DUSSELDORF, Germany – In a letter to Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Ulrich Lehner, President and CEO of the Henkel Group, declared the company’s participation in the UN’s Global Compact initiative. The Henkel Group has committed to integrate the nine principles of the Global Compact in its corporate culture and day-to-day business operations.
The aim of the Global Compact is to bring companies together with UN agencies, labor and civil society to respect human rights around the world and to support fundamental labor rights and environmental protection. At Henkel, the principles of the Global Compact are already reflected in its vision of making people’s lives easier, better and more beautiful, and in its corporate values. One of Henkel’s 10 corporate values reads, “We are dedicated to sustainability and corporate social responsibility,” Lehner added, “The corporate ethics deriving from this sense of responsibility are anchored in our corporate standards and the Code of Conduct that is binding for all of our employees.”
For Lehner, joining the Global Compact also brings concrete advantages for the company. “The long-term economic success of the Henkel Group hinges on how we as a company behave toward society as a whole,” he said. “The fact that we live the Henkel Code of Conduct and our slogan ‘A Brand like a Friend’ in our daily work strengthens our corporate culture. The quality of our reputation is also determined by our behavior. Each of our employees therefore makes an essential contribution to the long-term continuity and profitability of a consistently viable Henkel Group.”
The principles of the Global Compact can be found at: www.unglobalcompact.org
“Henkel – A Brand like a Friend.” Henkel is a leader with brands and technologies that make people’s lives easier, better and more beautiful. The Henkel Group operates in three strategic business areas — Home Care, Personal Care, and Adhesives, Sealants and Surface Treatment. In fiscal 2002 the Henkel Group generated sales of 9.66 billion euros and an operating profit (EBIT) of 666 million euros. 50,000 employees work for the Henkel Group worldwide. People in 126 countries around the world trust in brands and technologies from Henkel.
