That’s the question we’re asking ourselves as we aim to make each new AkzoNobel product more eco-efficient than the one before.
Many of our products rely heavily on chemicals. Before they reach the market, they undergo a research and development (R&D) process that can take years to complete. Increasingly, the aim of these R&D initiatives is to find a way of combining profitability and sustainability. The result is what we call a Sustainable Innovation Process (SIP).
Making sustainable products that are profitable too
SIP delivers innovative products or services that are more profitable and environmentally responsible than their forerunners. SIP also means safer products, cleaner processes, a reduction in waste and less use of raw materials and energy. Most of these are already in place thanks to our Product Stewardship management system.
SIP is driven by by the need for better product performance – but it’s always connected to sustainability and environmental performance. We can’t bring a product to market that is less environmentally friendly than its predecessor and expect it to succeed. Equally, a new eco-product will only do well if it also offers real competitive advantage.
A smarter approach to innovation
By introducing SIP into all our R&D operations, we’re creating a real awareness of Product Stewardship issues. More importantly, we’re also embedding this in our ‘stage-gating’ management system.
Stage-gating is where certain milestones need to be reached before a project can proceed to the next stage. The advantage of this system is that information is available and processed before we decide to take a product to the next phase of development. We often combine this with eco-efficiency analysis. The end result is a truly sustainable product for our customers.
We also have an Innovation Unit, responsible for promoting sustainable and innovative ways of working in all our businesses. As a result, there’s a real commitment to sustainable innovation across our entire organization.