AkzoNobel has already achieved its 2030 ambition of halving carbon emissions in its own operations.
AkzoNobel set the goal to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50%, using 2018 as a baseline, a target that was validated by the Science Based Targets initiative in 2021.
Achieving the target four years ahead of schedule shows how sustainability is embedded in AkzoNobel’s day-to-day business and supports the company’s longer-term ambition to become carbon neutral by 2050.
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.”
AkzoNobel is currently operating with 100% renewable electricity on three continents – North America, Latin America and Europe – covering 69% of its manufacturing sites.
The full switch over was also recently completed in South Africa and Vietnam. In total, 92 AkzoNobel locations now use 100% renewable electricity.
AkzoNobel Packaging Coatings contributes to this progress
AkzoNobel completed a €32 million investment in a new packaging coatings plant in Villafranca, Spain in 2025, strengthening its ability to supply bisphenol-free coatings for the metal packaging industry across EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa). This facility uses 100% renewable energy and also combines advanced automation with high eco-efficiency standards, helping deliver a step-change in both energy and material efficiency.
Improvements have also been made at AkzoNobel’s production facility in Chonburi, Thailand which includes renewable energy generation and has allowed for an 18% reduction in electricity from the grid. The site is also saving energy with LED lighting and a program to shutdown lighting and utilities when not in use.
AkzoNobel also invested $3.6 million in its coatings manufacturing facility in García, Mexico, to increase production capacity and improve efficiency for customers across North America, including Mexico and the southwest region of the U.S.
At García, around 40% of the site’s energy is currently generated on site by solar panels installed on car ports, rooftops and a ground-level solar farm. This on-site generation complements AkzoNobel’s broader use of renewable electricity. Combined with energy-efficient equipment upgrades and LED lighting conversions, these investments have reduced emissions and lowered reliance on grid electricity.
Focus now turns to Scope 3 emissions
“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.”
Lower-carbon innovation in packaging coatings
To support this, AkzoNobel is reducing the carbon footprint of its raw materials, as well as the energy required to apply and cure its products. One example is AkzoNobel’s move to alternative technology for BPAni (BPA non-intent) inside spray coatings for can bodies, including Accelshield™ 150 and 300. Accelshield is using acrylic resin, which has half the carbon footprint of epoxy alternatives, and when applied to a 33cl can, the carbon footprint of the coatings is reduced by 22%.
Chris Bradford, Director of Marketing and Product Management – Industrial Coatings at AkzoNobel adds: “Our customers are adapting to a changing regulatory framework, and we’re focused on supporting them every step of the way. At the same time, we’re doing the hard work behind the scenes within AkzoNobel to reduce carbon emissions across the value chain.”
More information about AkzoNobel’s sustainability ambitions can be found on its sustainability page, and in the 2025 annual report.