Page 28 - Respond 2022 Magazine

PIONEERING A SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE FOR PAINTS AND COATINGS
AkzoNobel’s

commitment to

People. Planet. Paint.

A TRACK RECORD OF through the launch of People. Planet. Paint. waste and to recycle wasted water at our
SUSTAINABILITY Our approach to sustainable business. most water intensive sites. These ambitions
Sustainability is one of our core values are not only achievable but we’re on track
and is integrated in everything we do. PEOPLE. PLANET. PAINT: to get there.
Whether it’s coatings that protect against THE KEY TO SUSTAINABILITY
bacteria, save energy usage or transform People: We act with integrity and respect Paint: Currently, AkzoNobel generates
spaces through colour, we’re experts in human rights across our operations and approximately 40% of our revenue from
looking beyond the surface in order to bring value chain, embracing diversity and sustainable solutions, which is the highest
them to life. Sustainability is integrated in inclusion, to transform the communities in in the industry. However, it is not enough.
everything we do, and it’s been in our DNA which we operate. It's about ensuring a safe AkzoNobel continues to focus on innovation
since 1792. and diverse work environment, developing and pioneering new products that have a
our talented workforce, embracing our sustainability benefit. By 2030, AkzoNobel
We’ve become a member in various values and our approach to human aims sustainable solutions to make up more
associations and organizations, which rights. AkzoNobel supports the Universal than 50% of the company’s revenue.
align with our sustainability approach, Declaration on Human Rights, the UN
namely, the World Green Building Council, Guiding Principles on Business and Human Today, AkzoNobel has committed to
United Nations Global Compact, Together Rights, and the Declaration of Fundamental tackling climate change and helping the
for Sustainability, RE100, The Dutch Principles and Rights at Work of the company’s customers reduce their own
Sustainable Growth Coalition, the Ocean International Labor Organization. carbon emissions through intelligently
CleanUp, SOS Children’s Villages and more. designed products and solutions. These
Planet: For many years, we’ve been working include the following:
Our efforts have also been recognized to operate in a more sustainable way, and
by Sustainalytics (assessed as low risk, we continue to take steps to reduce our Reduction of Urban Heat Island effect:
the best possible rating in our industry), environmental impact through reformed Cities experience the “urban heat island
EcoVadis (Platinum rating placing us in the value chains. We focus particularly on effect”, especially those cities that are
top 1% of all companies studied), MSCI (AAA reducing energy use, carbon emissions, subject to temperatures of 35°C and above
rating for six consecutive years), Vigeo Eiris VOCs and waste, while increasing our use throughout the year. This results in growing
(first in our industry), Corporate Knights of renewable energy and materials. energy consumption, which is needed to
Clean200 and more. Our aim is to reduce carbon emissions in cool down buildings. What many people
our own operations by 50% by 2030 and are unaware of, however, is the fact that the
As a leader in our industry AkzoNobel is by 42% across the whole value chain of a materials used on exterior façades can have
committed to playing our part in pioneering 2020 baseline, reduce energy consumption a significant impact on the temperature
a world of possibilities to bring surfaces by 30% by 2030, and use 100% renewable inside a building.
to life while empowering people and electricity by 2030. We also have an
minimizing our impact on the planet ambition to produce zero non-reusable When infrared radiation from the sun
strikes the surface of a building, some
of it is reflected and some is absorbed
in the form of heat. This causes the
exterior wall of the building to increase in
temperature, and this heat is subsequently
transmitted to the interior of the building.
Thanks to innovative technology and
smart formulation modelling software, our
researchers have developed strategies
to increase the solar reflectivity of our
coatings. We’ve carefully managed the
pigments we use in our paints to create
striking colours while at the same time
significantly increasing the amount of
infrared radiation which is reflected by
building façades. The result is a difference
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