AkzoNobel Wood Coatings Launches New Sustainability Campaign in North America

AkzoNobel Wood Coatings is launching a new campaign to raise awareness of the many opportunities and innovative ways that producers of wood products in North America can reduce waste, save energy, and reduce their carbon footprint – as well as improving operational efficiency in the process.

‘It all adds up’ aims to promote that every action counts when it comes to addressing the challenge of improving sustainability in the value chain. From small adjustments in processes to the use of renewable materials, to coatings that help to reduce waste, manufacturers can make changes that are of critical importance across the value chain.

The campaign also underscores the benefits of incorporating sustainability into decision-making and coating specifications, which can lead to cost savings and operational efficiencies for businesses producing wood products such as cabinetry, furniture, flooring and building products.

This educational approach not only benefits businesses in the industry on their sustainability journeys, but also aims to foster a broader cultural shift. AkzoNobel Wood Coatings will be using the campaign as a platform to drive the conversation about sustainability, with the aim of shaping and inspiring change, and helping manufacturers understand the vital role sustainability plays in ensuring a resilient, future-proof value chain.

AkzoNobel has set a company-wide goal to reduce the carbon footprint across its entire value chain by 50% by 2030*, and it’s committed to reducing its own carbon footprint by optimizing operations and energy usage. AkzoNobel is an official partner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Green Power Partnership (GPP), and AkzoNobel Wood Coatings is already converting to renewable electricity across its North American manufacturing sites. The use of 100% renewable energy at High Point (NC) and Salem (OR) is helping to significantly reduce its carbon footprint.

Bilal Salahuddin, Regional Commercial Director of AkzoNobel Wood Finishes, North America, says: “We seek to create genuine partnerships, leading the industry, sharing responsibility, and delivering meaningful change. It’s about working together, supporting our customers on the road towards a more sustainable future, every step of the way. Because it all adds up.”

Sarah Skinner, Product Marketing Director of AkzoNobel Wood Finishes, says that when it comes to sustainability every action counts: “With our wood coatings solutions and expertise we believe we can really help customers drive sustainability benefits in their business. Our ‘It all adds up’ campaign will encourage customers to think about sustainability on multiple levels, from the wood coatings products they use to the processes they follow.

“We know that paint matters, and as a business, we are always exploring new ways to make our products more sustainable,” explains Sarah. “It is why we’re dedicated to providing products that reduce waste, contain lower VOCs, and help customers to reduce their energy usage. It is why we’ll continue to invest in research and development that improves our product portfolio which already includes industry-leading UV technology, waterborne coatings, and solventborne coatings that are 100% formaldehyde-free or have ultra-low formaldehyde content.”

AkzoNobel has also developed a carbon footprint calculator to provide insights into each of its products**, enabling customers to make informed decisions around driving sustainability and operational efficiencies.

*Company-wide, across our full value chain, using 2018 as the baseline.
**Products manufactured in AkzoNobel facilities