Sustainability
Sustainability at ICI Paints
Sustainable Development is defined as forms of progress that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Like the rest of ICI, the ICI Paints business takes the principle of sustainability very seriously. Responsibility for implementing our Sustainable Development policy, rests ultimately on the International Paints Executive, but also lies with everyone who works for ICI Paints in whatever capacity.
Our longstanding sustainability principles were formalised into our Sustainability Policy, first published in 2002. This goes beyond the impact of our manufacturing operations to encompass product stewardship across the supply chain, and our relationships with employees, suppliers, customers and the communities where we operate.
ICI's parent company Akzo Nobel regards Sustainability as being 'fit for the future'. Business success depends on understanding what society needs, what the environment needs, and at the same time, developing products and processes for clients which contribute to meeting those needs.
The tangible evidence of how Akzo Nobel has made good on Akzo Nobel's CEO Hans Wijers' commitment to "put Corporate Social Responsibility at the heart of the business,? is the company's number one ranking in the Chemicals sector on the 2007 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which was announced in September 2007.
Paints wins three Chairman's Awards
ICI Paints has won three out of the five awards presented in the ICI Chairman's Leadership Award for Sustainability in 2007. Our awards successes were:
Safety and Health
ICI Paints, North American Supply Chain
The 'HERO Campaign' to minimise the use of flexible hoses across the North America has reduced injuries and associated costs and eliminated over 1.6 miles of hose since 2006.
Product Stewardship
ICI Swire Paints, Shanghai,China
ICI Swire Paints is working with top home decoration companies in China to help them improve their safety, health and environment awareness and practices - and in turn influence professional painters and consumers.
Community Involvement
ICI Paints, Cimanggis site, Indonesia
Working with the local authorities and businesses, ICI Paints employees are using a lake conservation project to help the local community understand that development can be combined with environmental protection.
Presented in mid-December 2007, this was the 15th anniversary of these leadership awards, which started with safety and have developed to the broader sustainability agenda.
ICI Packaging Coatings Recognised in UK Environmental Award Programme
ICI's efforts to improve the environmental management and energy efficiency of its operations were recognised by the British Coatings Federation in its latest annual Coatings Care Award programme.
ICI Packaging Coatings, part of ICI Paints, was a finalist in the competition which acknowledges achievements by member companies of Coatings Care, a voluntary programme that encourages improvements in health, safety and environmental performance as well as in distribution and product stewardship
The ICI business, based at Birmingham in the UK, has undertaken a range of improvement programmes in waste management and energy efficiency in the past year. ICI Packaging Coatings was among the leaders in all the different categories of the award, which involved about 40 companies.
These improvements included:
* A 17 per cent reduction in site energy consumption through initiatives such as an energy efficient boiler and installing new roof sheets into the production buildings, allowing more natural light into the buildings and so reducing overall lighting costs.
* A 15 per cent reduction in the total waste produced for the site, particularly packaging waste.
In 2006, ICI Paints at Stowmarket in the UK won the Coatings Care Award.
Paint that 'makes rooms bigger and brighter' wins ICI innovation award
An innovative paint that makes rooms appear brighter and larger is the 2007 winner of ICI's award for Innovation, Creativity and Excellence in Science & Technology (ICEST).
'Light&Space', produced by ICI Paints, was commended for its insight into market needs, technological innovation, practical and commercial application, and creative approach to marketing.
The ICEST awards celebrate outstanding contributions to science and technology made across ICI, with a particular emphasis on the strength of the science, financial performance and awareness of customer needs.
This year five finalists were considered by a panel of judges that included Professor Tony Ryan of the University of Sheffield and Professor Jingshen Wu of the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology.
The judges said the winning 'Light&Space' team had used its understanding of what makes up a colour (lightness, colour and hue) and how the various elements in paint can impact this to produce attractive, strong colours that also put more light into a room. The result, they said, is a genuinely novel paint technology offering new colours that are more reflective of light, giving the feeling that decorated rooms are made more spacious.
Graeme Armstrong, Senior Vice President, ICI Technology, and Chairman of the panel of the ICEST award judges, said: "'Light&Space' was a virtually perfect project. The team used science, not just to develop the product, but to communicate the concept to both the trade and consumers."
Environment
During the past five years ICI Paints has reduced hazardous waste by implementing yield loss reduction programmes and introducing improved segregation and recycling schemes.
ICI's operations today have a lesser impact on the environment than in the past. However, we continue to support, protect and promote biodiversity where we can. In 2005 we have carried out surveys in Brazil, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Thailand, UK, and USA. The surveys in Thailand and Brazil were carried out in partnership with local universities. In Thailand, the Faculty of Science, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, and in Brazil a contact recommended by NGO "SOS Mata Atl?ntica", with whom ICI Paints have partnered since 2003.
ICI Paints has reduced water use by 30% through a series of maintenance, conservation activities and operational changes. These include changing product scheduling to reduce the washing out requirements, wash water reuse in cleaning operations, and installing a cooling tower to allow cooling water to be reused.
