Social engagement plays an important role in our corporate culture. It has been a tradition throughout our history and is firmly anchored in our corporate values and reflected in our daily activities. Henkel Smile provides the umbrella for the company’s corporate citizenship activities extending beyond direct business interests. We place special emphasis on promoting long term partnerships between Henkel and its brands and social institutions, with the aim of jointly addressing challenges.

This is based on the conviction that solutions which are jointly reached on a basis of partnership will benefit all concerned. To achieve enduring progress, we focus on helping people to help themselves. Employees and retirees are the impetus of Henkel’s worldwide corporate citizenship engagement. They are at the core of any Henkel Smile project, from selection, organization and management, to active participation.

We are convinced that encouraging volunteer work benefits everyone involved: society, the company and the employees themselves. Employees now expect companies to make a contribution to society. They also want to make a contribution themselves, with the help of their employer. Through their projects, our employees worldwide demonstrate their sense of responsibility, their leadership qualities, and their ability to work in a team. The bonds between employees and retirees are strengthened by their shared commitment to volunteer work. Regions and communities benefit from these volunteer efforts, as Henkel employees and retirees address local challenges and provide targeted support where it is needed. Worldwide, our projects make numerous contributions to achieving global development objectives, such as the United Nations’ eight Millennium Development Goals, which are to be reached by the year 2015.
 
With Henkel Smile we have created an international harmonized communication platform for our global activities. Clear guidelines assist especially the regional implementation of Henkel Smile projects. We support activities in the areas of engagement: social needs, education and science, fitness and health, arts and culture, and environment. In 2009, the total sum provided to foster these activities was some 7.6 million euros.