"It's encouraging to see our determined efforts to collaborate and innovate being recognized by Cefic," said AkzoNobel CEO Thierry Vanlancker. "We have a clear ambition and will continue to develop new ideas and forge new partnerships that help deliver benefits across the value chain."

Four projects in the Netherlands were singled out to demonstrate AkzoNobel's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility: a 12-year partnership to use bio-steam in Delfzijl; the development of a zero emission public transport system using hydrogen buses in Groningen; a waste-to-chemistry consortium; and a long-term agreement with several partners to purchase power from two new wind farms.

The Cefic awards recognize the top achievers in the EU chemical industry with a particular emphasis on excellence in health, safety and environmental standards. The other two main winners were Solvay SA and Total Refining & Chemicals.

The recognition for AkzoNobel comes just a few weeks after the company was ranked number one on the influential CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Global Chemical Companies List, which ranks the largest publicly listed chemical companies on business readiness for a low carbon transition. AkzoNobel was also ranked first on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index in the Chemicals Industry sector when the 2017 listing was announced in September.