January 17th, 2022
AkzoNobel’s drive towards zero waste and reduced carbon emissions has been boosted by their assessment from one of their key sustainability ratings agencies.
The Sustainalytics score of 16.7, announced in December, shows an improvement of two percentage points on the previous year and puts AkzoNobel firmly in the ‘low risk’ category.
Among their strengths were robust emissions, effluents and waste management program, carbon program, management of the environmental and social impact of products and services, and corporate governance. AkzoNobel also received high scores for their diversity and inclusion programs, human rights policies, business ethics and approach to occupational health.
The Sustainalytics assessment topped off a year which saw AkzoNobel become one of the first recipients of the Terra Carta Seal, a major new award recognizing global companies which are driving innovation and showing commitment to creating sustainable markets. The company was also named by independent think-tank InfluenceMap on its A-List of Climate Policy Engagement as one of 15 corporate leaders advocating for ambitious climate policy.
The commitment and dedication of AkzoNobel’s teams across the company – including those in Health, Safety, Environment and Security (HSE&S), Product Safety Regulatory Affairs (PSRA), Product Stewardship, Quality Control, Logistics, Procurement, Compliance and Integrity, Communications, Culture and Change, Human Resources and Manufacturing – have all played a vital role.
As AkzoNobel works towards the science-based sustainability targets set last year, to reduce carbon emissions across the entire value chain by 50 percent by 2030 (against a 2018 baseline), the company is inviting everyone along on the journey. Innovation, collaboration, cooperation and conversation will be key as they accelerate our People. Planet. Paint. approach to sustainable business and explore further possibilities that can benefit the world we live in.
Commenting on the achievements of the past year, CEO Thierry Vanlancker said: “It’s a clear endorsement of all the work we’re doing across AkzoNobel. By combining the power of nature with the transformative power of paint – which is exactly what we do for people and the environment - it demonstrates why paint matters in the fight against climate change. Successfully combating the impact of climate change is everyone’s responsibility, so we have to work with all our value chain partners to transition to lower/zero carbon alternatives.”
