Sustainability Report
Starting in 2004, we have annually reported our progress in sustainability policy development, management and performance in the form of separate CSR Reports (2004 – 2006) and a Sustainability Report (2007) next to the Annual Report. In 2008, for the first time, we have merged the Sustainability Report with the Annual Report reflecting our philosophy that the concepts of sustainability are fully integrated in our way of doing business. Corporate Governance, Risk Management, developing a profitable business portfolio, while at the same time lowering our ecological footprint are building blocks of sustainability as well as business integrity, employee development and good health, safety and environment management. All Sustainability Reports from 2004 to 2009 can be found here.
Other Sustainability Reporting Tools
We have built a Sustainability Website with a business case section for people who have a general interest in AkzoNobel and a management and performance section for sustainability analysts and other professionals with an interest in our sustainability policies, management and performance.
Since 2007, we publicly disclose our Policy, Management and Performance on Energy Efficiency and Carbon Footprint by our annual reporting to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). Our 2007, 2008 and 2009 Reports to CDP can be found here.
Reporting principles
We are continuously improving our management information systems and data gathering processes. Furthermore, we welcome an active dialog with our stakeholders and give their opinions the serious consideration they deserve. With this process in mind, we expect the clarity, consistency, and accuracy of our reporting to further improve over time.
We appreciate the work of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Where relevant we have used their Sustainability Reporting Guidelines and Indicators. An overview of GRI guidelines and indicators an be found on www.globalreporting.org. Our application level grid and content index can be found here.
More comprehensive information on the Reporting Principles used in preparing our 2009 Sustainability Report can be found here.
Verification
Our CSR and Sustainability Reports have been subject to external verification since the start in 2004. Embedding of sustainability in the management cycle of our business units and sites – from governance to risk management and compliance; from integrating sustainability objectives in the strategic planning processes, to operational planning, target-setting and progress monitoring – while providing assurance that managers and employees are evaluated and remunerated against these targets has been subject to external verification starting in 2007. The assurance report on the 2009 Sustainability Report can be found here.