For more than 130 years, our brands have combined top quality with respect for people and the environment. Our branded products offer both high performance and ecological compatibility. We manufacture them using as little water and energy as possible and under good working conditions. This is what we stand for – worldwide, today and tomorrow.

We laid the foundations for this approach more than 100 years ago, when we invented Persil – the first self-acting detergent. Our branded laundry detergents and household cleaners have always combined top quality with responsibility toward people and the environment. One of the main aims of our product developers is to achieve ever better cleaning performance with ever lower dosages and at ever lower temperatures. Since the 1970s we have been able to reduce the dosage amounts of classic powder laundry detergents in Western Europe from 280 to 95 grams per wash cycle. Our Megaperls product form introduced in 1992 is even more efficient, requiring just 67.5 grams per machine load. And we are continuously improving the low-temperature performance of our products. This is based on the pioneering work in enzyme research that we have conducted since the early 1990s. In our automatic dishwashing detergents, for example, the use of enzymes makes it possible to achieve outstanding cleaning performance at just 40 degrees Celsius.

Laundry detergents and household cleaners end up in wastewater after use. Since the 1950s we have therefore been working intensively on the environmental compatibility of these products. By developing test methods to assess biodegradability and by introducing phosphate-free laundry detergents, Henkel has set important milestones in its industry. To help conserve resources we offer our dishwashing detergents and household cleaners as concentrates and refill products in many markets. And for regions where water is scarce, we have developed fabric conditioners that help to save water.

The washing active substances (surfactants) in our laundry detergents and household cleaners are now derived to about 35 percent from renewable raw materials, such as coconut oil and palm kernel oil – an unusually high figure in the laundry detergent and household cleaner sector. To exercise our responsibility regarding the purchasing of these ingredients we take part in the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil. This organization promotes the sustainable production of palm oil throughout the value chain. To mark the centenary of our Persil brand in 2007, we improved the formulations of our premium laundry detergents still further around the world. As part of our Quality & Responsibility initiative we have defined criteria for each product category in order to translate our understanding of sustainability into product concepts that will meet consumer wishes. Besides improving environmental performance, this also includes the involvement of our brands in non-profit activities. This initiative will be communicated through a corresponding logo on our products, beginning in the first half of 2008.