=Henkel|work=henkel.com|access-date=28 September 2016}}

Henkel has been listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.{{cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2017-12-14-leading-sustainability-position-of-henkel-confirmed/815240|title=Henkel earns a spot on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index|work=henkel.com|access-date=2 October 2018}} In 2011, the company was named sustainability leader in the Nondurable Household Products sector for the fifth consecutive time.

Henkel has structured its corporate citizenship activities around three core elements: supporting employee volunteering (MIT Initiative), corporate and brand engagement for the common good and emergency aid. Since 1998, Henkel employees and retirees have been involved in over 16,800 projects in more than 100 countries.{{cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/resource/blob/1616952/56b3f141043a2c60ca1743c8255f5f26/data/2021-sustainability-report.pdf|title=Henkel Sustainability Report 2021|access-date=30 September 2022}}

In 2016, Standard Ethics Aei has given a rating to Henkel to include the company in its Standard Ethics German Index.{{cite web|url=http://www.standardethicsindices.eu/standard-ethics-german-index.html|title=German Index|work=standardethicsindices.eu|access-date=28 September 2016}} In September 2018, Henkel announces new targets for the global packaging strategy to further promote a circular economy.{{cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/press-and-media/press-releases-and-kits/2018-09-03-henkel-announces-ambitious-targets-for-sustainable-packaging/873418|title= Henkel announces ambitious targets for sustainable packaging|access-date=22 October 2018}}

Shareholders

Around 31% Shares owned by British investors, 30% Shares owned by American investors, followed by Germany (7%), Canada (7%), rest of Europe (19%) and Asia Pacific (5%).{{cite web | url=https://www.henkel.com/investors-and-analysts/shares | title=Shares }}

Competitors and anti-competitive practices

Henkel's main competitors in its cleaning division are Unilever, Procter & Gamble and Reckitt Benckiser. In its beauty division, its main competitors are Unilever, Procter & Gamble, Coty, Sephora and L'Oréal.{{Cite web|url=http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=HENOY|title=HENOY: Henkel AG & Co KGaA ADR Top Competitors and Peers|website=financials.morningstar.com|access-date=2017-12-22|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929113156/http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=HENOY|url-status=dead}} In its chemical and adhesive division, it has many competitors, but the main multinational competitors are Bostik and H.B. Fuller.{{Cite news|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4038918-overview-henkels-business-model-strategy-2020|title=Overview Of Henkel's Business Model And Strategy Until 2020|last=Investing|first=Marathon|date=2017-01-24|work=Seeking Alpha|access-date=2017-12-22|language=en-US}}

Henkel has been found by the European Commission to have established a price-fixing cartel for washing powder in Europe, along with Procter & Gamble and Unilever, which were fined €211.2 million and €104 million respectively, in April 2011. As the provider of the tip-off leading to investigations, Henkel was not fined.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13064928 |website=BBC News |title=Unilever and Procter & Gamble in price fixing fine |date=April 13, 2011 |access-date=June 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509100638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13064928 |archive-date=May 9, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Henkel was fined by Autorité de la concurrence in France in 2016 for price-fixing on personal hygiene products.{{cite web |url=http://www.connexionfrance.com/court-appeal-price-fixing-fine-upheld-consumer-companies-gillette-loreal-procter-gamble-sc-johnson-18567-view-article.html |title=Huge price-fixing fine is upheld |publisher=The Connexion |date=28 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170209165431/http://www.connexionfrance.com/court-appeal-price-fixing-fine-upheld-consumer-companies-gillette-loreal-procter-gamble-sc-johnson-18567-view-article.html |archive-date=9 February 2017 |df=dmy-all }}

Business units

Henkel is organized into three business units: Adhesive Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry & Home Care. Henkel leads the global market in the field of adhesives.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} Henkel's Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care consumer businesses also hold top positions in numerous markets and categories.

File:Wismar Wasserturm.JPG advertising in Wismar]]

=Adhesive technologies=

Henkel is the world's number one adhesives producer.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} The business unit offers a broad portfolio of adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings for both industry and consumers with brands like Loctite, Technomelt, Teroson, Bonderite, and Aquence, and consumers, craftsmen and building businesses with brands like Pritt, Loctite, Ceresit and Pattex.{{Cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/brands-and-businesses|title=Brands & Businesses|last=Henkel|website=www.henkel.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}}

The industry business includes four areas:

Packaging and consumer goods adhesives
Transport and metal
General industry
Electronics

And the consumers, craftsmen, and building business area markets a range of brand-name products for private, trade and construction users.

