Sustainability and Products

The NSG Group has identified Environment as one of the key material aspects, which is an important issue for both medium and long-term sustainable corporate growth, as well as contributing to the realization of a sustainable society. Through the timely provision of our unique and valuable products and services, we aim to contribute to solving important social issues such as climate change and biodiversity.

Business Development and Strategic Products

The NSG Group has identified Environment as one of the key material aspects, which is an important issue for both medium and long-term sustainable corporate growth, as well as contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.

Through the timely provision of our unique and valuable products and services, we aim to contribute to solving important social issues such as climate change and biodiversity.

Our group has set increasing the sales ratio of strategic products as a target under one of our materiality, Social Shift and Innovation, and is continuously striving to achieve this goal.

Below, we introduce initiatives for the sustainability and products across each SBUs.

Architectural Glass

Within the Architectural Glass business, product development is advancing to promote the energy efficiency of buildings and the utilization of renewable energy, aiming towards the realization of a decarbonized society. Pilkington Mirai™, an environmentally conscious product developed with a focus on reducing CO₂ emissions during the manufacturing process, has been launched and is being sold in Europe.

• Thin-film solar panel glass and coating glass are strategic products that contribute to a decarbonized society and enhance the energy efficiency of buildings.
• Multi-pane glazing and vacuum insulated glass (Spacia^®), utilizing online and offline coating technologies, enhance the thermal insulation and heat-blocking performance of buildings, contributing to improved energy efficiency in urban areas. We will continue to differentiate our products and strengthen our supply system through the introduction of new equipment and technological development.

Automotive Glass

In the Automotive sector, the advancement of electric vehicles and autonomous driving is driving demand for enhanced functionality in automotive glass.

• The world's highest quality ultraviolet and infrared-blocking glass for front doors has been favored by users for many years as a product that combines comfort with energy-saving performance. Furthermore, Advanced Driver Assistance System-compatible windshields have become indispensable components for next-generation vehicles to improve safety.
• Furthermore, the development and supply of high-performance product lines has commenced, combining comfort and safety with advanced features such as roof glass with dimming functionality and Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (AR-HUD) -compatible windshields front glass with heating functionality.

Technical Glass (Creative Technology)

The Creative Technology business develops unique materials that contribute to the evolution of customers' products, enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability across numerous market segments.

• For future environmental challenges, high-strength, high-heat resistance and high-modulus glass fibers contribute by enabling the lightweighting of various components. In the optical area, where the Group have cultivated expertise over many years, we offer products including printer lenses, glass lenses for AOI that contributes to reducing defects in optical communications and products, and high-strength, ultra-thin glass for displays. In the digital area, which responding to advances in high-speed communications, we provide glass flakes with low dielectric properties and coating liquid for various optical communication devices.
• We will accelerate business development by expanding global marketing capabilities and strengthening collaboration with the R&D department.

Contribution to CO₂ emission reduction in society through the use of our products (avoided emission)

Contribution through the creation of renewable energy

The transparent conductive film (TCO) coated glass we provide is a key component in thin-film solar cells. According to First Solar's "Corporate Responsibility Report 2025" (Page 13), from 2002 through 2024, First Solar has sold more than 75 GW of PV solar modules, and our group has made a significant contribution to the creation of this clean energy. Through the characteristics of our glass products, such as high light transmittance and excellent energy conversion efficiency, we are contributing to the realization of a low-carbon society through the clean energy generated by First Solar's solar panels.

Furthermore, our glass flake products play a vital role as coating materials for offshore wind power generation facilities. They deliver outstanding corrosion resistance in harsh marine environments, suppressing equipment degradation and thereby reducing maintenance frequency. The heavy-duty anti-corrosion properties of glass flake-containing coatings are employed in areas where repair painting is difficult and durability is essential, with offshore wind power generation facilities being one of their primary applications. This enhances service life, enabling stable power generation over the long term.

Offshore wind power generation facilities utilizing our coating products indirectly support the stable supply of renewable energy by enhancing service life and operational efficiency. This facilitates the replacement of fossil fuel-derived power generation through increased cumulative electricity generation from wind power, thereby contributing to CO₂ emission reductions.

Through the provision of such products, we shall continue to contribute to the expansion of renewable energy and the realization of a low-carbon society.

