Glass: a small part of the Climate Change problem, a large part of the solution

The challenging EU targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating electricity from renewable sources were established as - 20% and 20% by 2020. As part of the strategy, EU confirmed in 2007 the need to save around 300 million tonnes of CO, per year from EU buildings by 2020. Housing itself accounts for some 40% of emissions, mostly associated with heating. Industry will be expected to source and use appropriate materials and process technologies to improve their own energy consumption and at the same time deliver products that permit to reach those targets. This article examines the relationship between the emissions from relevant sectors of the glass industry and compares them with the carbon savings that can be achieved with the products the industry makes. Four main areas are discussed: glass fibre insulation, advanced glazing (low emissivity glass and advanced solar glass), continuous filament glass fibre and special glass applications. It is suggested that as well as considering the use of free allowances or border carbon adjustment, member states need to take account of the benefit of these products when formulating emission constraint policies; a carbon credit feedback loop should be also explored to encourage cheaper production and installation and avoid carbon leakage.