Henkel intends to expand its position as an innovation leader. From 2008 onward, 30 percent of sales are to be generated through products less than three years old. In 2005, the figure already lay at 25 percent. To strengthen its innovative power, Henkel has initiated a worldwide innovation offensive, which was launched in 2006 with the "Year of Innovation 2006" and will be continued in 2007 and 2008.

The starting point is a worldwide internal communication campaign through which all employees are being called on to submit at least two or three innovative ideas and thus jointly create a large pool of ideas. All Henkel employees are working together on this project, irrespective of which country they operate in, what their function is, or their position within the hierarchy. Henkel aims to tap into a vast source of potential creativity and ideas, and to reinforce awareness of the importance of permanent innovation in its employees’ everyday working environment.

As ever, the focus is on customers and consumers: “We have to anticipate their wishes even before they themselves are aware of them,” comments Henkel Chairman Prof. Dr. Ulrich Lehner.