Old flat glass from demolition and modernisation projects is an important raw material that - after appropriate cleaning and processing - can and must be returned to the production cycle for flat glass.
AGC Glass Europe has therefore launched its new service, which works as follows when buildings are to be demolished or dismantled: After an initial intake of the ‘project’ by AGC as early as possible, the windows or façade components are removed from the building in coordination by deconstruction or window construction companies and the glass is removed from the frame.
Matthias Rehberger
It is collected in a special container provided by the AGC partners. This is then transported to a selected flat glass recycler, who processes the glazing to obtain high-quality cullet that meets the high requirements for the manufacture of flat glass.
The processed cullet is transported to the nearest AGC flat glass production facility, where it is inspected and added to the melt. The client is then issued with a certificate confirming the savings in resources and CO2.
An important step towards CO2 neutrality
Genuine material cycles are an important lever for future CO2 neutrality in the flat glass industry: the more cullet is returned to the cycle, the fewer new raw materials have to be extracted and used.
Every increase in the proportion of cullet in the melt mixture saves energy and reduces CO2 emissions, as cullet reduces the required furnace temperature: increasing the proportion of cullet by 10 per cent reduces the energy requirement of the melt by 2.5 per cent. Every tonne of cullet reduces CO2 emissions by 0.7 tonnes and saves around 1.2 tonnes of raw materials.
AGC Glass Europe / Foto: René Mueller
