As the automotive world continues to embrace digitalization, the vehicle display has not only become the heart of the user experience, but also a key differentiator for OEMs. While design trends have seen the adoption of larger, curved and free-form designs, the pursuit of ever-increasing functionality and of lighter and thinner display modules has increased the complexity of manufacturing.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies collaborates with Metsä Board to develop solutions that anticipate and fulfil increasing consumer demand for more sustainable packaging. The collaboration brings together the companies’ world-class Research & Development resources and practical customer experience to enhance product development and process design. By leveraging the synergies between adhesives and board expertise at the earliest stage, Henkel and Metsä Board are supporting brand owners and retailers rethink packaging.

The Henkel Fragrance Center in Krefeld, Germany, will from now on produce CO₂-neutrally, making it the first Henkel site to switch its production entirely to climate-neutral energy. The research and production site covers its entire energy demand in production and research with green electricity and biogas. The conversion is an important step towards achieving Henkel's ambitious sustainability goals.

• Group sales show organic growth of +11.3 percent to around 10 billion euros ‏(nominal +4.7 percent), driven by all business units and regions
• Operating profit* rises to 1,430 million euros, +20.1%
• EBIT margin* increased to 14.4%, +1.9 percentage points
• Earnings per preferred share ‏(EPS)* grow by+22.4% to 2.40 euros, +30.1% at constant exchange rates
• Good progress in all areas of purposeful growth agenda
• Outlook for fiscal year 2021 updated: higher sales growth with unchanged earnings guidance
  • Organic sales growth: +6.0 to +8.0 percent ‏(previously: +4.0 to +6.0 percent)
  • EBIT margin*: 13.5 to 14.5 percent ‏(previously: 14.0 to 15.0 percent)
  • Earnings per preferred share ‏(EPS) *: Increase in the high single-digit to mid-teens percentage range at constant exchange rates ‏(unchanged)

Henkel Adhesive Technologies further strengthens its corporate venture capital activities by investing in the third fund of Richland Capital ‏(Richland Capital Fund III), Beijing, China. Richland Capital is a leading investment firm for emerging technology in China, focusing on investments in advanced materials, high-end manufacturing equipment and digital technologies as well as digital business models. As limited partner of the fund Henkel will strengthen its access to the fast-growing start-up-scene in China which has become a global hotspot for material science in recent years.

Henkel’s next generation metal pretreatment process today received the second-place award in the sustainability category of the 2021 Altair Enlighten Awards. Henkel’s award recognizes the use of the PALLUMINA™ metal pretreatment process on the 2021 Toyota Tacoma and Tundra.

In July, Henkel Adhesive Technologies officially announced that it has joined the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities in their EU Urban Air Mobility ‏(UAM) Initiative currently underway in the City of Ingolstadt, Germany. Supported by the European Commission and launched in 2018, the Ingolstadt UAM Initiative has brought together communities, citizens, businesses and other stakeholders to accelerate practical UAM technology studies and facilitate its ultimate implementation.

After the successful debut of the Sustainability Forum in 2020, Henkel Packaging and Consumer Goods Adhesives will continue and enlarge the event under the new name of Sustainability Days in 2021. Bringing together the entire value chain in the field of packaging and consumer goods, Henkel has established a strong platform for knowledge transfer and networking within the industry with last year’s event.

• Strong market position with ecological laundry and home care products
• Fast-growing and highly profitable brands
• Highly complementary to Laundry & Home Care portfolio of sustainable offers
• Strong and successful innovation track record