Reduction of CO₂ emission from heating and cooling of buildings through the use of high-performance Low-E Insulating Glass Unit (IGU)

Our Low-E Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) has high thermal insulation performance, which helps reduce CO₂ emissions caused by heating and cooling in buildings. When calculating the effects for certain buildings* in Japan where activity levels could be measured, the total CO₂ reduction achieved over the building‘s lifespan from April 2024 to March 2025 through the use of our Low-E Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) approximately 150,000 tonnes. The CO₂ emissions during the manufacturing process of a typical window glass over one year were approximately 84,000 tonnes. This demonstrates that our Low-E Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) achieves CO₂ reduction effects that sufficiently exceed emissions during manufacturing.

Note: This calculation focuses specifically on the contribution made by the glass. The window frames use the same material (aluminium) for both the target product and the comparison product.

Comparison of CO₂ emissions for manufacturing and CO₂ reductions by using Low-E Insulating Glass Unit (IGU) etc. sold by our company in Japan from April 2024 to March 2025

Architectural Glass

Our Architectural Products play a vital role in improving energy efficiency and reducing CO₂ emissions. They also offer other advanced functionality, protecting against fire, insulating against noise, safety and security, privacy, decoration and even self-cleaning properties.

Please refer to the "Architectural" website.

Through their superior performance, our glass helps to play a crucial role in supporting these environmental and societal issues by improving the energy efficiency of buildings and helping to reduce CO₂ emissions and we feel this is an important business opportunity for us. To facilitate this activity, we have now launched a new sustainability communications platform, makechange™, which helps us to communicate our passion and commitment for positive change to support the business in sharing our sustainability messages.

Here are some examples of our environmentally friendly products that we offer.

NSG Group online coating capacity

The Group successfully completed the conversion of a line at Rossford, Ohio, USA from architectural and automotive float glass production to a solar TCO line in early 2025. The project expands the Group's online coating capacity to meet the growing global demand from First Solar for NSG Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) glass and reinforces the Group's commitment to the renewable energy market.

The Rossford project also included the installation of a Pollution Control Plant (PCP) to reduce air pollutants, while protecting our people, our community and our environment.

New solar array in USA

The Group also commissioned its newest 2.0 MWp photovoltaic solar array at its Ottawa facility, Illinois USA, this year which will supply about 3.9 GWh's of renewable electricity annually.

The new array, owned and operated by SolAmerica Energy, based out of Atlanta, GA, will provide energy to the facility for the next 15 years under a power purchase agreement.

The build is powered by over 5,000 advanced thin film Series 7 solar modules manufactured by First Solar using NSG Group's solar energy glass products.

NSG Group has several solar energy projects around the world. In North America, in addition to this newest solar array in Ottawa, there is a 0.25 MW solar array in Northwood, Ohio commissioned in February 2011 and a 1.4 MW solar array in Rossford, Ohio commissioned in April 2022. A second solar array is under consideration in Rossford.

Ottawa Solar Array

Pilkington Suncool™ Q – Where Light Meets Performance

In the race towards sustainable building design, Pilkington Suncool™ Q stands out as a game-changer. This advanced solar control glass delivers an exceptional combination of high daylight transmission and superior energy efficiency — helping buildings and its occupants stay cool without sacrificing natural light.

By minimizing solar heat gain, Pilkington Suncool™ Q helps to reduce the demand on HVAC systems. The result? Lower energy consumption, reduced CO₂ emissions, and significant cost savings over the building's lifecycle.

What truly sets Pilkington Suncool™ Q apart is its ability to push the boundaries of physics: maximum light, minimal heat — all with a beautifully neutral, crystal-clear appearance that meets the highest architectural standards.

The Pilkington Suncool™ Q range includes three finely balanced variants — Q 50, Q 60, and Q 70 — each offering a different balance of light transmission and solar control. This allows architects the ability to tailor glass performance to suit the orientation and needs of each façade, all while maintaining a consistent, color-neutral appearance across the entire building envelope. By maximizing natural daylight and reducing dependence on artificial heating and cooling, the range also supports lower energy costs — delivering comfort, performance, and visual harmony in equal measure for residents.

