Nurturing the pioneering spirit in diverse communities

Henkel is supporting communities through responsible business practices.

Companies who do their parts to improve communities and provide opportunities can yield benefits that go far beyond the bottom line. Research shows that 65% of employees want to work for organizations that have a strong social and environmental conscience. Aside from boosts in employee morale and brand reputation, companies that give back are contributing to the greater good and moving the needle on major social causes that impact the average person, who may even be their next customer. 

As a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, Henkel is building on its strong legacy and reimagining how the company can improve lives. This means more than providing adhesives and consumer goods products—it’s impacting communities and helping people reach their full potential.

A great first step in making positive change is taking on important causes, such as education, with a particular focus on workforce readiness for the careers of tomorrow. It’s been shown that early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education increases the likelihood of students to pursue career opportunities within STEM-related fields, which are estimated to grow approximately 10% by 2032. Henkel believes that education is foundational to helping people excel and has invested in programs that support students from elementary school through higher education and professional development pathways. 

As part of its longstanding commitment to education, especially STEM and science literacy, Henkel launched Henkel Researchers’ World in partnership with a local university at its headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2011. To date, the curriculum has reached more than 100,000 children worldwide and was designed to expose elementary school children to hands-on, interactive experiments and places them in the role of a researcher. In 2021, Henkel expanded its signature Henkel Researchers’ World program significantly in North America. The company has also partnered with a local organization in Stamford, Conn., to offer science experiments to children through a dedicated science classroom and a mobile Henkel Researchers’ World Discovery Cart. 

For National STEM Day in 2023, Henkel supported 35 schools with donations to fund STEM education through DonorsChoose, a nonprofit that funnels donations directly to public school classroom projects, and hosted students at its sites for Henkel Researchers’ World events. 

That’s only one part of how Henkel encourages learning in its communities. In addition to those efforts, Henkel continues to increase access to higher learning through scholarships and professional development opportunities, which are crucial to the success of the future workforce. Statistics show that scholarships and grants are the second-largest source of financial aid for college students. In 2021, Henkel North America partnered with the United Negro College Fund, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Pathways to Education Canada, and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society to expand its scholarship and internship program for Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous students. This initiative supported dozens of students with financial assistance and internship opportunities through an initial $1 million investment. To date, Henkel has awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to more than 870 students through its scholarship and internship programming to help build a more equitable society where everyone has a chance to succeed.

Henkel and its employees also work to make an impact on the communities where they live and work. The company’s Make an Impact on Tomorrow (MIT) program recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. The program provides financial and in-kind donations to charitable organizations and gives employees paid time off to volunteer for social projects. In 2023, employees in Henkel North America organized 59 MIT projects geared toward increasing access to education, advancing equity and inclusion, protecting the environment, fighting food and housing insecurity, and supporting well-being. Since the program’s global launch in 1998, Henkel has donated $41 million to support more than 17,000 charitable projects in more than 100 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. 

Henkel’s purpose, “Pioneers at heart for the good of generations,” is what guides the company and unites employees. For Henkel, delivering on this purpose means going beyond providing innovative solutions to customers and consumers. Giving to local communities and supporting education allows employees to demonstrate this purpose and helps ensure the future resilience of society. Learn more about how Henkel is bringing positive change to communities through responsible business practices.

Note: This article was supplied by Henkel North America.