March 17, 2008 - German consumer products giant Henkel has cut energy, water, and waste from its manufacturing processes while boosting profits 61% over the past five years, according to the company's 2007 sustainability report. Henkel has pledged further resource-efficiency targets per metric ton of output over the next five years.

Between 2004 and 2007, Henkel cut energy use by 21%, water use by 15%, and waste generation by 32%. The company's energy savings resulted in a 15% drop in carbon dioxide emissions. During the same time period, product sales jumped 39%.

Henkel credits its strong environmental and financial performance to a commitment to sustainability across the value chain. For example, a lifecycle assessment revealed that most of the energy and water consumption from its Persil laundry detergent occurs during the use phase. The company has spent the past 30 years reformulating the product to require less detergent and water per load cycle and to save energy by cleaning at a lower optimum temperature.

In 2008, the company will introduce a new “Quality & Responsibility” logo on all of its laundry and home care products. "By adding the dimension of ‘Responsibility’ to our promise of ‘Quality from Henkel,’ we are making a clear statement: Responsibility toward consumers, the environment, and society as a whole is just as important to us as our promise of quality," according to Friedrich Stara, executive vice president of Laundry & Home Care at Henkel.

Henkel has pledged that by 2012 it will reduce energy consumption by another 15%, water consumption by another 10%, and waste generation by another 10% per metric ton of output.

Download Henkel's 2007 sustainability report here (PDF).