Sustainability has become an essential business imperative as companies face increasing pressure to minimize their environmental impact while ensuring efficiency and growth. AkzoNobel, a leader in the paints and coatings industry, exemplifies how sustainability and technology can work together to meet these goals. Through innovative methods, AkzoNobel reduces its carbon footprint and sets a benchmark for other businesses. Similarly, technology providers like Nextbitt empower organizations across industries to implement sustainable practices , offering tools to streamline operations and reduce environmental impact.

How Technology Drives Sustainability

Technology provides powerful ways to improve sustainability across industries. Accenture's recent Destination Net Zero report on the world's 2000 largest companies (G2000) highlights the challenges companies face in achieving net-zero emissions. Although 55% of global companies have reduced their operational emissions, only 16% are on trackto meet net-zero emissions goals by 2050. The report emphasizes the importance of accelerating decarbonization efforts and integrating emerging technologies like AI, which only 14% of companies are using for emissions reductions.  

This data underscores the need for companies to adopt digital solutions to fast-track progress and improve sustainability across industries, a goal that AkzoNobel exemplifies through its technology-driven sustainability initiatives.

Simultaneously, platforms like Nextbitt offer tailored digital solutions that help businesses achieve sustainability goals more effectively. Specializing in asset management, Nextbitt provides systems that track energy consumption, minimize waste and increase operational efficiency - key elements of a robust sustainability strategy. By implementing these tools, businesses can optimize resources and drive significant environmental impact reductions.

Driving Sustainability: AkzoNobel's Vision and Achievements

AkzoNobel is fully committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity and improving energy efficiency at all its global sitesup: strong. This ambition alignes with its goal to reduce carbon emissions by 50% across the entire value chain (Upstream and Downstream) by 2030 (2018 baseline) and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. As the first paints and coatings company to set science-based sustainability targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), AkzoNobel leads by example in integrating sustainability into every aspect of its operations.

Key milestones from 2023 include:

• A 38% reduction in carbon emissions (own operations).

• 62% of the electricity globally from renewable sources.

• 82 sites operating on 100% renewable electricity.

• Europe and North America fully powered by renewable electricity.

These achievements demonstrate the company's progress and commitment to global sustainability goals.

Illustration 1: AkzoNobel's Carbon Commitment

In fact, AkzoNobel builds sustainability into every part of its operations:

• Eco-friendly Products: The company develops water-based coatings and bio-based materials, cutting emissions and reducing reliance on petroleum products.

• Transparent supply chains: Using blockchain, AkzoNobel tracks materials through its supply chain to ensure sustainable sourcing and ethical practices.

These innovations highlight how technology can make a difference and serve as inspiration for other companies. Nextbitt, for instance, offers tools that help businesses monitor and manage the entire asset lifecycle, ensuring sustainable practices from procurement to disposal.

From Vision to Action: AkzoNobel's Sustainability Initiatives

1. Prioritizing sustainability across the value chain

At AkzoNobel, sustainability is embedded at every stage of the operations - from the sourcing of raw materials to the end-of-life of the products. By adopting circular economy principles, the company aims to reduce waste and maximize resource efficiency.

For example, the water-based paints cut harmful VOC emissions by over 80%, supporting healthier environments for both people and the planet.

2. Collaboration for greater impact

Strategic partnerships amplify sustainability efforts. By collaborating with tech-nology providers such as Nextbitt, AkzoNobel combines its industry expertise with cutting-edge asset management solutions, creating scalable innovations with measurable impact.

3. Inspiring a culture of innovation

Sustainability is not only about technology but also about mindset. AkzoNobel fosters a culture where continuous innovation is encouraged, driving both prod-uct development and operational improvements.

4. Creating value for customers and communities

Sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility - it’s a value Akzonobel ac-tively shares with its customers and communities. By delivering high-performance coatings, it helps businesses extend the lifespan of their assets while reducing their environmental impact.

The coatings have significantly improved the energy efficiency of iconic struc-tures like the Burj Khalifa, demonstrating that innovation can enhance both aes-thetics and sustainability.

5. Harnessing renewable energy for a sustainable future

Investing in renewable energy is a cornerstone of AkzoNobel’s sustainability strategy. At the Pilawa site in Poland, the company has installed its largest solar energy plant in Europe, significantly advancing its goal of transitioning all pro-duction locations to renewable electricity.

These panels provide nearly a quarter of the decorative paints facility’s electric-ity needs, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and lowering the site’s carbon footprint.

Illustration 2: AkzoNobel's 2030 Sustainability Ambitions

What Nextbitt and other technologies can offer

Nextbitt's solutions showcase how technology can help businesses reduce their environmental footprint:

• Asset Management efficient: By using predictive analytics, companies can extend equipment life, reduce energy consumption and avoid unnecessary waste.

• Smarter waste management and recycling: Nextbitt's IoT-enabled systems monitor and optimize waste flows, helping organizations reduce contributions to landfills and adopt circular economy principles.

• Enhanced transparency: Like AkzoNobel's blockchain-enabled supply chain, Nextbitt's platform provides real-time visibility into operations, making it easier to identify inefficiencies and improve sustainability.

By integrating these tools, businesses of any size can not only meet environmental goals but also cut costs and improve operational efficiency.

Challenges and opportunities

Switching to greener practices can be challenging, particularly for small businesses. The costs of new technologies and the effort required to implement changes can be barriers. However, with government regulations tightening and customers expecting sustainable products, the rewards far outweigh the challenges. Companies using tools like those offered by Nextbitt position themselves for long-term success.

By leveragingdata-driven solutions and advanced analytics, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, achieve operational efficiency and position themselves as leaders in sustainable business practices. Embracing these tools ensures businesses are well-equipped to thrive in an increasingly eco-conscious market.

Conclusion

Technology and sustainability go hand in hand. AkzoNobel's work shows how innovation can drive real change, while companies like Nextbitt provide the tools to make sustainability accessible to businesses of all sizes. As the world shifts towards greater environmental responsibility, organizations that adopt these technologies will be better prepared to thrive in a more sustainable future.