Beiersdorf Sets Standards: Award for Pay Equity

• Beiersdorf recognized as Universal Fair Pay Leader for pay equity in Germany
• Adjusted gender pay gap of 0.56% in Germany
• Target: global certification as Universal Fair Pay Leader in 2026

Hamburg, March 6, 2025 – Beiersdorf is the second company in Germany to be certified as Universal Fair Pay Leader by the Fair Pay Innovation Lab (FPI). Companies receive this award if their pay structures show no significant differences between the remuneration of women and men and the adjusted pay gap does not exceed 1% and the unadjusted pay gap does not exceed 10%.

“At Beiersdorf, we are convinced that talent is evenly distributed – opportunities and salaries should thus be as well. The certification as Universal Fair Pay Leader in Germany shows that we are on the right track,” emphasizes Nicola Lafrentz, Chief Human Resources Officer at Beiersdorf. “With an adjusted pay gap of less than 1%, we are well below the EU median for the consumer goods industry in Europe, which is 2% according to a recent survey by Mercer. This is a great result and clear evidence of Beiersdorf’s consistent focus on pay equity and equality,” says Lafrentz.

Last year, Beiersdorf carried out a comprehensive audit of wage structures in 50 countries for the Consumer Business Segment, covering around 12,000 employees (70%) as a first step. The results speak for themselves: Across all countries surveyed, the company reports an adjusted pay gap of just 0.98% in favor of male employees. This means that a female employee at Beiersdorf receives an average of 99 cents for every one euro earned by their male counterpart. In Germany, one of the company’s most important markets and the country of its corporate headquarters, this gap is as low as 0.56%, meaning that Beiersdorf Germany has been certified as Universal Fair Pay Leader.

“We reached an important milestone in 2023 when Beiersdorf achieved gender parity across all management positions worldwide. But that was just the beginning,” states Nicola Lafrentz. “True equality means more than just gender parity – it’s about fair conditions for everyone, regardless of gender or origin. Our aim is to promote equal opportunities and an inclusive corporate culture in which everyone can develop their full potential. Pay equity is an ongoing process, and transparency is key to attaining it. We are proud of what we have already achieved. But we also know that we still have a long way to go,” explains Nicola Lafrentz.

Beiersdorf has set itself the goal of achieving global certification as Universal Fair Pay Leader for the Consumer Business Segment in 2026. Accordingly, the Equal Pay Audit 2025 will be carried out in every legal entity in which the company has employees. 

^{About the Fair Pay Innovation Lab (FPI)
FPI Fair Pay Innovation Lab supports companies in implementing fair pay practices by translating fair pay into everyday business operations. The organization awards the UNIVERSAL FAIR PAY CHECK® to certify companies that meet rigorous standards for pay equity. FPI’s mission is to ensure fair pay for all employees, regardless of their background, and to close wage gaps such as the gender pay gap. By providing data-driven insights and innovative solutions, FPI helps companies create equitable and inclusive workplaces.}