Padiham Glass is adding to its sustainability credentials by joining Saint-Gobain Glass’s pioneering closed loop glass recycling programme, Glass Forever.
The sealed unit manufacturer, which is part of the Emplas Group, will return glass from old end of life windows removed during window replacement projects plus any waste glass generated from its manufacturing process to the Saint-Gobain Glass cullet processing plant in Eggborough, East Yorkshire. Cutting-edge technology and environmentally conscious practices come together to transform the pre and post-consumer glass, also known as cullet, into new high-performance glass, reducing the environmental impact of glass production and window refurbishment projects.
Saint-Gobain Glass is leading an industry change with Glass Forever, a pioneering closed-loop approach to glass manufacturing where materials are reused, waste is minimised, vital raw materials and resources are conserved, and sustainable operational practices are prioritised throughout the supply chain.
Ryan Johnson, Emplas Group MD, said: “We value a sensible, scalable, and sustainable approach to enhancing the UK’s housing stock through our product range – and this includes the way they are manufactured, recycled and reused. Homeowners are increasingly looking for more sustainable options and Glass Forever, which helps to create new windows made from recycled glass, is a key differentiator in a very competitive market.
“It is important that as an industry we embrace the opportunity to remanufacture old poorly performing first-generation double-glazed windows into new high-performance windows that contribute to improving the comfort and thermal performance of our housing stock, and by doing so help to meet our net zero climate change targets.”
John Spiby, MD at Padiham Glass, adds: “Participating in Glass Forever reinforces our commitment to the principles of the circular economy. As part of our broader sustainability strategy, which includes switching to renewable sources of energy in production, investing in the latest fuel-efficient fleet, and facilitating the recycling of old PVC window frames, Glass Forever creates an opportunity for us to engage in an impactful programme that further enhances our operational efficiency and promotes glass recycling.”
Lee Glover, Sustainability and Net Zero Delivery Manager at Saint-Gobain Glass, says: “We’re excited to welcome Padiham Glass and the Emplas Group to the Glass Forever programme. These companies share our commitment to minimising our carbon footprint and are proactively integrating Glass Forever processes into their business operations. This seamless integration ensures the efficient collection of pre and post-consumer waste glass, helping us to utilise around 40% of cullet in the remanufacture of glass for new high performance windows.
“As an industry, we must be more responsible and sustainable in our operations, which is why we have proudly developed Glass Forever and hope to see more suppliers and manufacturers prioritise circulatory environmental practices.”
The award-winning Glass Forever programme sees Saint-Gobain Glass working in partnership with a number of customers and stakeholders in the wider glass supply chain to ensure that pre and post-consumer glass is recycled and reused in the remanufacture of new windows. The cullet processing plant in Eggborough was a £4.5 million investment by Saint-Gobain Glass, underscoring its dedication to reducing carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2050.
Saint-Gobain Glass products made in the UK now use around 40% of cullet in the manufacturing process, making it one of the most sustainable products on the market. High-performance glass manufactured in this way requires less energy in the furnace, reducing CO2 emissions, all with no impact on the quality of the new product.
Saint-Gobain Glass has independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs), along with the more usual ISO 14001 standards, to demonstrate the sustainability credentials and positive impact the use of cullet has in the glass manufacturing process.
