To achieve this drastic reduction in embedded CO2, all parts of the value chain needed to be taken into consideration. This included limiting direct carbon emissions from the glass production processes as well as lowering all CO2 emissions from electricity production, the supply chain upstream of our processes and other indirect emissions from the lamination and coating process.
AGC successfully produced its first Low-Carbon Glass at the AGC plant in Moustier (Belgium) in 2022, Since then, it has expanded the production to the sites in Seingbouse (France) and Osterweddingen (Germany), continuing to apply its holistic approach that covers six key areas.
1. Sustainable sourcing
Moustier – the first float glass production facility established in continental Europe – benefits among other things from the local availability of pure sand requiring minimal treatment before its use in float glass production. For several years now, 75% of the raw materials – not just sand, but also other raw materials – have been transported by barge to the plant located along the river the Sambre to be unloaded on-site.
Soda ash is a key raw material in glass production since it reduces the melting temperature of sand, the main ingredient. The carbon footprint of soda ash varies significantly depending on the process used to produce it. The Low-Carbon Glass production at Moustier plant is based on soda ash that has a reduced carbon footprint.
The other plants producing Low-Carbon float glass present a similar advantage with the availability of local sand requiring minimal processing. The transport to the plant has limited impact thanks to the shorter distances involved. This low impact can in some case be supplemented through the use of biodiesel. Soda ash with a reduced carbon footprint is also used at those plants.
2. Use of highly efficient melting furnaces
The first production campaigns were done on one of the furnaces in Moustier taking advantage of the last cold repair (melting furnaces are completely overhauled every 15 to 18 years), incorporating new technologies, such as electro-boosting, that use electricity to melt the sand, to reduce dependence on imported natural gas. This innovative production process is a step forward in the company’s overall roadmap to carbon neutrality.
In the meantime, AGC deployed Low-Carbon Glass production at float furnaces showing similar high efficiency due to recent upgrades including improvements in electro-boosting capacities.
3. Increased use of cullet (recycled glass)
The three lines currently producing Low-Carbon float glass are capable of working with high levels of recycled glass by leveraging multiple recycling streams. For glass production with a reduced carbon footprint, new cullet streams will significantly boost the recycled content of the glass to more than 60%.
4. Use of green energy sources
AGC leverages solar panels to maximise on-site renewable electricity. This on-site produced renewable electricity, is supplemented with renewable electricity from the grid obtained under Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or covered by a Garantee of Origin (GoO).
5. Low-carbon process for glass transformation (lamination / coating)
Low-carbon laminated glass and low-carbon coated glass are produced on selected production lines showing optimized yield and using only AGC’s Low-Carbon glass substrate. These transformation process lines are powered fully by low-carbon electricity.
For low-carbon laminated glass clear, we use only specific low-carbon PVB with 35% lower embedded CO2 equivalent.
6. Optimisation of transport
Logistics are also part of AGC's holistic strategy. In order to maximize synergies between production and the transformation process and while also reducing transport and CO2 emissions, AGC uses integrated production sites with the lamination line and the coater line at the same location.
Logistics to deliver Low-carbon glass to customer is also important. Transport distances for end products are optimal thanks to the strategic locations of the three plants producing Low-Carbon glass in the heart of densely populated areas of France, the Benelux countries and Germany – with millions of customers less than 500 km away. North of Europe is covered with delocalized stock in Finland supplied by boat transportation. As much as possible, truck use HVO and multimodal approach is privileged (train, boat, road).
About AGC's Low-Carbon Planibel Clearlite
AGC's Low-Carbon Planibel Clearlite is a low-carbon float glass whose Global Warming Potential has been reduced to 4.8 kg of CO2 eq. per m² (4 mm thick). It can be supplied – after further processing in compliance with the same holistic principles - in AGC’s key ranges of functional glazing products, including among others:
- safety glass: Low-Carbon Stratobel and Low-Carbon Stratophone
- thermal insulation glass: Low-Carbon iplus 1.0 and Low-Carbon iplus 1.1
- solar control glass: Low-Carbon Stopray and Low-Carbon Energy
These new Low-Carbon Glass products deliver the same aesthetics, quality and technical performance as traditional AGC float glass products.
Learn more at agc-yourglass.com
The first Low-Carbon Planibel Clearlite was successfully produced at the AGC plant in Moustier, Belgium. In 2024, the AGC plants in Seingbouse (France) and Osterweddingen (Germany) also started producing Low-Carbon float and now many AGC production and transformation lines are delivering Low-Carbon Glass products.
More on our decarbonisation journey
Now available : Low-Carbon Pyrobel Glass
With a view to meeting growing market demand and reducing the environmental impact of its production processes, AGC Glass Europe announces the launch of Low-Carbon Pyrobel Glass, its new fire-resistant glass product featuring significantly reduced embodied carbon.
Increasing the use of cullet
Glass is endlessly recyclable like no other product. Our main objective is to use as much glass cullet as possible in our production processes. The use of cullet avoids CO2 emissions, since cullet requires less energy to melt, and replaces carbonated raw materials. Cullet is a key material to save natural resources and energy.