Henkel Packaging Now 89% Recyclable

Committed to implementing its sustainability strategies with determination, Henkel has achieved success that exceeds its targets in this area. In 2010, the company established a long-term sustainability strategy supported by concrete targets for 2030, and by 2020 it had surpassed the performance goals it had set for that year. By 2020, the company had managed to reduce its environmental footprint by 39 percent and made 89 percent of its packaging recyclable. Henkel continuously revises and expands the scope of its sustainability strategies and targets. Creating more value with fewer resources and reducing its global footprint while contributing to the wellbeing of the growing global population forms the foundation of the company's sustainability strategy. In the strategy created in 2010 for this purpose, the 2020 results indicate that the company is halfway toward 2030. Over the past decade, Henkel has demonstrated significant progress across all dimensions of its sustainability strategy: On a general scale, the company succeeded in reducing its environmental footprint by 39 percent across three different dimensions—carbon dioxide emissions, waste and water. This means progress has been achieved at a significant level beyond the realization of the 30 percent reduction target set for 2020. In addition, Henkel achieved its 2020 safety target by reducing the global accident frequency rate by 50 percent.

"We Aim to Strengthen Our Leading Position in Sustainability."

In a statement on this matter, Henkel CEO Carsten Knobel said, "For Henkel, sustainability is not only part of our long-standing tradition, but also an important element of our strategic agenda for 'Purpose-Driven Growth.' In 2010, we established our long-term sustainability strategy and targets extending to 2030. We take pride in the progress we have made since then. In addition to achieving most of our targets, we have succeeded in going even further on some targets. Through sustainable innovations implemented in our consumer and industrial business units, we aim to strengthen our leading position in sustainability and create more value than the growth of the markets in which we operate." he said.

30 Years in Sustainability Reporting

Henkel published its first sustainability report in 1992. This makes Henkel one of the few companies among the sectors in which it operates and among companies listed in the Germany DAX stock exchange index that can take pride in 30 years of consistent sustainability reporting history. The first report, titled "Environmental Report," contained, among other topics, Henkel's principles regarding environmental protection.  

Clear Targets Toward Climate Protection

Henkel continues its long-term vision of becoming a climate-positive company with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and limiting global warming. The company targets reducing the carbon footprint from its production by 65 percent by 2025. By 2030, Henkel aims to continuously increase energy efficiency and source only renewable energy for the electricity it uses. Beyond this, Henkel aims to increase the global reach and scope of its brands and technologies further to help customers, consumers and suppliers reduce their carbon dioxide emissions. Having provided these stakeholders with emissions reductions exceeding 55 million tonnes over the 5-year period extending to 2020, Henkel aims to increase this figure to 100 million tonnes by 2025.  

Henkel Packaging Became 89 Percent Recyclable

Henkel also actively promotes the development of a circular economy and continues its work toward its ambitious packaging targets. The target set for 2025 is for Henkel packaging to be 100 percent recyclable or reusable*. By the end of 2020, the company had succeeded in achieving approximately 89 percent of this target. Many brands within Henkel already use packaging made from recycled materials. The company targets increasing the proportion of recycled plastic used in consumer products to above 30 percent worldwide by 2025. At the end of 2020, this figure was approximately 15 percent. * Excluding adhesive products which may affect the recyclability of content materials or residues or risk contaminating recycling streams