The Group is taking this sustainable development approach a step further by announcing a new range of lenses which is distinguished by a significantly lower carbon footprint, and which will be launched at the end of 2022. The details of the new offer will be communicated during a press conference at glasstec 2022 which will take place in Düsseldorf in September.
AGC's carbon neutral roadmap includes a shift to fundamental new technologies, the use of sustainable raw materials, alternative energy and increased glass recycling to reduce or even eliminate emissions at the both indirect and those directly related to manufacturing. Following an in-depth test cycle and successful production trials, AGC will thus be able to offer a new range of low-carbon lenses, with the first orders expected to be filled by the end of 2022.
AGC's roadmap to carbon neutrality
AGC has already announced its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, accompanied by an interim objective of reducing its direct and indirect CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030*. The roadmap leading to the achievement of these goals, including the reduction of indirect CO2 emissions, foresees a whole series of actions over the next few years based on an integrated approach – ranging from research and development to sourcing and production, through the entire supply and transport chain, to complete the circle of the Cradle to Cradle approach.
“Achieving carbon neutrality requires a holistic transformation of our glass production,” said Davide Cappellino, President of AGC's Architectural Glass Europe and Americas Division. "It's an approach that ranges from sourcing and using sustainable raw materials and increasing cullet content to glass melting methods, through the use of new technologies, alternative energies and an increase in the share of renewable electricity in the production process – not to mention the design and useful uses of our products in order to optimize their climate advantages during their life cycle. »
A first range of low carbon lenses
The implementation of a combined set of measures on several recently renovated furnaces has made it possible to reduce the carbon footprint of a good part of the Group's production. “I am very pleased to announce that, thanks to our steady progress on the path to decarbonisation, AGC will be able to launch its first range of low carbon glasses by the end of 2022.
For Davide Cappellino: “This is a major milestone on our roadmap to carbon neutrality. »
* Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions compared to 2019. More info here.
Context: AGC is committed to sustainable construction
For many years now, AGC Glass Europe has devoted 50% of its R&D budget to the study of sustainable products and solutions, likely to give the company a positive climate footprint in the future. To do this, AGC evaluates the sustainability of its very wide range of products using a holistic approach, based on three proven pillars:
- Environmental Product Declarations (EPDS) and Life Cycle Assessments: AGC Glass Europe's journey to certified environmental quality began in 2009 with the first EPD for its float glass. Today, most AGC products have an FDES.
- Carbon footprint of company activities: AGC's first carbon footprint calculation took place in 2009 and was repeated every three years until 2020. Today, the footprint is calculated annually, for greater transparency of progress on AGC's decarbonization roadmap. Currently, for every tonne of CO₂ emitted by AGC Glass Europe's operations, more than nine tonnes of CO₂ are saved through the use of energy-efficient products.