Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Cosmetics/Toiletries and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs more than 47,000 people and reported sales of 15,605 million euros and adjusted operating profit of 2,029 million euros in fiscal 2011. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX and the company ranks among the Fortune Global 500.

Beginning in 2010 along with the SOS Children’s Villages Charity, and now expanded to eight cities in seven countries, Schwarzkopf Professional’s Shaping Futures Initiative has been working to teach the basic techniques of professional hairdressing to underprivileged young adults on a worldwide scale. Through training, supplying tools and placement in salons, recipients are given the chance to earn their own living. This initiative by Schwarzkopf Professional shows in an exemplary manner how their values are used to contribute to the sustainable development of communities by promoting empowerment through hairdressing.