AkzoNobel Using 100 Percent Renewable Energy Across North America

All North American AkzoNobel locations are operating on 100% renewable electricity, the company says. This development is helping drive the company’s goal of reducing carbon emissions across the full value chain by 50% by 2030 (baseline 2018).

The milestone — reached at the beginning of 2023 — is the latest in AkzoNobel’s ongoing efforts to transition to 100% renewable electricity at all its sites globally. Europe achieved the goal at the start of 2022.

“We’ve aligned our own sustainability ambitions with the Paris agreement, which aims to limit global warming and ensure that global temperature rise doesn’t exceed 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels,” explains Wijnand Bruinsma, AkzoNobel’s director of sustainability. “As the first paints and coatings company to also set science-based sustainability targets, we’re determined to fulfill our ambitions, and this achievement in North America is another big step in the right direction.”

The transition to 100% renewable electricity in North America includes manufacturing sites, offices, warehouses, and research and development facilities. However, the company says it is looking further than its own operations.

“As well as moving to renewable electricity and reducing our overall energy consumption, we’re also working across our value chain,” Bruinsma continues. “We’re engaging with our suppliers and continue to develop sustainable solutions that help our customers reduce their own carbon footprint.”

Examples of how AkzoNobel is moving to 100% renewable electricity globally include self-generated renewable electricity through solar panel installation at many locations and sourcing renewable electricity when the company’s solar panels don’t cover its total consumption needs. For the remaining need, AkzoNobel purchases renewable electricity with certificates of origin.