Sustainability

From recycled glass, recycled water, responsible supply networks, supporting admirable movements & associations, Solar panel installation and the use of Energy Efficient lighting and appliances, Australian Glass Group walk the talk as we support Sustainability.

All AGG sites recycle our broken glass that is re-used into roading, bottles and insulation batts. We recycle the water that we use for washing and cleaning the glass during processing and all plants stock, produce and deliver our core product offerings locally. We also use Variable Speed Drives (VSD) on the electric motors of our key machinery which provide Energy Efficiency by controlling the frequency and voltage output to exactly when it is needed. This minimises energy waste when not in use, increases the efficiency in our quality and reduces our embedded carbon footprint in the production of our glass products. Other benefits of VSD’s include the extension of machinery life and the reduction of noise from machinery, supporting broader environmental benefits and a safer workplace.

Being Australian made and supplied directly, our carbon footprint in the logistics of glass supply is considerably less compared to the importing of glass units from overseas. We also source the majority of our raw glass from Australian made manufacturing and import those products they do not make from only reputable global manufactures with strong sustainable processes in place.

AGG is proud to be involved in the supply of Energy Efficient Insulated Glass Units (IGU) into both Passive House certified buildings and the Living Future challenge of sustainable buildings. We also commend and contribute to the Materials and Embodied Carbon Leaders Alliance (MELCA) and are an active member and contributor to both the Energy committee of the Australian Glass and Glazing Association (AGWA) and the Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG) to the National Energy Productivity Plan (NEPP).

A great example of reducing our carbon footprint was seen in the recent AGG VIC plant upgrade of our Solar energy supply and use of more energy efficient LED lighting:

The solution

A full upgrade to LED lighting and a 632kW solar PV system compromising of 1,580 400W solar panels with 18 inverters.

The result

An annual estimated reduction of 1,062 Tonnes of Carbon emissions and $147,000 savings from energy costs. AGG VIC were the first company to claim the Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificate (VEEC) for a solar PV system (instead of LGC) under the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme.