November 16, 2017

Solvay and Henkel team up to double the number of Indian farmers in the Sustainable Guar Initiative

Henkel supports Solvay’s Sustainable Guar Initiative

Düsseldorf – Henkel joins multi-specialty chemical company Solvay’s Sustainable Guar Initiative as a new partner to help more than double the number of Indian farmers involved in this project to 6,500 by 2020.

The Sustainable Guar Initiative, implemented by non-profit organization TechnoServe, teaches and promotes sustainable agricultural practices among 3,000 guar bean farmers across twenty villages in the desert region of Bikaner, Rajasthan. Solvay as the world leader in guar derivatives used in home and personal care and other applications, initiated the project in 2015.

“Solvay welcomes Henkel as its partner to build on the success of this project, which improves the daily lives of the farmers and families while also benefiting various industrial uses. With this program, we aim to generate a long-term sustainable, fair and transparent value chain, from the guar farmer up to our most engaged customers,” said Emmanuel Butstraen, President of Solvay’s Novecare Global Business Unit.

“At Henkel, we recognize our responsibilities regarding ingredients based on renewable raw materials that we use in our products,” said Thomas Foerster, Corporate Vice President R&D Henkel Beauty Care. “We want to drive sustainability on the ground by teaming up with partners like Solvay and TechnoServe to directly support guar bean farmers in India. By empowering farmers and promoting sustainable farming methods, we aim to increase the global supply of sustainably-cultivated guar while also improving living and working conditions.”

“Guar is a critical income source of income for farmers in this area of India, and learning sustainable agronomic techniques greatly enhances their livelihoods and the well-being of their families,” said William Warshauer, President and CEO of TechnoServe. “These kinds of projects, which engage forward-thinking companies like Solvay and Henkel, are essential to sustainable development and are core to TechnoServe’s work worldwide.”

About Solvay
Solvay is a multi-specialty chemical company, committed to developing chemistry that addresses key societal challenges. Solvay innovates and partners with customers in diverse global end markets. Its products and solutions are used in planes, cars, smart and medical devices, batteries, in mineral and oil extraction, among many other applications promoting sustainability. Its lightweighting materials enhance cleaner mobility, its formulations optimize the use of resources and its performance chemicals improve air and water quality. Solvay is headquartered in Brussels with around 27,000 employees in 58 countries. Net sales were € 10.9 billion in 2016, with 90% from activities where Solvay ranks among the world's top 3 leaders. Solvay SA (SOLB.BE) is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLB.BR) and in the United States its shares (SOLVY) are traded through a level-1 ADR program.

About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2016, Henkel reported sales of 18.7 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 3.2 billion euros. Combined sales of the respective top brands of the three business units – Loctite, Schwarzkopf and Persil – amounted to more than 6 billion euros. Henkel employs more than 50,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose to create sustainable value, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.

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Contact	Hanna Philipps	Jennifer Ott
Phone	+49 211 797 3626	+49 211 797 2765	
Email	hanna.philipps@henkel.com	jennifer.ott@henkel.com                               	

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