AkzoNobel Advances Towards 100% Renewable Electricity with Major Milestones in China

AkzoNobel Advances Towards 100% Renewable Electricity with Major Milestones in China

(IN BRIEF) AkzoNobel is making significant progress in China toward its goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity across its production sites. Currently, eight of the company’s 15 facilities in China are utilizing a combination of self-generated and externally sourced renewable energy. By 2026, the Shanghai and Wuhan sites aim for 90% renewable electricity. AkzoNobel has also earned several “green factory” accolades for its efforts, and in 2024, it expanded its solar energy initiatives, installing over 5,600 panels in multiple locations. The company has already achieved 100% renewable electricity at its North American, Latin American, and European sites.

(PRESS RELEASE) AMSTERDAM, 7-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — AkzoNobel is making significant strides in its pursuit of 100% renewable electricity across its production sites, with more than half of its facilities in China now nearing that milestone. As part of the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, eight out of 15 Chinese sites are already using a blend of self-generated and externally sourced renewable electricity to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and move towards zero-carbon alternatives.

This year, AkzoNobel’s Suzhou and Changzhou plants will achieve full renewable electricity coverage. Meanwhile, Shanghai and Wuhan are on track to reach 90% renewable electricity by 2026. Additionally, two Langfang facilities have already achieved 100% renewable energy use, and the Guangzhou site is expected to double its current 20% renewable electricity share by January 2025. The Decorative Paints plant in Chengdu is currently sourcing 18% of its electricity from renewable sources.

“We are fully dedicated to reaching our goal of 100% renewable electricity in our operations by 2030,” said Wijnand Bruinsma, Director of Sustainability at AkzoNobel. “The progress we are seeing in China is incredibly encouraging, and we remain committed to driving the transition at all our manufacturing sites worldwide.”

The company’s strategy includes a combination of on-site renewable generation and external sourcing, which not only reduces grid pressure but also contributes to increasing energy capacity for the wider transition. Building on the success of its initial solar installations in China in 2021, AkzoNobel launched the second phase of its solar energy projects in 2024. This expansion includes over 5,600 solar panels installed across Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.

As of February 2025, AkzoNobel has earned six government-certified “green factory” designations in China, including three at the national level in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and three at the local level in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Changzhou.

Globally, AkzoNobel has already reached 100% renewable electricity across all its manufacturing locations in North America, Latin America, and Europe. In 2024, the company also completed the installation of its largest European solar energy plant at the Pilawa site in Poland, featuring 3,551 solar panels with a capacity of 1.9 MWp.

For more details on AkzoNobel’s sustainability efforts and progress, the company’s recently published 2024 annual report provides further insight.

About AkzoNobel 

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing more sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

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SOURCE: AKZONOBEL