Henkel Smile provides the umbrella for the company’s corporate citizenship activities extending beyond direct business interests. We place special emphasis on promoting long term partnerships between Henkel and its brands and social institutions, with the aim of jointly addressing challenges.
This is based on the conviction that solutions which are jointly reached on a basis of partnership will benefit all concerned. To achieve enduring progress, we focus on helping people to help themselves. Employees and retirees are the impetus of Henkel’s worldwide corporate citizenship engagement. They are at the core of any Henkel Smile project, from selection, organization and management, to active participation.
Henkel Smile makes valuable contributions on several levels. The bonds between employees and retirees are strengthened by their shared commitment to volunteer work. Regions and communities benefit from these volunteer efforts, as Henkel employees and retirees address local challenges and provide targeted support where it is needed.

In late 2007, we restructured Henkel Smile around three core elements:

1. MIT (Make an Impact on Tomorrow) – Employee engagement
2. HFI (Henkel Friendship Initiative) – Emergency fund, and
3. Social Partnerships – Corporate and brand engagement.

Clear guidelines assist especially the regional implementation of Henkel Smile projects. We support activities in the areas of engagement: social needs, education and science, fitness and health, arts and culture, and environment. In 2007, the total sum provided to foster these activities was some 7.5 million euros.

We have always done this in a sustainable and socially responsible manner, combining excellent performance with responsibility toward people and the environment. We systematically focus our activities throughout the value chain on the challenges of sustainable development as they relate to our operations. We have grouped these according to five focal areas. At the heart of all our actions are our “Vision and Values”.

Social Progress

The task of ensuring socially balanced economic development is a major challenge for society and those who shape it. In the context of our business activities and the associated value creation, we make an important contribution to society as a whole in the approximately 125 countries in which we operate: We create jobs with fair conditions of employment, and provide training for our employees and our customers. We purchase goods and services, cooperate in a spirit of partnership with our suppliers, and transfer knowledge and technologies. Our product ranges are adapted to local consumer needs and incomes. We also support the social involvement of our employees. In this way, we contribute to economic development as well as social equality and progress.

Contribution to the Millenium Development Goals

Through the non-profit projects of Henkel Smile, Henkel and its employees help to improve the quality of life of many people by improving their situation or simply making them happier. This commitment goes beyond these individual benefits, however, and achieves much more; it contributes toward addressing worldwide problems and challenges. In the year 2000, in its Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations identified the urgent social and political issues of the present and the future and formulated eight goals to be reached by 2015. Through Henkel Smile, Henkel makes many small contributions toward the achievement of these goals – especially in developing and emerging countries.