AGC, a manufacturer of glass, chemicals, and high-tech materials, has released the "AGC Sustainability Data Book 2022.” Through the publication of this report, the AGC Group aims to promote understanding of its sustainability activities among shareholders, investors, and other stakeholders, and to continuously enhance its corporate value through constructive dialogue.

The AGC’s Sustainability Data Book opens with a message from Yoshinori Hirai, president and CEO of the company. In this message, Hirai stated, “Based on the long-term social issues identified as our material issues, we have clarified the social value that we want to create. One way in which we will create social value is by contributing to the realization of a sustainable global environment. In global initiatives to address social issues, the past few years have seen particular emphasis placed on climate change. In response to this trend, we have declared the achievement of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 as another goal. As well as redoubling efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, AGC has developed an array of environment-friendly products. Going forward, we will expand our lineups of such offerings even further.”

According to the Data Book, the AGC Group’s volume of waste generated is down about 40% from 2017. The company also reports a VOC emissions reduction of 36%, compared to 2018. While the company’s direct emissions are up 14%, its indirect emissions are down 12%, with a total reduction of 5%.

In the Data Book, the company stated that it assesses the environmental impact of its products at every stage—procurement, manufacturing, sales, logistics, use, and disposal—, aiming to reduce the impact throughout the entire lifecycle of the products. One of the ways in which AGC achieves this is by obtaining environment management system standards certifications, such as ISO 14001. AGC has also been reducing its CO2 emissions by converting the glass-melting furnaces from heavy oil to natural gas. In the future, the company plans to explore oxygen combustion systems, electric boosters for melting, and the electrification of heat sources for melting. The company has also reduced its CO2 emissions by switching to renewable energy sources at its Chigasaki Plant, as well as at its headquarters, the Shin-Marunouchi Building.

For more information, visit: www.agc.com/en/csr/pdf/agc_sus_en_2022.pdf.