Beiersdorf AG is a global skin care company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. As an established DAX‑listed group, we have stood for innovative and science‑based skincare for more than 140 years and are the company behind NIVEA, one of the world’s largest skincare brands.
Beiersdorf’s international portfolio brings together some of the world’s most trusted skin care brands. Our most iconic brand is NIVEA, which has stood for care, trust, and innovation for over 110 years and is the market leader in the skin care segment in more than 95 countries. Other global brands include Eucerin, La Prairie, Chantecaille, and Hansaplast / Elastoplast / CURITAS, offering care solutions for diverse needs. Beiersdorf also owns tesa SE, a 100% subsidiary and one of the world’s leading manufacturers of adhesive tapes and self‑adhesive solutions for industry, trade, and consumers.
Beiersdorf employs 22,399 people (number on December 31, 2025) in more than 190 international affiliates worldwide.
In 2025, the total sales of Beiersdorf amounted to 9.852 million euros. More figures can be found in our Annual Report.
With over 190 affiliates and over 22,000 employees, Beiersdorf has a global presence. Production facilities all over the world as well as regional innovation centers ensure the consistent implementation of locally different preferences and skin needs of our consumers. In addition to our globally significant research and development center in Hamburg, we have regional innovation centers in China (Shanghai), the USA (New Jersey), Brazil, and India.
Sustainability is a cornerstone of our Win with Care business strategy and we bring this commitment to life through our Sustainability Agenda, launched in 2019. Since then, we have made substantial and measurable progress towards our long-term climate target of Net Zero emissions by 2045. Our first major milestone on this journey was to fully achieve and even surpass our 2025 Climate Target: We reduced our absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 33% compared to 2018 across Scopes 1–3, covering our entire value chain. With this result, we lead in emission-reduction within our industry. A key driver of this achievement has been the continuous improvement of our products: we have re‑invented and optimized many formulas and packaging solutions. We also reached our recycled‑content target, implementing 30% recycled material across our plastic packaging by the end of 2025. Looking ahead, our ambition remains clear. We strive to be the world’s best skin care company and that includes delivering on our Net Zero commitment. For the next stage of our sustainability journey, we are working towards our new climate target: −35% GHG emissions across Scopes 1–3 by 2030, compared to 2018. This target is aligned with the 1.5°C pathway and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), meaning it contributes directly to our Net Zero 2045 ambition. Sustainability is not an add‑on for Beiersdorf. It is an integral part of how we innovate, operate, and grow – for the people, the planet and our business in the future.
At Beiersdorf, since the end of 2021, all new NIVEA products worldwide and, since the end of 2023, all cosmetic formulations of Eucerin have been completely free of microplastics – as defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This means that today we rely globally on formulations that are free of microplastics and contribute to our responsibility approach to our environment. This commitment has a long tradition at Beiersdorf: As early as 2013, we were among the first cosmetics companies to decide to eliminate polyethylene peeling particles from our rinse-off cleansing skincare products and to replace them with environmentally friendly alternatives. This marked a pioneering step toward microplastic-free cosmetics eleven years ago – a journey we have successfully continued ever since.
Aluminium is the most common metal in the earth's crust. The aluminum salt aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH) is a compound from the group of aluminum salts obtained from pure aluminum and used as an active ingredient in antiperspirants. It narrows the sweat glands and thus inhibits sweating under the armpits. This prevents the development of unpleasant body odours and prevents the formation of wet stains on clothing. Aluminum salt-free deodorants, on the other hand, primarily prevent unpleasant odors after sweating, which are caused by bacteria on the skin, through fragrances and antibacterial agents. In addition, they can curb the growth of odor-causing bacteria and thus prevent unpleasant body odors. We offer our consumers the choice of a wide range of products, both pure deodorants and antiperspirants.
Anti-perspirants and other cosmetic products with aluminum can be used safely and without hesitation. Aluminum chlorohydrate from antiperspirants becomes an insoluble solid (aluminum hydroxide) when it comes into contact with sweat, which is practically impossible to penetrate the skin. Neither the daily use of antiperspirants with aluminum salts nor the use immediately after shaving increase the absorption of aluminum into the body. The daily use of other cosmetic products containing aluminium also does not contribute significantly to the total intake of aluminium, as recent scientific data have shown.
