Crown Paints has dialled up its commitment to making a positive difference to people and the planet, with the launch of an ambitious new environmental and social strategy, Project Possible.
The industry-leading initiative addresses major challenges in the decorating sector and beyond, by bringing Crown’s ESG programmes together for the first time to maximise their impact.
Project Possible focuses on five key areas around sustainability, charity, community, education and people & culture, with a series of sustainability and people focused programmes across Crown’s operations, as well as even greater support for the wider industry and local communities.
The launch sees Crown pledge to meet a number of major milestones over the next five years including to be completely carbon neutral by 2026 across its own network of factories, offices, and decorating centres, and sending zero waste to landfill by that same year.
Project Possible also includes a commitment to increase Crown’s positive impact in communities, with the business working every year to rejuvenate up to fifty local areas across the UK and Ireland through ‘glow-ups’ using colourful murals, invest £15,000 into grassroots sport and donate up to 50,000 litres of paint to community projects nationwide.
Key milestones already achieved by the business as it launches the strategy include:
- 100 per cent of operations being run on renewable energy from certified sources
- More than 1 million paint cans now recycled every year through the Crown Can Back scheme
- Becoming the first paint manufacturer to use 100% recycled packaging in products
- Supporting 437 community groups with over £60k paint donations in 2022 alone
- Donating £75,000 in the last three years to support the work of Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone
- 10 per cent of all proceeds from the CRAFTED by Crown collection going to support the training of aspiring artisans and craftspeople
Philip Cefai, managing director of Crown Paints, said: “Everyone has their part to play in making the world a better place, and at Crown we know we can contribute even more. Whether that’s making communities better places to live in, supporting charities in their amazing work or developing our employees in a workplace that offers equal opportunities for everyone.
“Project Possible brings together the great work we have been doing with even bolder and more ambitious targets for the future. This isn’t just about writing an ESG policy, it’s about living it through everything we do – and I believe that’s what sets Crown apart.
“We are extremely proud and passionate about our progress so far and what we want to achieve. Together with our amazing employees and customers, I am confident we will make a difference to people and the communities in which they live.”
As part of the Hempel Group, a global coatings company wholly owned by The Hempel Foundation, working for good is part of Crown’s DNA. A portion of Crown profits go towards supporting the philanthropic work The Hempel Foundation does to protect biodiversity, empower children to learn and make the paint industry more sustainable. In 2022 alone the Hempel Foundation made donations of over €21 million.
For more information on Project Possible, please visit: https://about.crownpaints.com/
For more information on The Hempel Foundation, visit: https://www.hempelfonden.dk/en/