For investors, it's a smart choice: a product trenhat aligns with ESG priorities, enhances occupant comfort, and boosts long-term asset value. Pilkington Suncool™ Q isn't just high-performance glass — it's a clear investment in the future.

renew:glass – Giving Glass New Life

Launched under our makechange™ sustainability platform, renew:glass is a long-term initiative dedicated to increasing glass recycling and promoting circularity across the value chain. With a focus on raising awareness, education, and championing best practices, renew:glass supports the Group's strategic goal to increase cullet usage — recycled glass used in production — which directly reduces CO₂ emissions. Recycling one tonne of end-of-life float glass can save up to 700kg of CO₂.

Through strategic collaborations, recognition, and educational outreach, renew:glass has already delivered tangible impact. Key achievements include tailored customer communications, on-site recycling guidance, and marketing assets such as certificates, trophies, and social toolkits to help celebrate partner contributions. Joint marketing case studies have also increased visibility, strengthened customer engagement and accelerated adoption by offering partners a platform to celebrate and amplify their own ESG credentials.

The initiative reflects strong cross-functional collaboration across R&D, manufacturing, and commercial teams — an approach that was critical to its successful launch and now plays a key role in helping to secure sustainable raw materials to support wider decarbonization efforts, including the development of next-generation products such as Pilkington Mirai™.

Automotive Glass

Sustainability is now at the forefront of the automotive industry agenda, OEMs are now implementing sustainability targets for Automotive components including glazings as part of their sourcing decisions for new business. Glazing accounts for a non negligeable amount of 5-6% of a vehicle carbon footprint from cradle to gate. These targets although customer dependent will revolve around the main themes of target date to achieve carbon neutrality, intermediate targets for product carbon footprint, use of renewable energy, and recycled content. NSG's Decarbonization Roadmap and activities are very much aligned with our customer's expectations in terms of areas we are investigating, although some OEMs are setting more challenging targets than the NSG Group roadmap. It is therefore critical that we communicate, collaborate with the OEMs for them to understand the challenges faced by the glass industry as a highly energy intensive industry, whilst promoting the vast array of work that we are undertaking and finding areas of collaboration which are financially viable to meet their targets.

Please refer to the "Automotive" website.

Sustainability Promotion at Customer

As a consequence of this shift by OEMs, In the last year, NSG have shifted our approach to what we would traditionally call Technology Days at customers where we would promote our new products to "Green Days" where sustainability is at the core of the agenda. We have so far held events at 3 different customers and planning more going forward. Whilst these events are tailored to the customers, they address all the sustainability themes using of mix of formal presentation, exhibits/physical samples demonstrating current achievement and other opportunities for integration of these solutions into Automotive Glazings. We have received excellent engagement from our customers, enabling open discussions and shared experiences about the challenges facing the industry, including the financial constraints. These events along with our other pro-active discussions with the OEMs demonstrate NSG's commitment to Decarbonization. As a result of this approach various initiatives are now in place to pilot some of the key areas with our customers, which will drive the implementation and potentially the acceleration of adoption.

It is clear that going forward, to increase such engagement with our customers, we have also to increase our internal knowledge on sustainability throughout the automotive commercial organization. To achieve this, we have put in place Sustainability Champions within each Customer Service Team to be the customer contact on Sustainability matters. This involves providing an extensive internal training and education program for our teams globally, which is now underway.

NSG Team: Green Day @customer

High Recycled content materials

NSG has been working closely with suppliers to provide materials with higher recycled content with dual benefits of lower carbon footprint and reducing the amount of virgin materials used. We have now various products on offer such as Encapsulation materials for front/rear quarters and backlite, other components with aesthetic finishes and products to aid the OEMs to assemble the glazing on the vehicle. These materials have recycled content and reduction of carbon footprint up to 75%. Extensive validation has been carried out to ensure that these materials meet the same criteria in terms of functionality, durability and aesthetics as the current materials whilst remaining affordable.

Whilst not all components used in glazing systems can be recycled, the NSG team continue to evaluate every opportunity to decrease our Environmental impact. A recent example is the packaging material used to store the black inks, that previously were supplied to NSG in plastic containers. By working with our suppliers, NSG was able to switch from using plastic containers to recyclable containers, that helps to reduce the amount of waste sent to Landfill.

