Taking part in Earth Hour is a great way for everyone to show their support for creating a more sustainable world. That’s why AkzoNobel sites and employees across the globe will be joining in once again this year.

It’s something we actively support, not only because it’s a great initiative, but also because it reflects many of our own beliefs and principles when it comes to the subject of sustainability.

Our Planet Possible approach is all about doing more with less. We’re committed to creating more value from fewer resources and working with customers and suppliers to develop leading solutions for the challenges people face every day.

So for us, sustainability matters 365 days a year. We realize that the world’s rapidly growing population is going to present some major challenges. So if we want to bring about the change that’s needed, we have to reinvent how we use the world’s resources.

Turning off all non-essential lighting helps, but we have to think bigger. We’re looking for opportunities where there don’t appear to be any.

For example, we’ve signed an agreement to purchase sustainably generated steam in the Netherlands which will cut our CO2 emissions by more than 100,000 tons a year. We’re also constantly developing products that help our customers to become more energy efficient.

Sustainability in itself is nothing new to AkzoNobel. We’ve been ranked number one in our industry group on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last four years and have been in the top three for a decade. More than anything, this sustained top performance provides reinforcement for our belief that sustainability should sit at the heart of our business strategy.

Earth Hour encourages everyone to turn off their lights for one hour at 8.30pm local time this Saturday, March 19.