AGC Glass Europe announces new range of float glass with lower CO2 emissions

AGC Glass Europe is constantly working to reduce the environmental impact of its production processes in order to contribute to a sustainable future. As part of its roadmap to CO₂-neutrality, AGC has announced it will produce a range of float glass with significantly lower CO₂-emissions, namely less than 7 kg of CO₂ per m² for clear float glass (4 mm thick). As a result, AGC, one of the world's largest producers of float glass, will reduce CO₂-emissions resulting from the production of this float glass by more than 40%[1].

To achieve a CO₂-neutral glass production must take into account all links in the value chain. This includes no CO₂ more may be emitted and that all CO₂-emissions from the supply chain prior to our processes and other indirect emissions must be eliminated. Now that all emissions in the value chain have been addressed, AGC can announce the first steps towards CO₂-neutrality: the organization will introduce a new range of float glass with lower CO₂-footprint launch.

Production of CO₂-poor glass: a holistic approach

AGC takes a holistic approach to sustainably reduce CO₂-poor glass to produce:

1. Sustainable supply of raw materials
2. Use of highly efficient melting furnaces
3. Increased use of glass cullet (recycled glass)
4. Use of green energy sources
5. Optimization of transportation between Group sites for the purpose of finishing processes.
6. Optimization of finished goods transportation

Application of the holistic approach to the first CO₂-poor production run at Moustier 

AGC Glass Europe's production site in Moustier, Belgium, will become AGC's first production site where glass will be manufactured with low CO2 emissions, having already been successfully converted to meet the strict conditions required.
The location of the Moustier production site is central in terms of sustainable supply of renewable raw materials and strategic for optimal delivery to customers.

1. Sustainable supply of raw materials

Moustier - the first float glass production site in continental Europe - benefits among other things from the local availability of very pure sand, which requires minimal treatment before being used for float glass production. For several years, 75 percent of the raw materials needed - not only sand but also other raw materials - have been transported by barge to the production site located on the River Sambre for unloading on site.

Soda ash is an important raw material in glass production. This is because it allows sand, the main ingredient, to be melted at lower temperatures. The CO₂-footprint of soda ash varies widely depending on the process used to produce it. Moustier's production site will reduce its CO₂-low glass production base on soda ash with its lower CO₂-footprint.

2. Use of highly efficient melting furnaces

One of the furnaces at Moustier, meanwhile, has recently undergone a "cold repair" (smelters are completely overhauled every 15 to 18 years), using new technologies, including electro-boosting. This means that the sand is melted using electricity, making production less dependent on imported natural gas. This innovative production process is a major step in the company's roadmap toward CO₂-neutrality.

3. Increased use of glass cullet (recycled glass).
Moustier's production site - located in a region with a large number of processors - loyal customers and subsidiaries of the Group - has for many years been increasing the proportion of glass cullet in the production process by utilizing multiple recycling streams. For this new float glass with a lower CO₂-emissions, thanks to new glass cullet streams, more than fifty percent of the glass used will be recycled glass, which may be called a significant amount[2].

4. Use of green energy sources

AGC will generate as much renewable electricity on site as possible. In Belgium, the company's home country, all roofs of production sites and offices have integrated solar panels, reducing CO₂-emissions have been significantly reduced. Moreover, the company has its own wind turbine at its production site in Seneffe, a few kilometers from Moustier. 
At the Moustier site, additional renewable electricity will be sourced from on-site and off-site energy farms (including combined heat and power (CHP) and solar panels).

5. Optimization of transportation between Group sites for the purpose of finishing processes.

Logistics is also part of AGC's holistic approach. To maximize the synergy between production and finishing and to minimize transport and CO₂-emissions, AGC laminates the glass sheets into safety glass in Moustier itself, while the coatings are applied in Lodelinsart, which location is just 25 km away.

6. Optimization of finished goods transportation.

The strategic location of the Moustier production site ensures optimal distances over which to transport finished products. The surrounding areas of northern France, Benelux and western Germany are densely populated, with many customers less than 250 km away.

The range of CO₂-poor glass offers multiple processing options

The launch of AGC's new range of CO₂-low float glass products based on clear float glass, now with over forty percent smaller CO₂-footprint relative to AGC Glass Europe's baseline will occur by the end of 2022: less than 7 kg of CO₂ per m²  For 4 mm clear float glass. This CO₂-poor float glass will be incorporated into AGC's main range of functional glazing products:

• Laminated safety glass: Stratobel and Stratophone
• Heat-insulating glass: iplus
• Solar control glass: Stopray, ipasol and Energy

These new products with small CO₂-footprint will offer the same aesthetics, quality and technical performance accustomed to AGC's traditional float glass products.

AGC intends to capitalize on the experience gained at Moustier and its expertise in producing float glass with lower CO₂-emissions gradually transfer to other sites, beginning with that of Seingbouse, France, in early 2023.

Davide Cappellino, President of Architectural Glass Europe & Americas Company, concludes, "Our initial offer CO₂-poor glass is an important milestone in AGC's roadmap towards glass production with lower CO₂-emissions. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers glazing where, from extraction of raw materials to final installation, approximately 40% less CO₂is emitted than is the case with our standard float glass. This is a significant reduction and a big step toward CO₂-neutrality in construction.”

VIDEO: AGC takes a holistic approach to sustainably reduce CO₂-poor glass to produce.

Learn more about AGC Glass Europe at www.agc-glass.eu and on the product pages at www.agc-yourglass.com. 

[1] Compared to AGC Glass Europe baseline: SPD for Planibel in the INIES database

[2] Typically, about 20% of cullet is used to produce clear float glass.