German chemical and consumer goods manufacturing major Henkel, has announced a comprehensive global solidarity program to support employees, customers and communities facing the global Covid 19 pandemic.

Under the program, Henkel will donate 2 million euro (Rs 16 crore) to different organizations to help fight the pandemic. The Fritz Henkel Foundation will donate 1 million euros (Rs 8 crore) directly to the Covid 19 Solidarity Response Fund launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) Foundation. The donation is set up to provide protective equipment for frontline health workers, equip diagnostic laboratories, improve data collection and analysis, establish and maintain intensive care units as well as to accelerate research and development of potential vaccines and therapeutics. Another 1 million euro will be distributed by the Fritz Henkel Foundation globally to different organisations and partners as well as to support the personal commitment and voluntary engagement of employees fighting the crisis.

Henkel will also donate 5 million units of personal and household hygiene products globally, which includes hand sanitizers, soaps and protective equipment as well as detergents, disinfectants and other household cleaning products. The company’s corporate citizenship team will implement these donations in close coordination with charity organisations, local authorities and partners around the world.

The chemical company is also shifting production facilities to produce disinfectants in selected production sites. The products are intended to help public institutions and professional groups in the fight against the coronavirus.

Furthermore, Henkel says since the onset of the crisis, it has addressed the situation proactively through its management teams on country, regional and global level. The primary objective of the crisis management is to do everything possible to ensure the safety of employees, customers and business partners and to maintain operations under these challenging circumstances.

Carsten Knobel, CEO, Henkel said: “At Henkel, we are committed to help addressing this unprecedented challenge. In line with our values, we want to make a contribution through a comprehensive global solidarity program. We stand united in our fight against the pandemic, striving to protect our employees and their jobs, serving our customers and supporting the communities in which we operate.”