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AkzoNobel achieves 50% carbon reduction target four years ahead of schedule

AkzoNobel has already achieved its 2030 ambition of halving carbon emissions in its own operations, making it one of the first companies to reach an SBTi-approved carbon reduction target ahead of schedule.

AkzoNobel set the goal to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50%, using 2018 as a baseline, which is approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and in line with the 1.5 degree C scenario.

Achieving the target four years ahead of schedule demonstrates how sustainability has become embedded in its day-to-day business and marking a major step towards the company’s longer-term ambition to become carbon neutral by 2050.
 

AkzoNobel Wood Finishes contributes to this progress

Within AkzoNobel Wood Finishes, investments into its coatings sites show what this progress looks like in practice. The High Point and Salem sites in the US, and Malmö in Europe, all operate on 100% renewable electricity, while ongoing improvements continue to focus on optimizing energy usage and reducing waste.

One example is the replacement of 2,000 light bulbs with LEDs at the Malmö site, which is expected to reduce energy consumption for lighting by around 50%

Sustainability leadership in operations

“We set out a clear vision to become carbon neutral by 2050 and we’re very proud to have taken an important step towards realizing that goal,” says Wijnand Bruinsma, AkzoNobel’s Director of Sustainability.

“As a leader in the global paints and coatings industry, we also aim to be recognized for our leadership in sustainability – and that’s not going to stop. Because it’s all about leading by example; managing carbon emission reduction in our own operations so we can convince the value chain to do the same.”

Focus on Scope 3 emissions

  1. Reducing Scope 3 emissions is important to AkzoNobel as 99% of its total emissions occur outside of its operations, and because climate change can affect its supply chain, its customers and the way it operates. So it is engaging upstream with suppliers, and downstream with customers, with a focus on introducing lower carbon footprint and biobased materials, and on the transition to energy-efficient UV and UV LED curing.
  2. “We’re not just focused on our own operations,” continues Bruinsma. “We also have a 2030 ambition to halve carbon emissions across our full value chain. That’s proving to be more of a challenge, but we’re making progress and will continue to innovate with suppliers, customers and other partners as we step up our efforts around Scope 3.”
  3. Tessa Slagter, Sustainable Innovation Manager, Industrial Coatings adds: “Reducing emissions across the value chain takes practical action and close collaboration. At AkzoNobel Wood Finishes, we’re focused on helping customers make informed choices that can lower energy use, support more sustainable production processes and move them forward on their own sustainability journey.”

How AkzoNobel Wood Finishes is supporting customers

This support includes:

  • Providing carbon footprint data for products through a carbon footprint calculator.
  • Helping customers identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions, such as switching from traditional solventborne coatings to waterborne UV coatings which can have up to 60% lower carbon footprint[1].
  • Helping customers switch to UV LED curing, with the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 70% compared to traditional lamps for curing wood coatings.[2]
  • Offering guidance around certifications and green building standards, including LEED, BREEAM, WELL, Nordic Swan and Möbelfakta.
  • Supporting the use of wood coatings that contain renewable raw materials across applications including windows, furniture, cabinets and exterior doors.

AkzoNobel Wood Coatings frames this practical approach to sustainability through its campaign line, “It all adds up,” reinforcing that measurable progress can come from many smaller actions taken across products, processes and partnerships.

More information about AkzoNobel’s sustainability ambitions can be found on its sustainability page, and in the 2025 annual report.

[1]all carbon emissions impact figures quoted are relative to the total baseline (GWP, cradle-to-gate with options: A1-A5, VOC and C3+C4).

[2] The State of UV-LED Curing - An Investigation of Chemistry and Applications.pdf.