Closing The Loop

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Old windows might be out of style, out of spec or just letting in too much cold air – but they’re not out of value, writes Lee Glover, the sustainability & net-zero delivery manager at Saint-Gobain Glass.

Thanks to Saint-Gobain’s Glass Forever initiative, window installers now have a real opportunity to play a vital role in tackling waste and reducing carbon emissions through the recycling of post-consumer window glass.

We all know how easy it is to recycle bottles and jars at home, yet when it comes to glass from old windows and doors, most of it still ends up in landfill or is ‘downcycled’ into low-value materials such as aggregate.

Shockingly, less than 1% of the building glass removed from homes across Europe is reused in new glass production. That’s where Saint-Gobain’s Glass Forever programme comes in – helping to turn post-consumer glass from window replacement projects back into high-quality float glass, ready to be remanufactured into new high-performance glazing.

 

Train to gain

Saint-Gobain’s float glass factory in Eggborough, Yorkshire is leading the way in closed-loop recycling. Through the Glass Forever programme, installers, fabricators and contractors can return old window glass directly to Saint-Gobain, where it is carefully sorted, crushed into cullet and remanufactured into new float glass.

The key is quality – glass must be segregated and free from contaminants. With simple procedures and training in place, installers can ensure the glass they remove from homes and buildings is suitable for recycling.

For window installers, there are several practical and commercial benefits to taking part in Glass Forever. Saint-Gobain covers the cost of collecting and processing the old glass, making the scheme cost-neutral and simple to implement. Installers are provided with appropriate collection materials, including one-tonne bags or skips, making it easy to gather and return glass straight from site. More importantly, the programme offers installers the opportunity to strengthen their sustainability credentials – something that is increasingly important in today’s competitive market. Participating businesses can demonstrate a real commitment to reducing environmental impact, which resonates with today’s eco-conscious homeowner.

Saint-Gobain also supports its partners with clear instructions and ongoing advice, ensuring that all collected glass is clean and correctly sorted. This collaborative approach helps to maintain the high standards required for closed-loop recycling and reduces the risk of rejected loads.

 

Why It matters to your customers

Homeowners are increasingly aware of their carbon footprint and are often looking for sustainable home improvement solutions. By choosing a window installer that participates in closed-loop recycling, they can feel confident that their old windows won’t just go to waste.

Better still, the recycled glass is used to produce high-performance, energy-efficient glazing, often going straight back into new PVC-U window systems. That means today’s old window becomes tomorrow’s thermal upgrade. This is a real selling point when talking to energy-conscious customers.

 

Glass for less energy

It is also worth noting that recycled glass uses 30% less energy in the furnace than making glass from raw materials, which is a direct contribution to reducing carbon emissions in the UK construction sector.

 

Supporting the drive to net zero

Glass Forever aligns with the UK government’s goals for net-zero-carbon buildings, including through initiatives such as the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. For social housing window replacement projects in particular, Glass Forever offers a sustainable solution that satisfies both environmental and policy requirements.

The programme’s impact is growing. Saint-Gobain has already signed up more than 100 recycling partners. The goal is to use 50% recycled glass in the manufacturing process by 2030.

Though Saint-Gobain operates globally, the UK is leading the charge in glass recycling innovation. The Eggborough site is now a blueprint for other plants across Europe – all thanks to the willingness of local installers and contractors to get involved.

 

Make a difference

As the demand for greener homes and more sustainable renovations continues to rise, window installers are in a unique position to make a difference. The next time you remove an old, sealed unit, think of it not as waste but as the raw material for the next generation of high-performance glazing.

 

Pictures: Saint-Gobain’s Glass Forever initiative means old glass can be collected to be smashed into cullet and then recycled to make new high-performance glass such as that pictured above.

www.saint-gobain-glass.co.uk

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
14th October 2025

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