Throughout the Company, we use indicators to identify potential improvements, steer actions, and monitor target achievement. They are also important as a compact and transparent means of informing the public of progress and performance. They are based on the environmental indicators of the European Chemical Industry Council, augmented by social and economic indicators.

The production-related data were determined at The production-related data were determined at 166 Henkel sites in 52 countries. These sites were selected on the basis of criteria that include their production volumes, the quantities and types of emissions, and the resources consumed. They account for 98 percent of our worldwide production. The validation of the data reported by the production sites is an integral part of Henkel’s international audit program and carried out by independent Henkel experts.

Henkel measures the direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions of its major production sites which account for more than 95 percent of the global production volume. Almost all carbon dioxide is released as a result of energy generation. Our reporting includes our own carbon dioxide emissions released as a result of Henkel activities, as well as  carbon dioxide emissions formed during the generation of bought-in energy  at non-Henkel sites. Process related emissions are not relevant. Transmission losses and carbon dioxide emissions generated upstream (e.g. exploration, transport) are not included. The emission factors are country specific and derived from established lifecycle assessment databases.

Henkel is growing, as is the number of sites contributing data to the environmental indicators – from 117 in 2002 to 162 in 2006. As growth does not occur at a uniform rate, there are jumps in the figures. To simplify interpretation of the figures, the graphs in the section also show the progress of the indicators as an index relative to the volume of production (per metric ton of product). The base for these indexcurves is the year 2002 (= 100 percent).