CIRCULARITY AND RECYCLING INITIATIVES

The construction sector is a major consumer of resources and the leading source of solid waste globally, 40%¹ of waste is generated from the construction, renovation, and demolition stages. Construction and demolition materials form a significant waste stream. Hence, the demolition of existing buildings and disposal of debris is not an sustainable method.

Promoting waste sorting and recycling at construction sites can have a significant role in reducing wastes. The structure of a building should then be considered as a storehouse of materials at the end-of-life phase. Accordingly, it is better to favour deconstruction over demolition to ensure that materials can be reused or recycled.

The main goal of this model is to collect building components at the end-life stage to recycle them in order to produce new construction products. It is also recommended to make sure that the decisions taken during the design stage of the building include a plan to reuse the waste collected at the end of life. Another important factor to consider is raw materials' traceability to obtain complete information about their harmful constituents (if any) and to be able to properly reuse or recycle them. 

At Saint-Gobain Glass, we aim to preserve natural resources through the sustainable management of raw materials. We promote end-of-life glass recycling to generate cullet (scraps of glass).

Glass can be recycled endlessly in what is so-called closed-loop recycling. It is also possible to manufacture glass with 100% of recycled content without any change in the quality or characteristics of the produced glass.

At Saint-Gobain Glass, we actively recycle pre-consumer cullet, which includes glass waste from sheet transformation and products not yet delivered to clients. However, following our sustainability roadmap, we have also begun collecting post-consumer cullet from end-of-life glass. This type of cullet arises when glazing reaches the end of its useful life, particularly from renovation projects or building dismantling. Despite the challenge, we’ve already initiated local efforts, collaborating closely with dedicated partners to achieve our shared objectives. 
 
For more than two decades, Saint-Gobain Glass UK has been at the forefront of supporting our customers in responsibly reclaiming and utilizing glass cullet. Our teams collaborate directly with glass processors to implement efficient glass recovery methods, ensuring a circular economy approach in our operations. The Glass Forever cullet return program also involves recovering ‘post-consumer’ glass from old windows that would otherwise end up in landfills. 

In 2022, Saint-Gobain Glass France established a network of recycling companies for closed-loop recycling of flat glass. This network consists of around 50 partners committed to closed-loop recycling of glass through collecting and dismantling end-life glass products. 

Saint-Gobain Glass Deutschland has entered into a cooperation agreement with Ragn-Sells, a prominent recycling company in Scandinavia. The Ragn-Sells Group annually processes and recycles 1.5 million tons of waste for material and energy production. Initially, Ragn-Sells will handle dismantled glass facades, including windows from demolition and renovation projects in Sweden and Norway, utilizing its own facilities. 

Saint-Gobain Glass España launched CLIMALIT^® RECICLA, an initiative that collects glass from old windows and enclosures at the end of their useful life, aiming to valorize it by incorporating it back into the glass manufacturing process.

Saint-Gobain Glass Poland proposes a glass inventory service. They assess facade and internal glass on-site to identify recyclable types, mark them for sorting, and provide a detailed inventory. This supports efficient dismantling and enables close-loop recycling. 

In Colombia, Vidrio Andino promotes flat glass recycling through its Reciclo con Vidrio Andino program, encouraging the recovery and reintegration of pre and post-consumer glass into production to reduce landfill waste and support circularity.  

At Saint-Gobain Glass, we  take meaningful action. If you are interested in flat glass recycling, feel free to reach out to us. Together, we can close the loop!


¹ Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, Global Status Reports 2017