Closed loop recycling of end-of-life building glass rarely happens, with most glass manufacturers declaring less than 1% post-consumer content in their new glass. Most of this glass follows a linear process: crushed together with other building materials, put into landfills or recovered to low grade fill applications. As we consider strategies for combatting embodied emissions and creating a circular economy, this is the most important challenge for the glass industry,
By dealing directly with clients and upskilling the existing deconstruction supply chain to provide a ‘cost and time’ effective solution, the industry can guarantee that end of life glass is being recovered back into new building glass. With contributions from architects, commercial developers and the public sector, this session will cover:
- An update on Saint Gobain's recycling processes, capabilities, and the lessons that have been learnt
- The importance of closed loop recycling in relation to the decarbonisation of the glass industry and the production of lower-carbon glass
- Stewardship of natural resources, especially sand.
- How to tackle the obstacles to circularity
- Why early engagement and collaboration are vital to successful end of life glass recovery
