In 1948, J.C. Hempel—founder of paints and coatings company Hempel A/S (Lyngby, Denmark)—founded the Hempel Foundation to secure the long-term growth and development of his company and to give back to society.
On November 30, 2023, over 7,500 Hempel colleagues around the world celebrated 75 years of the Hempel Foundation. With a mission of making a positive impact in the world, the Hempel Foundation drives change on some of the world’s most pressing issues, according to the company.
In 2022 alone, the foundation spent €21 million on philanthropic work in the areas of Education, biodiversity, and Science.
“By working at Hempel, all colleagues contribute to the work of the Hempel Foundation through their daily work,” says Michael Hansen, group president and CEO of Hempel A/S. “The foundation’s work is a great source of pride and inspiration for all of us at Hempel. It shows us that we can make a difference by doing what we do best: deliver trusted solutions that protect assets, beautify spaces, and enhance lives.”
The foundation typically receives annual dividends from Hempel A/S. Historically, this has been around half of the net profit after taxes generated by the company. In 2022, this equated to approximately €3,000 from each person working at Hempel.
Going forward, the Hempel Foundation’s goals include:
- By 2030, the foundation aims to reach 1 million children in low-income countries with quality basic education.
- Working with global conservation partners, the foundation aims to protect 5 million hectares of vital tropical forests by 2030.
- The foundation has laid grounds for a world-leading education, research and innovation center at the Technical University of Denmark to make coatings and surface protection more effective and sustainable.
Every year, a group of Hempel colleagues are invited to join an “iWitness tour” to get a first-hand experience of the foundation’s global work. Previous destinations include Rwanda, Uganda, and Indonesia. Colleagues of all backgrounds and across locations are invited to apply and learn more about the foundation and its projects.
Source: Hempel, www.hempel.com.