Collaboration with OEMs and Suppliers for the Next Generation sustainable Products.

In recent years, CO₂ reduction has become an even more important issue in order to comply with carbon neutrality regulations in each country. For EVs, range extension is a must to increase adoption. In parallel, there is a need for the OEMs to development more advanced products to stay relevant with their customers, whether it is for comfort, safety or connectivity. Whilst such products provide enhanced functionality for the end-customer, they usually require energy and therefore it is critical that they are as energy efficient as possible. As a result, the automotive products are becoming more and more complex and reliant on collaboration between the OEMs, various suppliers, start-ups looking at a total system solution. NSG with its know- how and technology in areas such as coatings is at the forefront of this, actively participating in the development of such ecosystems for various applications such as high performance heated windscreens reducing the power required compared to traditional system and enhanced windscreen display with smaller less energy intensive light source.

Technical Glass

Glass is an eco-friendly material that is light, strong, fire resistant, electrically insulative and chemically resistant. Raw materials used include silica and soda ash, and the product can be recycled after use. It is possible to enhance performance properties such as strength and heat resistance by formulating the raw material composition. By fully leveraging the properties of glass, Technical Glass business is improving products and production processes. By solving customers' challenges, we contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. Below are examples of fields where our technology is being utilized.

Please refer to the "Creative Technology" website.

Upcycling of Waste Materials

In response to the growing severity of environmental issues, our company is actively engaged in upcycling — breathing new life into discarded materials. This approach is an essential solution to resource depletion and waste problems, and is vital for realizing a sustainable society. Through our proprietary technologies, we transform waste materials into valuable products for markets and customers, contributing to the advancement of a circular economy. For example, we have developed a recycled glitter material called "METASHINE ECO™" for industrial applications by utilizing glass cullet — scrap glass generated during the grade change process of float glass production. This initiative not only reduces waste glass but also cuts down on energy consumption and CO₂ emissions associated with conventional manufacturing processes such as mining, marine transportation, mixing, and melting.

Prevention of Marine Pollution

In recent years, marine pollution caused by microplastic beads has become a growing concern, prompting stricter international regulations, particularly in the EU. Microplastic beads are used as ingredients in cosmetics, and there is increasing demand for environmentally friendly alternatives.

Leveraging our long-standing expertise in glass manufacturing and processing, we offer the "MAR'VINA^®" series of powders (including SILKYFLAKE^® and GLACIA DROPS^®) as sustainable alternatives for base makeup applications.

These are made from carefully selected, naturally derived and safe raw materials. Although they are inorganic, they have a soft texture that is gentle on the skin and safe for the environment.

Reduction of CO₂ Emissions

Reducing CO₂ emissions is an urgent global challenge in the fight against climate change. Utilizing our proprietary glass composition development and manufacturing technologies, we provide glass materials for aircraft, automobiles, and general industrial applications, contributing to weight reduction and, consequently, lower CO₂ emissions.

For example, our ultra-thin glass "glanova™", with a thickness of 1.1 mm or less, offers exceptional strength and is used in lightweight windshields for sports cars. Additionally, our high-elasticity, high-strength fiber "MAGNAVI™" boasts superior impact resistance compared to carbon fiber and is used as a reinforcing material in composite structures.

Achieving Energy Efficiency

In response to global warming countermeasures and rising electricity costs, energy-saving measures are increasingly in demand. To address this challenge, our company leverages proprietary optical technologies to help reduce power consumption.

Our "SELFOC^®" series of gradient-index lenses enables simple and compact optical designs. In LED printers, our SLA^*2 is used in the LPH^*1 eliminating the need for complex optical systems and mechanical components, thereby contributing to energy savings.

In addition, server cooling within data centers requires a significant amount of electricity. We have developed ultra-fine lenses (with the same diameter as optical fibers) that can be used with refrigerants for liquid immersion cooling technology^*3, which is an efficient cooling method, and are working with our customers to establish this technology.

^*1 LPH: LED Print-head　^*2 SLA：SELFOC^® Lens Array

^*3 Liquid immersion cooling technology: A cooling technology that immerses entire server equipment in a specially designed insulating liquid

LPH used in LED printers

SELFOC^® Micro Lens with the same diameter as optical fiber