In 2023, AGC Glass Europe, a prominent player in the glass industry, has made significant strides in its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and achieving its sustainability goals.
The updated Sustainability section of the company’s corporate website now provides a comprehensive overview of the details and figures behind its decarbonization efforts.
AGC Glass Europe is driven by the AGC Group’s objective to reduce its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2030 (compared to 2019) and achieve carbon-neutral glass production by 2050. According to the latest figures, the company’s carbon footprint in 2023 was estimated to be 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, representing a 13 percent reduction compared to 2019.
The main contributors to AGC Glass Europe’s CO2 emissions are fuel combustion, raw material decarbonization, raw materials production from suppliers, and electricity purchased for production sites. To address these emission hotspots, the company has implemented several decarbonization initiatives throughout 2023.
Recycling has played a crucial role in AGC Glass Europe’s sustainability efforts. The company recycled around 700,000 tonnes of cullet in 2023, saving approximately 840,000 tonnes of raw material and 490,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The average cullet ratio in the company’s raw materials was close to 30 percent in 2023, with the goal of increasing this ratio to 50 percent by 2030.
In terms of renewable energy, AGC Glass Europe’s total electricity production from low-carbon sources, such as wind, solar, cogeneration, and heat recovery, reached 42,917 MWh in 2023, resulting in a saving of 3,120 tonnes of CO2. The total output of photovoltaic installations also saw a remarkable increase of close to 80 percent compared to 2022.
Innovations in glass production technology have been another focus area for AGC Glass Europe. The company is in the process of installing electro-boosting on its float production lines to partially electrify production across Europe. Additionally, the Barevka production line in the Czech Republic will be refurbished in 2024 to become a high-performing, state-of-the-art facility, with a hybrid furnace that aims to reduce the site’s scope 1 and 3 emissions by 75 percent compared to the reference scenario.
Furthermore, AGC Glass Europe has made significant progress in the development and production of Low-Carbon glass. The first Low-Carbon glass was successfully produced at the company’s plant in Moustier, Belgium, in 2023, and the plant in Seingbouse, France, also started producing Low-Carbon glass. Other AGC float plants are expected to follow suit in the near future.
AGC Glass Europe’s comprehensive decarbonization efforts in 2023 demonstrate its unwavering commitment to leading the glass industry towards a more sustainable future. By leveraging innovative technologies, increasing renewable energy usage, and optimizing its production processes, the company is paving the way for a greener and more eco-friendly glass industry.
Source:AGC Glass Europe with additional information added by GlassBalkan
