Sustainability and Recyclability

Industry Product Category Rules (PCRs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

Flat Glass PCR (pdf)

  • NGA PCR for Flat Glass was published by NSF describing the requirements for LCAs and EPDs of flat glass, valid through September 30, 2025.

Flat Glass EPD: Industry Average (pdf)

  • NGA flat glass member companies (members of the NGA Forming committee) published an industry-average EPD for flat glass produced in the US in December 2019 (ref: ASTM-EPD121) valid until December 20, 2024.

Processed Glass PCR (download from UL)

  • The processed glass PCR Guidance for Building-Related Products and Services Part B: Processed Glass EPD Requirements was established August 17, 2016. UL is working with industry stakeholders to update the processed glass PCR. 

Fenestration Assemblies PCR (pdf)

  • The Windows PCR (Fenestration PCR) was established in September 2015 and included residential windows and ribbon/curtainwall windows. It was updated as the Fenestration PCR to include exterior-grade, finished, assembled fenestration assemblies that selectively permit the passing of air, daylight, or people. It includes skylights, windows, curtainwalls, storefronts and doors.  The Fenestration PCR was established in December 2023 and is valid through December 31, 2028. 

Flat Glass Sustainability Drivers Defined

The following terms may be helpful in defining sustainability: 

  • Embodied Carbon versus Operational Carbon: Embodied Carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq)) from the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of building materials. Operational Carbon refers to the greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq)) from the building energy consumption. Reference: Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF). 
  • Social Cost of Carbon: The Social Cost of Carbon (SC CO2) is a dollar value that measures the long-term damage done by one ton of CO2 emissions in a given year. It also represents the value of damages avoided for a small emission reduction (the benefit of a CO2 reduction). Social Cost of Carbon is designed to be a comprehensive estimate of damages from climate change, including changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, property damage from increased flood risk, and changes in energy system costs (cost of heating/air conditioning). Reference: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Circularity: Circularity designing products with their end-of-life in mind. It is a step towards overall sustainability. A Circular Economy reduces material use, redesigns materials and products to be less resource intensive, and recaptures “waste” as a resource to manufacture new materials and products. Reference: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Global Warming Potential (GWP): The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much energy the emissions of one ton of gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of one ton of CO2. GWP was developed to allow comparison of global warming impacts of different greenhouse gases. Reference: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • Environmental/Social/Governance (ESG) Reporting: Through ESG reporting, companies disclose their sustainability efforts in the areas of environmental impact, social responsibility and governance policies. ESG Reporting may include environmental factors such as energy efficiency, climate change and carbon emissions, waste management, air and water quality, biodiversity and deforestation. Social factors may include diversity, employee engagement, community relations, customer satisfaction, data protection and privacy, human rights and labor standards. Governance factors may include Board of Directors composition, executive compensation, audit committee structure, bribery and corruption, lobbying, political contributions and whistle-blower schemes. 
     

Triple Glazing and Embodied Energy

NGA’s energy code consultant, Tom Culp of Birch Point Consulting LLC answers the question- in a triple glazed insulating unit, is the embodied energy in the added third pane of glass paid back by the extra energy savings realized by the triple glazed unit? Read his analysis and conclusions.

Downloadable Resources

Recycling Reading from our Magazines

Webinars, Workshops and Presentations

DOE Glass Decarbonization Workshop
NGA represented its members at the Glass Decarbonization Workshop hosted by the Department of Energy on May 16-17, 2024 in Pittsburgh, PA. Stakeholders from across the glass manufacturing supply chain attended and were able to discuss energy efficiency and carbon reduction strategies and technological innovations that will help improve the carbon footprint of the industry. NGA advocates for glass as part of the sustainability solution; find sustainability resources on glass.org.

The Need for Recycling to Enhance our Supply Chain
 
Recycled Glass…It’s Not Waste, It’s the Future