Wedoany.com Report-Jun 7, Saint-Gobain Glass has formed a strategic partnership with VEKA Recycling to enhance sustainable construction practices and improve post-consumer glass recycling in the UK fenestration sector. This initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing longstanding challenges in collecting and processing used glazing materials.

The collaboration focuses on developing a more efficient infrastructure for recycling post-consumer glass. VEKA Recycling, with over 30 years of experience in PVCu recycling, brings essential expertise to the effort. The project targets the reduction of glass waste sent to landfills and supports a closed-loop recycling system.

Central to this partnership is the deployment of Saint-Gobain’s patented ICG Recycling Machine. This advanced equipment separates annealed and toughened glass from spacer bars, allowing the recovered glass to be reintroduced directly into float glass production. The process improves material recovery, cuts down on raw material extraction, and results in a 30% reduction in energy use, along with lower CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain.

The recycling initiative is concentrated within a 100-mile radius around VEKA’s Wellingborough facility, which recently underwent a £15 million upgrade. The facility now has greater processing capacity and enhanced technology to handle fully glazed frames collected by VEKA without the need for on-site deglazing. This creates a streamlined and cost-effective recycling process that benefits both the environment and industry efficiency.

Michael Butterick, Marketing Director at Saint-Gobain Glass, stated: “We are thrilled to be partnering with VEKA Recycling to offer a solution for post-consumer glass recycling. The potential of this initiative is vast – by addressing the current gap in infrastructure and leveraging key partnerships, we can achieve our sustainability goals.”

Tim Taylor, Commercial Director at VEKA plc, added: “This marks a monumental step on our journey towards creating a circular economy within the UK. For the fenestration industry, ensuring that materials can be collected, recycled and then manufactured into new products without needing to leave the country is instrumental in meeting sustainability goals.

“By combining our infrastructure with Saint-Gobain’s innovative glass recycling technology, we are confident that we can overcome current challenges to significantly increase the rate of post-consumer glass recovery in the UK.”

This UK-based initiative aligns with Saint-Gobain’s broader commitment to achieving Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050. In parallel, the company is expanding its glass recycling operations in the United States, with recent projects in California and Minnesota further supporting its global sustainability agenda.

Together, Saint-Gobain Glass and VEKA Recycling aim to build a scalable model for circular resource use in the construction industry, supporting long-term environmental and economic benefits.