Better Health for All

Beiersdorf supports mental well-being through various initiatives. For employees, it offers psychological counseling

, compassionate leave for caregivers , and reintegration support for those with critical illnesses . The company also provides a digital psychological support app for individuals with skin conditions .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Beiersdorf was certified as a Universal Fair Pay Leader by the Fair Pay Innovation Lab in 2025.

The company reported an adjusted gender pay gap of 0.56% in Germany and a global adjusted gender pay gap of 0.98% favoring males, which was confirmed by a comprehensive audit in 2023. Beiersdorf aims for global certification by 2026. The company integrates human rights policies with UN and ILO standards, ensuring fair wages, safe conditions, and prohibiting child and forced labor throughout its supply chain. Its Responsible Sourcing Program includes risk assessments and independent audits for compliance. The Code of Conduct for Business Partners requires adherence to labor standards, prohibits unauthorized deductions, and ensures no recruitment fees for workers. In 2022, forced labor conditions were identified among sugar cane harvesters in Brazil supplying the NIVEA brand, leading the company to suspend supply pending investigation.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

Over 90% of Beiersdorf's goods and services are procured from partners committed to its Code of Conduct for Business Partners.

This code aligns with international standards, prohibiting child and forced labor, promoting non-discrimination, and ensuring environmental protection. High-risk suppliers undergo on-site audits by independent third-party auditors. The company achieved RSPO Supply Chain Certification in 2016 and joined the Responsible Mica Initiative in 2023, utilizing a blockchain-based tool for mica traceability down to first processing units. Beiersdorf also supports sustainable palm oil cultivation with WWF and Evonik in Indonesia and empowers women shea collectors in Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Honest & Fair Business

Beiersdorf has a comprehensive and robust Compliance Management System (CMS) to prevent and detect corruption and bribery. This system includes mandatory and targeted training programs with participation rates of 92% for the Consumer Business Segment and 99% for tesa in 2024.

The company reported no convictions or fines related to corruption or bribery offenses in the 2024 reporting period, indicating effective enforcement. Furthermore, suppliers responsible for 70% of direct material purchasing volume had submitted EcoVadis self-disclosures by the end of 2023, and over 90% of goods were procured through partners committed to a Code of Conduct. For whistleblowing, Beiersdorf provides multiple accessible and confidential channels, including the 'Speak up. We care.' platform, for employees and external stakeholders to report compliance violations. While mandatory training programs are in place for the CMS, specific effectiveness metrics for the whistleblowing program are not publicly measured.

Kind to Animals

Beiersdorf has been at the forefront of developing and promoting alternative test methods for over 40 years

, contributing to the successful development and validation of key methodologies now internationally accepted by the OECD . The company maintains a global ban on all non-essential animal testing for cosmetic products and ingredients, only conducting tests when specifically required by law . It actively advocates for the global acceptance of alternative methods and collaborates with over 50 partners to advance non-animal testing methods . However, the company's sourcing of palm oil and natural rubber in Southeast Asia contributes to biodiversity loss . Beiersdorf supports multi-year conservation projects, including the FONAP and WWF collaborations , which aim to protect the habitat of local flora and fauna and create forest corridors for wildlife such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and elephants , with documented improvements for multiple species .

No War, No Weapons

Beiersdorf AG operates in the consumer goods sector, with no involvement in military contracts, arms manufacturing, or the military-industrial complex

. The company has no records of participation in peace-promoting initiatives or disarmament advocacy .

Planet-Friendly Business

Beiersdorf AG reported total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions of 1,604,422 tCO2e in 2024.

Its climate targets, including a net-zero target by 2045 with interim reductions of 70% for Scope 1 and 2 and 40% for Scope 3 by 2032 (vs. 2018), have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as aligned with the 1.5°C pathway. In 2024, 51% of the Group's total energy consumption was sourced from renewables. The company has no objective or capital expenditure plan for aligning economic activities with the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Beiersdorf has implemented TCFD, including quantitative climate scenario analysis. Packaging CO2e reductions of 58% for deodorant aerosol cans and 60% for NIVEA Naturally Good face care jars have been achieved.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Beiersdorf experienced one cultural appropriation incident in 2017 when a NIVEA advertisement featuring the slogan 'White is Purity' was perceived as racially insensitive, leading to significant backlash

. The company's reactive response involved removing the advertisement and issuing an apology, but this was criticized for lacking sincerity and failing to address broader cultural awareness . Beiersdorf collaborates with WWF and Evonik to support smallholder palm oil farmers in Indonesia and Malaysia , and partners with the Global Shea Alliance and supplier AAK to support 10,000 female shea collectors in Ghana and Burkina Faso . The company employs Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) principles and has policies to ensure community consultation and protection of cultural rights in its palm oil sourcing . Additionally, Beiersdorf has committed €4 million to its 'Women in Circularity' initiative, empowering over 1,600 women in recycling across Argentina, Ghana, India, and Kenya , and has supported girls and young women globally through educational and protective projects with NGOs since 2020 .

Safe & Smart Tech

Beiersdorf AG adheres to the EU GDPR, ensuring transparency in data processing.

Its 2023 Corporate Governance Statement emphasizes compliance with legal and internal guidelines, supported by data protection programs. In 2023, the company recruited a Manager for Decision & Artificial Intelligence, indicating a proactive approach to integrating AI responsibly.

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Beiersdorf has achieved "zero waste to landfill" status for six out of seven facilities.

In 2023, 67% of all packaging was considered globally recyclable, and 80% was designed for recycling. The company achieved a 16% reduction in fossil-based virgin plastics in packaging in 2023 compared to a 2019 baseline. Recycled material in plastic packaging reached 12% in 2023. Beiersdorf adheres to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Replace" principles for plastic packaging and is a network member of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation since 2021. The tesa segment recycles almost all nonhazardous and hazardous waste containing solvents. The company has implemented numerous waste reduction initiatives, including a partnership for in-store shower gel refill stations, joining the HOLYGRAIL 2.0 initiative, developing an industry standard for cosmetic grade recycled plastic, and launching the 'Women in Circularity' program which aims to collect and recycle 15,000 tons of plastic annually. The Eucerin refillable jar reduces plastic usage by 90% and saves 24 metric tons of plastic annually. Beiersdorf has set ambitious targets, including a 50% reduction in fossil-based virgin plastic by 2025 (with a revised target to fully cease by 2032), 30% recycled material in plastic packaging by 2025, and 100% refillable, reusable, or recyclable packaging by 2025. They also target zero waste to landfill by 2025 and aim to use only biodegradable polymers in European product formulations by 2025.