AkzoNobel continues to tackle climate change by setting a new pioneering carbon reduction target.
Paint manufacturer AkzoNobel has announced the extension of its sustainability plan, that will also include carbon reduction targets for the full value chain of the company. AkzoNobel has now aligned its carbon footprint with the Paris agreement, a treaty that aims to limit global warming and contain the global temperature at 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels.
AkzoNobel expects to be able to reduce carbon emissions for the whole value chain by 42% by 2030. This target will apply to all operations, partners, suppliers and customers. The target is being officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and will accelerate the company’s vision for its own “People. Planet. Paint.” approach to sustainable business.
“Setting a target like this really matters. It’s a clear signal that we’re preparing to mobilize our teams globally and take stronger action to tackle climate change. We need to act fast and focus on collaboration and innovation. When push comes to shove, there are those who contribute towards a zero-carbon future and those who don't. We’re determined to do all we can and set the example by being the frontrunner in our industry”, stated Thierry Vanlancker, CEO of AkzoNobel.
The company has already been characterised by environmental ambitions, such as halving carbon emissions and using only renewable electricity for company’s operations by 2030. Moreover, in about a year AkzoNobel will operate only on renewable electricity in Europe.
“To achieve our carbon reduction target, we have to look further than our own operations. So, we’ll be encouraging all our value chain partners to transition to lower/zero carbon alternatives. I also encourage our peers to commit to the SBTi, announce their own targets and join us in setting the right example in our industry”, added Vanlancker.
The paint manufacturer is at the forefront of the battle against global warming and believes that collaboration is the key to success. As a matter of fact, Thierry Vanlancker is a member of the European CEO Alliance: a cross-industry partnership designed to help fight climate change, build economic resilience and contribute to the EU Green Deal.