Glass in a sustainable lifecycle

Raw Materials

Use of cullet to reduce raw material and energy consumption

Guardian Glass EU plants increased average cullet ratio (broken glass) in their glass from 22% to 26% between 2019 and 2021.

PVB recycling

Our 6 European plants send excess PVB trims back to our suppliers for re-introduction into their manufacturing process, reducing waste and saving resources.

Local sourcing of raw materials

Where feasible, we strive to source the raw materials for our float batch at a regional level. (Mainly sand, soda ash, dolomite, limestone, salt cake and cullet).

For all of our European plants in 2022*, the majority of the batch raw materials used to manufacture our ExtraClear and UltraClear float production comes from suppliers within an 800 km radius.

(This is the distance considered to be regional in the LEED v3 rating. Our teams can provide specific Regional Material & Recycled content statements for you to earn LEED points on your projects). Some of our plants are even 100% locally sourced.

*Regional material content can vary over time

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Manufacturing Process

Energy efficiency during manufacture

Investment in our Goole, UK float glass plant in 2021 has reduced its carbon intensity by approximately 15% (tons CO2 per pull ton).

After recent improvements, the new Bascharage float glass furnace is expected to be 20% more energy and carbon efficient when put into operation.

Glass Futures™ – exploring energy efficient technology

As a founding member of Glass Futures, we are investing in a new pilot plant facility, The Global Centre of Excellence for glass in R&D, innovation and training that will define the technologies of the future in the float and global glass industry.

Projects of key interest to Glass Futures and its members include:

  • Development of alternative fuel technologies
  • Heat recovery, abatement and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) demonstrations
  • Secondary raw materials for recycling
  • Raw material and cullet processing technology
  • New compositions and treatments
  • Next generation refractories

Reducing water consumption, waste & air emissions

Since 2016, Emission Control Systems installed to comply with new regulations have led to a 74% reduction of NOx emissions for European manufacturing sites.

Water Management

  • In the Llodio plant (Spain), Guardian Glass significantly reduced its cooling water discharge by recycling water in a closed loop system – from over 20,000m³ to around 4,000m³
  • The Czestochowa plant (Poland) recycles up to 30% of groundwater (around 110,000m³ per year)
  • The Oroshaza plant does not discharge process water into the environment.
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Design Phase

Clear product information

All our products, across European, NA and AMEI regions carry up to date Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), so you can plan your projects with clarity and certainty.

In 2021 Guardian Glass became the first global flat glass manufacturer to offer UL Product Lens™ certifications, covering three global product categories – including commercial SunGuard® and residential ClimaGuard® coated glass products.

Within the Cradle to Cradle certification Guardian Europe has achieved an overall Bronze level v3.1 for its float, coated and laminated glass processes, and Gold level in the “Material Reutilization” category for float and coated glass, as well as Silver level for laminated glass.

Achieving environmental certifications

Guardian Glass experts can help you with tools, calculations, glazing configuration solutions & help in achieving your required certifications (LEED, BREEAM, WELL, etc.).

Our technical teams are here to help you see what’s possible.

Environmental design tools

Our suite of glass analytics tools includes energy efficiency calculators and access to the latest Fenestra Pro tools.

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Construction Phase

Reduced road delivery transportation

We increased our glass transportation in the EU from 22 to 25 tons per truckload – an increase of +13% transported, reducing associated road traffic.

Regional manufacturing and efficient logistics

Our presence across regions helps to provide global glass solutions at a localized level.

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Building Life

Reducing operational carbon with glass performance

Our latest product solutions combine improved solar control, insulation and light transmission to help create living environments that require less air conditioning in hot environments, less heating when cold, and maximise natural light, reducing the need for artificial light.

Guardian SunGuard® Solar Plus Metal Grey


Guardian SunGuard® SNX 70

Net positive technology

Guardian has partnered with ML System S.A., a leading company with more than 13 years experience in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) applications, to offer a complete range of BIPV product solutions.

Bird-friendly solutions

In an evolving regulatory environment, we’re exploring several solutions that can help with this global challenge:

Frit on glass - a proven and economical solution that creates a patterned opacity that birds can see more easily.

Etched glass – often the preferred option when a visible pattern that is translucent, rather than opaque, is needed

UV-coated glass – creates a contrasting pattern that birds can see, but which is much less visible to humans. Only available in certain markets.

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End-of-Life

End-of-life glass recycling opportunities

We are constantly developing solutions to increase the amount of external cullet in our float batch, including post-consumer cullet.

Post-consumer cullet is purchased from professional glass recycling companies. Different types are tested and where possible implemented at an industrial scale.

In the process of recycling existing façades, Guardian Glass can:

  • facilitate communication amongst stakeholders at all project stages
  • involve appropriate cladders / recycling partners
  • recycle processed cullet into new flat glass

Retrofitting & façade recycling

After two decades out of use the Castellana 77 in Madrid was given a new lease of life from an innovative new façade. Guardian SunGuard® SN 70/41 was combined with additional solar protection from 60cm fins, providing additional shade (separated from the main façade by a 15cm gap for maintenance and cleaning). With completion of the restoration, the building is a leader in terms of energy efficiency and environmental profile and has received the prestigious LEED Platinum certification.