In June 2018, Henkel opened a new 3D printing technology hub in Tallaght, Ireland.{{Cite news|url=https://www.3ders.org/articles/20180625-henkel-opens-new-18m-3d-printing-technology-centre-in-tallaght-ireland.html |title=Henkel opens new €18M 3D printing technology centre in Tallaght, Ireland|date=2018-06-25|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-UK}} In 2018, Henkel also laid the cornerstone for a new global innovation center of its Adhesive Technologies business at the company's headquarters in Düsseldorf, investing more than €130 million. The center is planned to open end of 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://www.compositesworld.com/news/henkel-invests-in-adhesive-technology-innovation-center |title=Henkel invests in adhesive technology innovation center|date=2018-09-12|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-US}}

=Consumer brands=

Henkel Consumer Brands covers products in the areas of laundry, home care and hair.

Henkel's hair and body care brands include {{ill|Schwarzkopf (cosmetics)|de|Schwarzkopf (Kosmetik)|lt=Schwarzkopf}}, Dial, and Syoss. In 2017, Henkel successfully launched #mydentity hair color together with Guy Tang, a leading hairdresser and social media influencer.{{Cite news|url=https://www.modernsalon.com/article/84995/the-success-of-guy-tang-and-mydentity-hair-color |title=The Success of Guy Tang and #mydentity Hair Color|date=2018-08-10|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-US}} In 2018, Henkel presented the Schwarzkopf SalonLab at CES – a digital hair salon experience using technology to customize products.{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/07/henkel-brings-tech-to-beauty-salons-with-custom-hair-analysis/ |title=Henkel brings tech to beauty salons with custom hair analysis|date=2018-01-07|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en-US}} The company continues to expand its portfolio of professional hair care products, currently owning brands Alterna, Authentic Beauty Concept, Joico, Kenra, Pravana, and Sexy Hair.{{Cite web|last=Henkel|title=Brands & Businesses|url=https://www.henkel.com/brands-and-businesses|access-date=2021-11-25|website=www.henkel.com|language=en}}

Henkel's most famous brand is Persil, introduced in 1907, the first commercial "self-activated" laundry detergent, which means a bubble-forming bleach (sodium perborate) with a soap component (silicate). The abbreviation of the names of the two main components perborate and silicate compose the product name. Persil is the biggest brand for Henkel's Laundry & Home Care category, generating sales of more than 1 billion euros in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/blob/829904/373f970c22c5a67b4e1a8bf720eed6f4/data/2017-annual-report.pdf|title=Annual Report 2017|website=www.henkel.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}} Today, Henkel's Laundry & Home Care category ranges from heavy-duty detergents, speciality detergents and laundry additives to dishwashing products, hard surface and WC cleaners, air fresheners and insect control products.{{Cite web|url=https://www.henkel.com/brands-and-businesses/laundry-and-home-care|title=Laundry & Home Care|last=Henkel|website=www.henkel.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30}}

Other brands include Purex washing powder and liquid laundry detergent, Sun liquid laundry detergent, Vernel/Silan fabric softener, Somat/Glist dishwasher tablets, and Pril washing-up liquid. In the United States and Canada only (the brands elsewhere are owned by Unilever) All, Wisk, Snuggle, and Sunlight detergent and fabric softener brands are also Henkel brands. The brands owned by Unilever elsewhere, plus Sun, were acquired by Henkel through its acquisition of Sun Products in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160623006493/en/Vestar-Capital-Partners-Agrees-Sell-Sun-Products|title=Vestar Capital Partners Agrees to Sell Sun Products to Henkel in $3.6 Billion Transaction - Business Wire|work=businesswire.com|date=24 June 2016 |access-date=28 September 2016}}

Persil Abaya Shampoo or Persil Black is a liquid detergent that Henkel introduced to the Saudi Arabian market in 2007 and later to other Gulf Cooperation Council region markets. The company sells the liquid as a specialist detergent for abayas, the loose, traditionally black, robe-like garments worn by women in many Islamic cultures.

Miss Fa Beauty Pageant

File:Elena Khlibko. Miss Fa Beauty Pageant 1997.jpg

In 1993, 1994, and 1997, Henkel & Schwarzkopf organized the Miss Fa beauty pageant in Russia and CIS.{{Cite web|url = http://www.trancelite.ru/events/fa/index.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010805014835/http://www.trancelite.ru/events/fa/index.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2001-08-05|title = Miss Fa}} 1997's pageant "Miss Fa Russia & CIS" was the largest, held in major cities of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan as part of the show "World of Fantastic sensation". The 26 winners of the regional rounds participated the final in Yalta, with Elena Khibliko ultimately winning the title. Sales of the Fa brand throughout Russia increased by 40% for the year, while overall sales of the company's products increased by 30%.{{Cite web|url = http://pvc.ru/projects/mir-fantasticheskih-oshhushhenij/|title = World of FAntastic sensation|access-date = 4 October 2017|archive-date = 24 June 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624081356/http://pvc.ru/projects/mir-fantasticheskih-oshhushhenij/|url-status = dead}} The cost of this event is $1 million.{{Cite web|url = http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/181373|title = Miss Fa, Kommersant № 116 (1298), July 12, 1997| date=23 July 1997 }}