AkzoNobel reaches 100% renewable energy in Latin America

AkzoNobel's extensive sustainability program reaches its renewable energy high point in Latin America, where all operations are now 100% renewable, primarily based on solar energy. The Global Renewable Energy Plan aims to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030; building on its achievements in Latin America, the company now has 62% renewable energy globally.

Daniel Campos, Business Director Latin America for AkzoNobel Decorative Coatings and a member of the Executive Committee, said:"We are very proud of our successful switch to 100% renewable electricity and further drive the company's transformation of all its facilities globally."

To achieve its 100% goal, the company has installed solar systems at 19 manufacturing sites in the region, including 1,580 solar panels at a decorative coatings plant in Recife, Brazil, where the system meets more than 30% of the company's energy needs. A larger installation of 4,640 panels was installed at the Rionegro paint and coatings plant in Colombia, which provides 24% of the plant's energy.

The Recife solar installation, developed and operated by EDP Renewables, produces 1,372 MWh of green electricity annually.

"The Recife solar panel project is another example of AkzoNobel's commitment to its ambition to use 100% renewable electricity by 2030," André Capareli, regional category manager at AkzoNobel expressed during commissioning of this project.

"As the first company in our industry to commit to science-based goals, sustainability is integrated into everything we do. We won't stop there. Recife will be AkzoNobel's first plant in South America to start generating its own electricity, but it won't be the only one. Our aim is to gradually introduce sustainable solutions in all our facilities over the next few years." Capareli added.