Indian subsidiary Henkel SPIC India has won the German-Indian environmental award 2000-2001. This prestigious award is presented annually to a leading company in environmental protection. The judges found that Henkel SPIC India was the best environmental performer in the chemical sector. The award was instituted by the Indian Greentech Foundation, in cooperation with the German Center for the Transfer of Environmental Technology and the Asian Center for Technology Transfer in New Delhi.

The winner is decided on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of its Environmental Management System in categories such as energy saving, waste recycling and employee training, as well as its general contribution to socioeconomic development.

In December 1999, Henkel SPIC India's Karaikal site was the first Indian detergents producer to be certified to the international environmental standard ISO 14001. The company recognizes that continuous improvement in environmental protection and safety is just one step on the way to sustainability. As the biggest employer in a mainly rural region, the company accepts that it has a social responsibility extending beyond the boundaries of its own site. For example, Henkel SPIC India works together routinely with local hospitals to promote regular health examinations in the region. Moreover, it provides targeted support to schools and students in the surrounding towns and villages.

Henkel SPIC India has around 250 employees and produces laundry detergents for the Indian market. In addition, it is responsible for the regional distribution of cosmetics.