The focus on circular economy at glasstec 2024 emphasizes the ecological and economic significance of recycling cullet, which not only conserves raw materials but also reduces energy consumption and lowers CO2 emissions.
However, challenges abound in achieving closed-loop material recycling during building demolitions or renovations. Contamination risks at recycling centers, inadequate separation of materials, and insufficient cullet from old structures hinder the industry's progress. Solutions involve careful material sorting, increased awareness of material value, and collaboration between the glass industry and recycling initiatives like Rewindo and A/U/F.
Long-lasting IGUs as a challenge
While collaboration with glass processing companies is successful, increasing cullet percentages faces hurdles due to slow-moving architectural glass and the long lifespan of insulating glass units. To address this, manufacturers are exploring innovative approaches, such as a "Glass as a Service" model, promoting planned, periodic updates to buildings for a constant return of glass for re-use and recycling. Efforts are also underway to establish guidelines for qualifying glass from existing buildings for new applications, fostering a sustainable approach in the flat glass industry.
See also: Glass for Europe publishes paper on the sustainable glass disposal and recycling
A promising development is the automated separation technology for insulating glass units, like Hegla's "IG2Pieces system technology," which offers a more efficient and economical way to separate and recycle glass from units without damage. This breakthrough aligns with the circular economy goals, providing a commercially viable solution as the industry works towards climate neutrality.
Sustainable practices for closed-loop recycling
As glasstec 2024 approaches, the circular economy remains a central theme, offering the industry an opportunity to explore and implement sustainable practices for closed-loop recycling, furthering the goal of a greener and more resource-efficient flat glass sector.