In March 2024, the SCCS (Scientific Advisory Panel on Consumer Safety of the EU Commission) published concentrations of aluminium in various cosmetic products that are considered safe. All Beiersdorf products are in line with the concentrations defined by the SCCS for the respective product categories.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has clearly confirmed the safe use of aluminium in antiperspirants on the basis of the latest scientific data.
Despite decades of research, no link has been found between breast cancer and antiperspirant use, nor Alzheimer's disease and the use of antiperspirants.
Parabens are used as an effective preservative in many water-containing cosmetic products. By preventing the spread of bacteria and mold after opening the product, the substance makes a significant contribution to consumer safety. Parabens have been widely used for about 80 years throughout the cosmetics industry due to their proven effectiveness and scientifically proven good tolerability. They are the best-researched preservatives.
Parabens have repeatedly been the subject of public debate, and understandably this has led to concerns with many consumers. However, the occasionally held assumption that parabens are deposited in the human body, disrupt the hormonal system and promote diseases contradicts the research results of many independent scientific studies that have been carried out in recent decades. The European Commission and the independent US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) also agree that parabens are harmless to health. According to this, all parabens that our body absorbs are quickly broken down. They are neither deposited nor do they have a negative effect on our hormonal system. Recently published statements by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety of the European Commission (SCCS) once again assess the use of parabens as safe. Beiersdorf's recognized expertise and in-house research in the field of skin care is fully in line with this assessment. Also according to the assessment of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and Stiftung Warentest, parabens do not have a hormone-like effect when used as a product. Parabens are legally approved as preservatives in cosmetic products.
For consumers who want to avoid parabens, we offer paraben-free products – in fact, the vast majority of our product portfolio does not contain parabens.
Nanoparticles are particles that have a size of less than 100 nm. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are used in sun protection products. They serve as particularly effective mineral UV filters, as they reflect the harmful UV rays of sunlight and, thanks to their nano-particle size, allow our sun protection products to be applied particularly easily on the skin.
Numerous scientific studies have shown that the nanopigments used by Beiersdorf do not penetrate the skin barrier after application and therefore do not enter the body. The safety of both UV-Filters has been extensively studied and assessed as harmless by independent scientific bodies, such as the SCCS (Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety).
Consumers can rest assured: Sun protection products with the UV filters titanium oxide and zinc oxide can be used without hesitation and make an important contribution to protecting the skin from sunburn, skin cancer and premature skin ageing.
Many essential cosmetic ingredients, such as emulsifiers and surfactants, are derived from mineral or plant‑based oils, including palm and palm kernel oil. Beiersdorf does not purchase palm or palm kernel oil in its pure form, nor do we manufacture derivatives based on these raw materials ourselves. We achieved our target of using 100% sustainably certified palm (kernel) oil and related derivatives by the end of 2020. As a result, all palm‑based raw materials used in our products now come from sustainable sources under the RSPO Mass Balance model. All our suppliers are bound by our Supplier Code of Conduct, which defines clear social and environmental requirements and ensures responsible sourcing. We work closely with partners across the entire value chain to promote a sustainable palm and palm kernel oil industry.
A sustainable palm and palm kernel oil sector does not contribute to the deforestation of primary or secondary forests. When cultivated responsibly, oil palms are among the most efficient oil crops globally, delivering high yields on comparatively small areas of land. This is why we actively support the advancement of sustainable standards through our engagement in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Forum for Sustainable Palm Oil (FONAP). As an active FONAP member, we advocate for continuously strengthening certification criteria. Compliance with these standards is verified annually through RSPO audits and confirmed by the RSPO Multi‑Site SCCS certificate.
As one of the leading skin research companies, we have been at the forefront of developing and promoting alternative test methods for more than 40 years. We are strongly committed to making animal testing obsolete worldwide. In the EU, animal testing has been completely banned for cosmetic products since 2004, and for all the ingredients of these products since 2013. We are convinced that animal testing is not necessary to prove the skin tolerability and effectiveness of our cosmetic products. This is the main reason why we do not conduct any animal testing for our cosmetic products and their ingredients, and do not have any animal testing done on our behalf – unless, in the very rare case, this is specifically required by law.
More about our commitment to alternative test methods can be found here.
