AkzoNobel has achieved its 2030 operational carbon emissions reduction target four years ahead of schedule, reaching an important sustainability milestone as it continues its journey towards becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The target, approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), was established in 2020 and committed the company to reducing its Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions by 50% compared with its 2018 baseline.
According to Wijnand Bruinsma, AkzoNobel's Director of Sustainability, reaching the goal ahead of schedule demonstrates the company's long-term commitment to reducing its environmental impact while supporting more sustainable manufacturing.
A significant contribution came from AkzoNobel's production facility in Pilawa, Poland, where the company recently invested €1.7 million to replace gas-fired boilers with energy-efficient heat pumps. The site is also home to AkzoNobel's largest solar energy installation in Europe, which has been operating since 2024 and consists of 3,551 solar panels.
The company said it now operates on 100% renewable electricity across North America, Latin America and Europe, covering 69% of its manufacturing facilities. Renewable electricity has also recently been introduced at operations in South Africa and Vietnam, increasing the total number of AkzoNobel sites powered entirely by renewable electricity to 92.
Bruinsma said the progress achieved within AkzoNobel's own operations is intended to encourage similar action throughout the company's wider value chain.
While operational emissions have reached the company's interim target, AkzoNobel acknowledged that reducing Scope 3 emissions remains a greater challenge. Its objective is to halve value chain emissions by 2030, requiring close collaboration with suppliers, customers and business partners to accelerate progress.
The achievement represents a significant step in AkzoNobel's broader sustainability strategy, demonstrating how investments in renewable energy and energy-efficient manufacturing can deliver measurable reductions in operational carbon emissions years ahead of schedule.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the collision repair industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the African automotive sector forward.
More From Industry
South Africa’s SEZ Programme Draws R14.8bn as Government Pushes New Industrial Growth Phase
South Africa’s Special Economic Zones programme has generated R14.8 billion in revenue and supported the creation of more than 30,000 jobs, according to Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Preparing South Africa’s Workforce for Automotive Change
A joint NAACAM and ILO study warns that South Africa must accelerate skills development to prepare its automotive workforce for the transition to new energy vehicles and advanced manufacturing technologies.
BASF Coatings Becomes Surventis and Begins New Chapter as Independent Business
The former BASF Coatings business has entered a new era as Surventis, launching as an independent global company focused on accelerating innovation, expanding its coatings portfolio and strengthening customer partnerships worldwide.
New Automotive Hub Set to Drive Opportunity in Alexandra
A new automotive hub in Alexandra is set to expand opportunities for township businesses, skills development and industry participation as Johannesburg advances its local economic development strategy.
Plasnomics to Launch Global Benchmark Plastic Repair Centre in US, No Plans for South Africa
Plasnomics is expanding its repair-first strategy with a new Plastic Repair Excellence Centre in the United States, aiming to create a global model for sustainable automotive plastic repair and industry collaboration.
SAMBRA Urges Insurers to Broaden Fuel Relief as Repairers Face Mounting Cost Pressure
SAMBRA is calling on insurers to introduce more consistent fuel relief measures, warning that rising operating costs continue to place significant pressure on South Africa's motor body repair industry.