In 2001 AGR implemented an environmental management system to improve every part of the glass bottle recycling system.
The eco-management system (EMS) conforms with the worldwide standard ISO 14000 and the EU-directive EMAS and is based on a control loop. Several key figures (e.g. the quantity and quality of waste glass, the recycling rate, AGR’s consumption of office supplies) determine AGR’s environmental targets and are audited by the top management and the EMS supervisor. The environmental programme, which describes the measures taken or planned, their deadlines and the employees responsible, is a highly effective tool for assessing whether AGR has continually improved its environmental performance. Since introducing its EMS in 2001 AGR has undergone one internal and one external environmental audit every year and has published an environmental report yearly.

AGR’s development is driven by eco-team. It is organized as an advisory board which reports directly to the top management and is responsible for maintaining the EMS and improving AGR’s environmental performance. Guiding principle is the environmental Policy.

• more waste glass used as a secondary raw material in glass production lowers demand for the more expensive primary raw materials needed to produce new glass
• an improvement in the quality of the waste glass collected reduces sorting costs
• maximizing the fuel efficiency of the fleet of vans brings down fuel costs.

In 2005 AGR has started to implement sustainability management to examine its effect on social and ethical issues and to define key figures for measuring involvement in these areas.

We organise the collection of waste glass all over Austria. We guarantee that 100 % of the waste glass collected is recycled in an environmentally friendly way. We take care that the collected material is of the best quality so that as high a percentage as possible of waste glass can be used in the production of new glass to save raw materials and prevent pollution.

The collection and recycling of waste glass is a perfect example of ecologically sound business. Not surprisingly, environmental protection is a core management activity. Our top management sees sustainable management as part of their social and environmental responsibilities.

Our company works according to the following principles:

• We are continually improving our environmental performance. Our development is driven by our environmental team. Our eco-management system is essential for defining our environmental goals and ensuring we achieve them.
• Our main focus is the environmental aspects of collection and transport. We encourage our partners to raise their ecological standards. Moreover, we strive to optimise the environmental effects of the whole process.
• Within our own office we take care to behave in as an environmentally friendly way as possible.
• A high level of education and motivation fosters environmental protection in our professional and private lives.
• We regularly inform our stakeholders, interested parties and the public about glass recycling issues. We have cultivated open channels of communication with our partners and experts.
• We try to increase public environmental awareness to maintain Austria’s role as a frontrunner in the field of environmental protection.
• Legal compliance is not enough for us. We dedicate ourselves to developing measures that go beyond the legally required minimum.