The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015. They consist of 17 goals and 169 targets to be achieved through 2030. They are a call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognise that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.
AGC Group as a global player has declared its commitment to the SDGs in 2017. We have identified several SDGs where AGC Glass Europe can play an active role through its processes and products. In the frame of this Sustainability Report, focus will be on the SDGs that are closely aligned with areas of environmental issues.
How AGC Glass Europe contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals
10 environmental-related targets to which AGC Glass Europe contributes
3
Good health and well-being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
Target
3.9
By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
Indicator
3.9.1
Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe is committed to minimising the presence of dangerous substances in its products as much as possible. Achievement is assessed by an independent third party under the Cradle to Cradle ® certification programme.
AGC Glass Europe has an ongoing objective of reducing air emissions (NOx, SOx, acids, PM etc.) from its production processes.
AGC Glass Europe commits to products with no or very low VOC emissions (A+).
Indicator
3.9.2
Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for All (WASH) services).
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe undertakes to reduce the discharge of industrial water and pollution.
6
Clean water and sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Target
6.3
By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
Indicator
6.3.1
Proportion of wastewater safely treated.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to limit the discharge of waste water to the minimum.
Target
6.4
By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
Indicator
6.4.1
Change in water-use efficiency over time.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to reduce its water use as much as possible.
Water stewardship is part of AGC Glass Europe’s day-to-day management. Sound use of water is assessed by an independent third party under the Cradle to Cradle ® certification programme (Level achieved: Silver/Gold).
Target
6.5
By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
Indicator
6.5.1
Degree of integrated water resources management implementation (0-100).
AGC Glass Europe contribution
Water stewardship is part of AGC Glass Europe’s day to day management. Sound use of water is assessed by an independent third party under the Cradle to Cradle ® certification programme (Level achieved: Silver/Gold).
7
Affordable and clean energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Target
7.2
By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
Indicator
7.2.1
Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe has an extensive programme to increase renewable energy production (PV, wind, etc.) in plants. Green Electricity is produced from waste heat and high-performance combined heat and power (CHP).
AGC Glass Europe markets specific types of mirrors for solar applications (production of heat and electricity from sunlight) and photovoltaic applications.
Target
7.3
By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
Indicator
7.3.1
Energy intensity measured in terms of primary energy and GDP.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to reduce its energy consumption per tonne of glass produced.
AGC Glass Europe markets products that reduce energy consumption by buildings, appliances, greenhouses, cars, etc.
8
Decent work and economic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Target
8.4
Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.
Indicator
8.4.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
The material footprint of AGC Glass Europe’s products is assessed by calculating Life Cycle Analyses (LCA) and drafting Environmental Product Declarations.
9
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
Target
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
Indicator
9.4.1
CO2 emission per unit of value added.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to reduce the CO2 emissions from its production processes.
Reduction of CO2 when transporting raw materials or finished glass products by train and boat rather than truck.
Target
9.5
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
Indicator
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe devotes 50% of R&D expenditure to environment-oriented products and processes.
11
Sustainable cities and communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Target
11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
Indicator
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted).
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe markets insulating glazing and other innovative products that help to reduce the heating energy consumption of buildings, which in turn results in a reduction in air pollution and in particular PM.
12
Responsible consumption and production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Target
12.1
Implement the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, all countries taking action, with developed countries taking the lead, taking into account the development and capabilities of developing countries.
Indicator
12.1.1
Number of countries with sustainable consumption and production (SCP) national action plans or SCP mainstreamed as a priority or a target into national policies.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe is committed to maximising the reuse of materials and the use of renewable energy in its processes. The results are verified by an independent third party and have led to Silver & Gold levels being achieved under the Cradle to Cradle ® certification programme.
Target
12.2
By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
Indicator
12.2.1
Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe assesses the material footprint of its products and processes by calculating LCA and drafting EPDs.
AGC Glass Europe recycles around 1,000,000 tonnes of cullet per year, saving about 1,150,000 tonnes of raw materials and 300,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Target
12.4
By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
Indicator
12.4.1
Number of parties to international multilateral environmental agreements on hazardous waste, and other chemicals that meet their commitments and obligations in transmitting information as required by each relevant agreement.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to reduce the production of waste by its processes as much as possible and to achieve zero waste to landfill.
AGC Glass Europe strives to reduce the presence of dangerous substances in its products, going beyond legal requirements. The achievement is assessed by an independent third party under the Cradle to Cradle ® certification programme.
AGC Glass Europe assesses the material footprint of its products and processes by calculating LCA and drafting EPDs.
Indicator
12.4.2
Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe strives to minimise the generation of hazardous waste, with the objective of > 99% recycling.
Target
12.5
By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Indicator
12.5.1
National recycling rate, tons of material recycled.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe has set an objective of zero waste to landfill, i.e. > 99% waste recycling.
Target
12.6
Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
Indicator
12.6.1
Number of companies publishing sustainability reports.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe publishes its sustainability report every year on the internet.
13
Climate action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Target
13.2
Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
Indicator
13.2.1
Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan which increases their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food production (including a national adaptation plan, nationally determined contribution, national communication, biennial update report or other).
AGC Glass Europe contribution
GHG reduction is one of the main objectives of AGC Glass Europe. CO2 emissions from production of glass have been reduced by 17% since 2005.
AGC Glass Europe is committed to marketing innovative products that help users to cut their CO2 emissions by reducing energy consumption (e.g. insulation materials).
AGC Glass Europe conducts a full carbon footprint calculation (including scope 1, 2 and 3). By comparison the CO2 avoided by using products from AGC Glass Europe outweighs the CO2 emitted for their production by factor of 11.
14
Life below water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Target
14.1
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.
Indicator
14.1.1
Index of coastal eutrophication and floating plastic debris density.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
AGC Glass Europe has a programme to reduce its water discharge and achieve a high (>98%) recycling rate for solid waste.
Nitrogen oxides contribute significantly to eutrophication. AGC Glass Europe has an ongoing objective of reducing NOx from its production processes.
AGC Glass Europe has developed various types of steel stillages to ship its glass products. These stillages are reused for years and result in minimum packaging waste, in particular single-use plastic packaging material.
15
Life on land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Target
15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
Indicator
15.2.1
Progress towards sustainable forest management.
AGC Glass Europe contribution
The activities of AGC Glass Europe have no or very limited impact on forestry. Wood is only used for some limited packaging. The wood used comes from forests managed in a sustainable way (PEFC or FSC).