AkzoNobel Powder Coatings has become the first coatings manufacturer to achieve SMaRT certification, attaining platinum status. An acronym for Sustainable Materials Rating Technology, SMaRT is the major external standard for product sustainability. It’s a global certification that evaluates sustainability performance over a product’s life cycle and supply chain. It can apply to any product, from any industry, but products receiving SMaRT certification have openly documented their performance over a number of sustainability indicators ranging from minimizing the use of natural resources, to reducing waste and carbon footprint. Companies achieving SMaRT accreditation must complete a thorough application process, enter into a legally binding contract certifying that the data submitted is accurate and prove that qualified professionals were used. A third party audit is also required and applicants must also renew and verify certification every three years in order to stay current with environmental trends.