AGC Flat Glass North America sponsored a country music concert at “Fun Fest,” an event held every July in Kingsport, Tennessee. The company has been supporting Fun Fest for 27 years as a means of returning its profits to local communities. This event has developed into one of the largest in the United States, receiving as many as 180,000 visitors a year.

Stage of the concert

AGC Automotive Americas has its bases in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the production and sale of automotive glass. Its plants in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and Bellefontaine, Ohio both achieved zero emissions in 2006 and have been actively conducting local environmental activities. In fiscal 2008, the plant in Elizabethtown collected about nine tons of end-of-use electrical products and also collected and recycled more than 760 liters of waste oilin support of the recycling activities conducted by local communities. Also at the Bellefontaine plant, employees conducted local cleanup activities under the slogan of “Make Recycling a Good Habit” and received a commendation from the local government in recognition of their contribution to the prevention of pollution.

Recycling team members, recognized as local environmental leaders by neighbors

As part of CCI,* AGC Chemicals Europe welcomed pupils from a local primary school to its site. They enjoyed a tour of the production areas and the laboratories, where they tried out some laboratory techniques such as filtration. The pupils were especially thrilled when an engineer of the company appeared dressed as Father Christmas! The head teacher of the school commented, “The project has far exceeded my expectations.”

* CCI stands for Children Challenging Industry, a joint programme implemented by the Chemical Industries Association and the University of York to promote science education and deepen mutual understanding between the chemical industry and schools.

Employee appearing in a Father Christmas costume