- Business
- Henkel AG & Co. KGaA operates as a multinational consumer goods and industrial company, primarily engaged in the development, manufacture, and marketing of adhesives, sealants, functional coatings, and beauty care and laundry products. The company offers a diverse portfolio of products including laundry and home care detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaning agents under brands such as Persil, all, and Purex; beauty care items like hair care (Schwarzkopf), skin care (Dial), and oral care (Right Guard); and adhesives technologies encompassing construction adhesives (Loctite), packaging and consumer adhesives (Pattex), crafts and DIY products, and automotive and industrial assembly solutions (Teroson). Its Adhesive Technologies segment provides engineering adhesives, functional coatings, and sealants for industries including automotive, electronics, aerospace, construction, and packaging, while the Consumer Brands segment targets household, personal care, and professional laundry markets worldwide.
Founded in 1876 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, Henkel conducts operations in more than 120 countries across Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, serving both consumer and professional end-markets with a workforce exceeding 50,000 employees. The company maintains key subsidiaries worldwide, including manufacturing and R&D facilities, and focuses on sustainability initiatives such as reducing plastic usage and advancing circular economy practices in its product lines.
In recent developments, Henkel completed the strategic divestiture of its Consumer Goods adhesives business to Lion Corporation in fiscal year 2024, allowing sharper focus on high-value Adhesive Technologies growth areas; announced a major restructuring program in October 2024 to streamline operations, cut costs by €400 million annually, and enhance profitability amid macroeconomic challenges; and in November 2024, unveiled new sustainable product innovations including bio-based laundry detergents and recyclable packaging solutions under its "Positive Impact Plan," targeting net-zero emissions by 2040. Additionally, the company expanded partnerships with automotive giants like Volkswagen and battery producers for e-mobility adhesives, and secured a €1.5 billion green financing facility in early 2025 to support eco-friendly expansions in Asia and North America.