Saint-Gobain Glass, market leader in the innovation and development of high performance sustainable glass, has been named as a finalist in two categories at the prestigious G23 Awards. The business has been shortlisted in the Sustainability Initiative of the Year and the Commercial Project of the Year categories.
It is in the running for the Sustainability Initiative of the Year award after joining forces with integral blinds manufacturer Morley Glass & Glazing to create the first successful closed-loop post-consumer glass recycling scheme that turns old glass units into new high-performance window glass. The two companies have together saved over 1 million tonnes of raw materials from the flat glass manufacturing process, plus vast amounts of energy and CO2 emissions, and donated thousands of pounds to environmental and social good causes.
Mike Butterick, Marketing Director at Saint-Gobain Glass said: “The initiative involves collecting old insulated glass units, removed during window replacement projects, and converting them into cullet (crushed glass) using a patented automated crushing machine. The cullet is then used in the manufacture of new high-performance window glass. It is important that as an industry we embrace the opportunity to remanufacture old poorly performing first-generation double-glazed windows into new high-performance windows that contribute to improving the comfort and thermal performance of our housing stock, and by doing so help to meet our net zero climate change targets.”
Saint-Gobain Glass’ work on the 17.8 metre high Black & White Building in Central London has been recognised in the Commercial Project of the Year category. The 17.8 metre high structure is the tallest mass timber office building and the first fully engineered timber structure in the city since 1666. Embracing innovative construction processes and sustainable materials the six-storey property is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy sources and has over a third less embodied carbon than equivalent concrete structures.
It is framed by a glazed curtain wall featuring COOL-LITE SKN183 outer pane with a bespoke digitally printed wood effect inner pane of glass to continue the natural wood effect used throughout the exterior and interior of the building.
Mike adds: “We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted in two categories. Being named as a finalist in the G23 Sustainability Initiative of the Year category alongside Morley Glass & Glazing is a testament to our commitment to help the UK window industry move towards a position where glass recycling is the norm, in line with the way that fabricators collect and recycle old PVC frames, metal and timber.”
“We are also very proud of the Black & White Building which is a super low carbon building that embraced efficient and sustainable building materials and processes despite the central London location with difficult access and site restrictions.”
“Both these award shortlistings further enhance our reputation and credibility as a glass company that is ‘making the world a better home’ with our commitment to the environment and more sustainable business practices.”
