Mumbai: Henkel has achieved a significant sustainability milestone by reaching carbon-neutral production at its manufacturing sites in Kurkumbh, India, and Gebkim, Türkiye.
The achievement marks a major step in Henkel’s global sustainability strategy within its Adhesive Technologies business and supports the company’s ambition to decarbonize its operations by 2030.
The two production facilities have successfully eliminated both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, reinforcing Henkel’s commitment to science-based climate targets and sustainable manufacturing practices.
The milestone was made possible through a combination of electrification initiatives, the elimination of fossil fuel usage, and the adoption of 100% renewable energy.
Both facilities now operate without fossil fuels, achieving zero Scope 1 emissions while sourcing all electricity requirements from renewable energy, thereby reducing Scope 2 emissions to zero.
The company stated that these accomplishments contribute directly to its global sustainability agenda, which focuses on reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency measures, electrification, and the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels while expanding renewable energy adoption across its worldwide production network.
Henkel Transforms Kurkumbh Site into Carbon-Neutral Manufacturing Facility
At the Kurkumbh facility in India, Henkel achieved carbon-neutral operations by replacing furnace oil-based thermic fluid heaters with high-efficiency electric heating systems, completely eliminating fossil fuel consumption from the site’s production processes.
The transition involved a comprehensive modernization of the plant’s energy infrastructure. This included optimizing heat loads, installing advanced high-efficiency heat exchangers, and making substantial investments in electrical capacity to enable full electrification.
In addition, Henkel transitioned the facility to 100% renewable electricity, enabling the complete elimination of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. The measures resulted in the reduction of approximately 11,300 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions, representing a major milestone in the site’s decarbonization journey.
Henkel Electrifies Operations at Gebkim Plant in Türkiye
At its Gebkim plant in Türkiye, Henkel implemented a major electrification project by replacing a natural gas-fired boiler with a high-efficiency electric boiler system.
The transition eliminated direct fossil fuel usage at the facility and reduced Scope 1 emissions to zero. According to Henkel, the project delivers an annual reduction of approximately 956 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions.
The initiative demonstrates the company’s commitment to implementing scalable decarbonization solutions across different geographies and manufacturing environments.
Simon Ulmann, VP Supply Chain & Operations IMEA, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, said: “Achieving carbon-neutral production at two of our key Flagship sites in IMEA is a strong step forward in delivering on Henkel Adhesive Technologies’ global sustainability ambitions.”
“Our ambition is clear: we are systematically eliminating fossil fuels from all our operations and replacing them with electrified processes powered by renewable energy. Our manufacturing milestone in both Kurkumbh and Gebkim show how we can translate our strategy into tangible impact at site level, accelerating our journey toward net-zero operations.”
Henkel Reinforces Commitment to Sustainable Growth
Highlighting the significance of the Kurkumbh achievement, Bappa Bandyopadhyay, Director Operations & Projects India, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, said: “Achieving carbon neutrality at our Kurkumbh site underscores our strong commitment to sustainable growth, responsible manufacturing, and operational excellence.”
“Through renewable energy adoption and continuous efficiency improvements, we have significantly reduced our carbon footprint while upholding the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance. This milestone shows that sustainability and business performance can advance together to create long-term value,” he added.
Henkel Accelerates Progress Toward Net-Zero Operations
By expanding electrification and renewable energy adoption across its manufacturing footprint, Henkel is accelerating the decarbonization of its global production network.
The company stated that these initiatives are critical to achieving its broader net-zero ambition by reducing the carbon footprint of its operations and value chain while supporting customers in meeting their own sustainability objectives.
The achievement at Kurkumbh and Gebkim highlights Henkel’s commitment to leading the transition toward sustainable industrial manufacturing and demonstrates that fossil fuel-free production can be both achievable and scalable across regions.
