AkzoNobel Decorative Paints Puts the Environment First

A rainwater harvesting system, £335,000 worth of savings on heating and over 1,000 tonnes of waste reductions - how the Decorative Paints team were re-accredited with the Carbon Trust Triple Standard.

29.07.2015

AkzoNobel Decorative Paints has achieved international recognition for its efforts to reduce environmental impact. The Carbon Trust organisation, an independent company with a mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, has recognised the way in which we have grown to meet the demands of our fast-changing planet.

We've held the Carbon Trust Standard continuously since 2009, and are proud to be one of the first companies to be recertified for all three Carbon Trust Standards for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water usage. Here's how we did it:

1. We've strived to continuously reduce our impact on the environment, saving over 1,000 tonnes of paint waste a year - that's nearly 15 per cent of our total waste footprint. We've achieved this by transforming waste from paint manufacturing into construction products and landscaping materials, and landfill site capping.

2. The Rainwater Harvesting System at our manufacturing plant in Prudhoe saves around 900,000 litres of water a year and has won a British Coatings Federation Sustainable Innovation Award.

3. A new heating and cooling system at the Slough Headquarters, which aims to reduce energy consumption by 96 per cent and cuts the company's total energy bill from £350,000 to £15,000 per year.

4. Trials with a Centrifuge at Slough Manufacturing site initiated in 2014 has led to a 70 per cent reduction in waste paint sludge being removed from site.

Darran Messem, Managing Director for Carbon Trust Certification, adds: 'AkzoNobel has, for years, demonstrated a clear commitment to becoming a more sustainable business, which resulted in the company becoming one of the first organisations to achieve certification to the Carbon Trust Standard for carbon, water and waste two years ago, making real reductions in all three resources year-on-year.'

That, we think, calls for a round of applause!

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