AGC Group has been implementing the Glass Power Campaign since 2005 to promote the use of laminated glass for disaster resistance. As part of this campaign, we launched a project to donate laminated glass for disaster resistance to schools designated as evacuation centers and have already made donations to 22 schools across Japan. In September 2009, the mayor of Hino Town in Tottori Prefecture visited us to present a letter from the president of the student council of Hino Junior High School, to which we made a donation. The president wrote “We are very pleased that we can use the gymnasium, where sunbeams stream through the donated laminated glass, as a place for gym classes and club activities and also as a place to make exchanges with the local community.” The laminated glass donation project has received a lot of feedback from all over Japan even after the donation. We found this activity was very significant: it pleased not only the students but also the staff of the schools and local residents.

Students experiencing the effect of laminated glass for disaster resistance

AGC Group held special science classes at elementary schools in Chiba Prefecture in January 2010. These “Investigators of the chemical magic” classes were intended to communicate the joy of science to children through experiments not undertaken in ordinary science classes. Young engineers from Asahi Glass Chiba Plant, where chemicals are manufactured, led experiments using sodium bicarbonate and provided easy-to-understand explanations about chemical reactions. Children participating in one of the classes later wrote to us, “Thank you very much for the fantastic science class. Please visit us again to communicate the joy of science once more.” We will continue to hold these special classes that only AGC Group can provide, in order to bring the joy of science to more students.

Special science class “Investigators of the chemical magic”

AGC Display Glass Yonezawa (ADY), which manufactures glass substrates for flat panel displays, began composting canteen garbage in 2008. Through composting, which is fostered as part of ADY's recycling activities, the company can reduce waste and also restrain CO₂ emissions by 21 tons a year from the amount of CO₂ to be emitted if all the garbage is incinerated.
The liquid fertilizer made from the compost was initially distributed only to the employees. However in July 2009, ADY began distributing it also to local residents free of charge. This activity was widely reported by local newspapers and PR magazines, and through the three months from August to October 2009, the fertilizer was distributed to a total of 250 users, one of whom kindly commented, “It is safer than chemical fertilizers and vegetables grown with this fertilizer look better.” Another said, “I am very grateful to the company. I expect them to continue this activity.”

Liquid fertilizer packaged in containers, which can be distributed even on holidays

Asahi Glass Osaka Plant has been maintaining a forest, named “Asahi Glass Inochi-no Mori”, it established in July 2007. At the time of the original planting, the 8,300 seedlings of 53 species including Castanopsis, Machilus, and Quercus were only about 20 centimetres tall. They have now grown higher than the employees, who have been removing weeds during their lunchtime, watering and fertilizing, and repairing damaged trees. The forest attracts butterflies and dragonflies and is alive with birdsong.

July 2007

June 2009

June 2010

Accepting Trainees on the Management of Chemical Substances under the “Eco-Internship” Program

The “Eco-Internship” is a program implemented by the Ministry of the Environment since 2007, under which university students (including postgraduates) are dispatched to the environmental management departments of companies to undertake work experience in environment-related jobs. In September 2008, as in 2007, AGC Chemicals Company accepted two students under the program for two weeks with a view to contributing to the development of environment-conscious human resources. They learned chemicals management and environmental activities, and also received training on the effective use of energy and resources in the manufacturing process of pharmaceuticals at Asahi Glass Kashima Plant.

Trainees compiling a report about the two-week experience