AGC Sustainability Report 2023

This report outlines AGC Glass Europe's approach and goals, provides a detailed overview of all elements of their roadmap and the latest progress in their decarbonization journey, and proves that glass is a truly sustainable material, at the heart of sustainable architecture.

Together, committed to sustainability

AGC Glass Europe considers sustainability to be a fundamental part of its corporate social values ​​and a prerequisite for all its activities. It requires continuous improvement and involves everyone at AGC. Guided by its policy, objectives and certified environmental management systems, AGC Glass Europe wants to contribute to a sustainable future.

Leading the industry towards decarbonization

AGC Glass Europe monitors its carbon footprint every year and has set an ambitious roadmap to achieve carbon neutral glass production by 2050. Its carbon roadmap takes into account all elements of the value. It covers the sustainable supply of raw materials, the use of highly efficient melting furnaces, the increase in the use of cullet, the use of green electricity and finally the optimization of transport.

Highlights of decarbonization in 2022

Sustainable supply:

• Local supply of sand. "Just good enough" sands reduce the transportation required, reduce processing operations, reduce waste and the use of natural resources.

Recycling :

• Glass recycling: AGC Glass Europe recycles around 1.000.000 tonnes of cullet per year, which saves around 1.150.000 tonnes of raw materials and 700.000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The average level of cullet in its raw materials is now close to 30%, but it will be increased significantly.
• Recycling DeSOx waste as feedstock: 4.600 tons of sulphates were recycled as feedstock in 2022, bringing the total to around 59.500 tons since the start of the program in 1999.

Use of highly efficient melting furnaces:

• Electro boosting. An interdisciplinary team from AGC is installing electro-boosting on AGC's float glass production lines in order to partially electrify their production lines across Europe. In 2022, the first oven was equipped with electro-boosting technology in Moustier, during the cold repair of the oven. The technology has also been installed on the Seingbouse* float line (France).
• Hybrid fusion. AGC and Saint-Gobain have announced that they are collaborating on the design of an innovative flat glass pilot line which should significantly reduce its direct CO2 emissions.

Use of green energy:

• In 2022, the total production of green electricity reached 28.927 MWh of recovered and self-produced energy. As a result, almost 2.100 tons of CO2 were saved in 2022.

Glass at the heart of sustainable architecture

Thanks to a holistic approach to decarbonization, AGC now offers its customers float or float glass, low carbon, with 40% less embodied carbon. AGC is committed to leading the development of new products that perform better on the environment and to improve the health and well-being of people. Play an important role in sustainable architecture.

(*) The Seingbouse installation was partially funded by a grant under the French economic recovery program "France Relance", funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU. The "France Relance" program, managed by ADEME, contributes to the decarbonisation of French industry.