Accountability

The Executive Committee has responsibility for incorporating the sustainability agenda in the company strategy and monitoring the performance of each business through the Operational Control Cycle. Accountability for delivery lies with the leaders of the businesses and functions and their management teams. Significant sustainability aspects material to the company are reviewed annually, with input from internal and external stakeholders (see Managing sustainability).

We use key indicators to track our progress in delivering on the sustainable business imperatives. The Resource Efficiency Index (Note 4) demonstrates how AkzoNobel is delivering more from less, driving margin growth which has been decoupled from resource constraints, thereby reducing short-term costs and long-term risks. We have established continuous value improvement processes in every function, supported by external benchmarks. In 2017, AkzoNobel returned to the number one ranking in the Chemicals industry on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI).

We equip all employees to ensure they can contribute to making our businesses more sustainable and include this responsibility in personal targets and remuneration. Since 2009, the long-term incentive for our executives has been linked to AkzoNobel’s DJSI ranking. We will include sustainability in the personal objectives and incentives of all employees from 2018 onwards.