Henkel Recognized Among Fast Company's 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators for 2025

Henkel has been named to Fast Company's seventh annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list, recognizing the company's commitment to fostering innovation across its global operations. The 2025 ranking identifies 100 organizations across diverse industries that demonstrate excellence in creating cultures where breakthrough ideas can emerge from any level of the organization. Henkel's recognition stems from three key innovation drivers: accessible product packaging solutions, cultural transformation programs, and state-of-the-art global research facilities.

The company's innovative approach to accessibility was demonstrated through its partnership with NaviLens, a navigation and scanning technology that makes product information accessible to individuals with visual impairments. In January 2025, Henkel's all® free clear laundry detergent became the first in the U.S. market to feature smart codes that audibly provide product details, dosing instructions, and in-store location information. This initiative represents a significant advancement in inclusive consumer packaging and demonstrates Henkel's commitment to innovation that serves diverse consumer needs.

Henkel's cultural transformation efforts are anchored by the Accelerate Cultural Transformations (ACT) program, which creates structured opportunities for employees to engage in evaluating and building organizational culture through small group meetings with dedicated topics. This program provides dedicated time for teams to build connections, share insights, and enhance collaborative output, effectively elevating everyday innovations across the organization. The ACT framework ensures that innovation is not limited to research and development departments but becomes embedded in the company's operational culture.

The company's physical innovation infrastructure includes 61 advanced research centers across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, equipped with cutting-edge laboratory equipment and technologies. These facilities enable Henkel employees to develop customized solutions that accelerate product development while maintaining the company's sustainability commitments. The global network of innovation centers supports the development of Henkel's extensive product portfolio, which includes well-known brands such as Dial soap, Schwarzkopf hair care products, and Loctite adhesives.

Phil Schaffer, Corporate Senior Vice President of Henkel Consumer Brands in North America, emphasized that the recognition reflects the company's purpose-driven approach to innovation, which focuses on exciting customers, enriching consumer lives, and advancing progress in local communities. Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, noted that the organizations on this year's list demonstrate how intentional cultural choices that value creativity and risk-taking inevitably lead to breakthrough innovations. Henkel's inclusion on this prestigious list validates its strategic investments in creating an environment where innovation can thrive at all levels of the organization.