Engaging in Water Stewardship

Water is a precious resource essential for all life on Earth. It sustains ecosystems, regulates the 
planet’s climate, and supports biodiversity. For society, water is critical for health, sanitation, 
agriculture, energy production, and industry. Growing populations, pollution, and climate 
change put pressure on the Earth’s freshwater cycle, making water conservation and 
sustainable management vital for both the environment and human well-being. Accordingly, 
Henkel aims to enable responsible and circular water use along the value chain as well as to 
contribute to watershed health. This Water Stewardship position complements Henkel’s 
Nature Policy by laying out Henkel’s Water Stewardship approach toward reaching this aim.

Water is essential for life and serves as an indispensable resource for ecosystems, humanity 
and economy. But the hydrological cycle is fragile and under increasing pressure. 
Anthropogenic changes in land use, overconsumption of freshwater and climate change are 
disrupting water systems and rainfall patterns. These mutually reinforcing drivers of change 
are causing imbalances in the water cycle on a global scale.

  
Within the Planetary Boundary’s Framework, this becomes apparent in the transgression of the 
Freshwater Change Boundary. Freshwater Change in this context refers to the alteration of 
freshwater cycles, including blue water (surface- and groundwater as in rivers, lakes and 
aquifers) and green water (plant-available water as soil moisture) – both have exceeded its 
Planetary Boundary. The Freshwater Change transgression is occurring alongside breaches in 
other critical boundaries like Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Land-System Change. 
These interconnected breaches amplify each other, creating a vicious cycle triggering 
ecological, societal and economic stresses. More frequent and severe water-related 
disturbances such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather events, lack of access to safe water 
and sanitation, trade disruptions, food insecurity, disease spread, forced migration and 
increased conflicts are amongst the consequences. Estimations show that at current pace 
global water demand will surpass water availability by 40% in 2030. Additionally, 80% of 
industrial and agricultural wastewater is discharged untreated, further exacerbating the crisis.
 

These interrelations require a systematic governance of water as a global common good, 
accounting for the dependencies to climate change and ecosystem degradation.

Relevance for Henkel

Freshwater plays a critical role along Henkel’s value chain. In the upstream value chain, water is required for producing feedstocks and raw materials. In Henkel’s own operations, water is utilized to run manufacturing processes. In addition, it serves as an ingredient in products. In the downstream value chain, water is required for using products of Henkel Consumer Brands and Adhesives Technologies. Wastewater originating in the end-of-life stage of Henkel products are disposed of via wastewater which is destined to enter hydrological systems and oceans.

Henkel Water Stewardship Commitments

Henkel is committed to a holistic Water Stewardship going beyond dependency reduction in own operations. At Henkel Water Stewardship is central to increase resilience along and beyond the value chain. It implies minimizing Henkel’s water-related impacts and risks by considering its role within a shared water system with the aim of using water in a socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial way.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder collaboration and collective action are key principles for Henkel Water Stewardship initiatives and basin-level activities conducted. 

As endorsing member of the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, Henkel engages to address global water challenges through corporate Water Stewardship, working together with the United Nations, governments, civil society, and further stakeholders. As member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Henkel engages in cross industry collaboration and advocacy as well as best practice and knowledge sharing to drive measurable impact.

(Please read our Henkel Water Stewardship Position paper for more details)

Water is a shared resource – and safeguarding it is a shared responsibility. Henkel recognizes 
that the accelerating disruption of the global freshwater cycle demands decisive, coordinated, 
and science-aligned action. Guided by the Freshwater Northstar and embedded in the 
 commitment to operate within Planetary Boundaries, Henkel calls on partners across the value 
chain and the wider society to join in driving a resilient, equitable, and regenerative water 
future. 

• Advancing Water Stewardship Across Industries: Henkel calls on businesses to adopt 
  holistic Water Stewardship approaches that go beyond conventional water management. 
  Companies must commit to conducting transparent water impact and risk assessments 
  across value chains, setting freshwater-related targets as well as to reporting openly on 
  progress. Implementing Nature-based Solutions that restore hydrological ecosystems and 
  contribute to healthy watersheds based on collective action, can accelerate the shift 
  towards water resilience.
• Driving System Transformation Through Supply Chain Collaboration: Henkel invites 
  direct business partners like suppliers, industry customers, and consumers to work with 
  Henkel toward shared water goals. Stronger partnerships across the value chain are 
  essential for amplifying impact.
• Empowering Policy and Public–Private Collaboration: Henkel encourages governments 
  and public institutions to strengthen policies that protect freshwater ecosystems, address 
  pollution, and foster equitable access to safe water and sanitation as well as to facilitate 
  incentives for water efficiency, circularity, and technological innovation based on cross
  industry collaboration.
• Accelerating Community Centered Watershed Stewardship: Local communities are 
  crucial partners in achieving long-term water resilience. Henkel commits to directly engage 
  with local communities on water challenges and calls for collective action to restore and 
  replenish priority watersheds to address both ecological and societal needs.
• Mobilizing Innovation for Regenerative Water Use: Cross-sectoral innovation is 
  indispensable for transforming water use. Henkel calls on research institutions, technology 
  providers, start-ups, and business partners to develop new solutions for water-efficient 
  and water-circular manufacturing as well as to accelerate the shift toward biodegradable 
  ingredients and pollution-preventing materials. 

Collectively, there is the ability – and responsibility – to protect water as the foundation of 
healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and resilient economies. Henkel invites all partners 
to join forces in advancing Water Stewardship at scale. Through collective action and shared 
commitment, freshwater resources can be preserved for current and future generations.

For further reference please see also Henkel’s Nature Policy, Responsible Sourcing Policy, Circularity Policy, SHE Standard, and Microplastic Position.