1 Oct 2024
Guardian Glass publishes new Environmental Product Declarations for glass products manufactured in Europe
Bertrange, Luxembourg – October 1, 2024 – Guardian Glass has published six new Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its flat unprocessed glass, sputter (vacuum) coated glass, and laminated glass products produced in Europe. One of the new EPDs covers Guardian ExtraClear™ float glass, which is the standard (mid-iron) float glass with the lowest embodied carbon value produced in Europe([1]).
Third-party verified by an independent external verifier (UL), the six EPDs cover the following products:
- Guardian NEXA™ 6 lower carbon glass
- Guardian NEXA™ 9 lower carbon glass
- Guardian UltraClear™ low-iron float glass
- Guardian ExtraClear™ float glass
- Guardian LamiGlass™ and Guardian Bird1st Lami™ laminated glass product ranges
- Coated glass, including (but not limited to) SunGuard™, ClimaGuard™ and Guardian Sun™ products.
The new unprocessed flat glass EPD, which covers Guardian ExtraClear standard float glass produced in Europe, has a cradle-to-gate (A1-A3) embodied carbon value([2]) of 9.64 kg CO2eq/m2 for 4 mm glass. This new value confirms that Guardian ExtraClear is the standard (mid-iron) float glass with the lowest embodied carbon value produced in Europe. A new EPD for Guardian UltraClear™ low-iron float glass produced at the Guardian Glass Bascharage, Luxembourg plant, in Guardian Glass’ most energy efficient furnace, is anticipated to be available in mid 2025.
EPDs are also now available for the new lower carbon glass range of products. Guardian NEXA 6 and Guardian NEXA 9 each have their own EPD, with embodied carbon values for 4 mm glass of 6.38 kg CO2eq/m2 and 8.58 kg CO2eq/m2, respectively. Compared to the average European float glass dataset([3]), this represents a reduction in embodied carbon of more than 40% for Guardian NEXA 6 and 20% for Guardian NEXA 9.
Embodied carbon estimation tool
In parallel with these documents, available for download on the Guardian Glass website, the recently added feature to the Performance Calculator tool (part of Glass Analytics™ software) allows glass processors and specifiers to obtain an estimate of the embodied carbon equivalent for a wide range of glazing combinations. Guardian Glass developed the Performance Calculator tool to help demonstrate the benefits of high-performance glass in building facades. The embodied carbon estimation feature is available for any float glass, coated glass, laminated glass, and coated laminated glass products produced by Guardian Glass in Europe.
Guus Boekhoudt, Executive Vice President, Europe, Africa & Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America at Guardian Glass comments: “Our commitment to Stewardship is demonstrated through our sustained efforts to enhance energy efficiency, responsibly manage resources, and reduce air emissions. We are dedicated to continuously seeking innovative solutions that improve our manufacturing processes, exemplified by initiatives such as furnace rebuilds that help increase the energy efficiency of our plants. By investing in advanced furnace technologies and efficiency projects, we have successfully reduced the embodied carbon of our European glass products.”
“By publishing EPDs, we are supporting architects and designers who strive to understand the environmental impacts of the buildings they design through the products they specify. The goal is to provide them with the information they need to calculate their building’s Whole Life Carbon emissions and make informed decisions,” says Jonathan Brunette, ESG & Certification Manager at Guardian Glass. “This transparent, third-party verified data is also helpful for companies working to attain their carbon emissions reduction objectives, whether these targets are voluntary or driven by local regulations such as the Building Whole Life Carbon regulations that are in effect across several countries in Europe including Denmark, Sweden, France and The Netherlands. The data can also help achieve credits in building environmental certification assessment methods such as LEED® or BREEAM®.”
[1] European comparison based on publicly available EPDs from main float glass manufacturers in Europe as of 19/09/2024.
[2] Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the A1-A3 stages includes the impacts from the raw materials extraction and processing stage, raw materials transportation to the manufacturing site, and the manufacturing of the product. This term is sometimes referred to as the “product carbon footprint” or “embodied carbon”.
[3] When comparing A1-A3 GWP value of NEXA 6 with Sphera Database 2021 Dataset for EU-28 Float flat glass (valid as of June 2024), reduction calculated is -42%. When comparing A1-A3 GWP value of NEXA 9 with Sphera Database 2021 Dataset for EU-28 Float flat glass (valid as of June 2024), reduction calculated is -22%.
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Notes for editors
About Guardian Glass
Guardian Glass, a major business unit of Guardian Industries, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of float, coated and fabricated glass products. At its 24 float lines around the globe, Guardian Glass produces high performance glass for use in exterior (both commercial and residential) and interior architectural applications, as well as transportation and technical products. Guardian glass can be found in homes, offices, cars and some of the world’s most iconic architectural landmarks. The Guardian Development and Technology Team continuously works to create new glass products and solutions using the most advanced technology to help customers see what’s possible™. Visit guardianglass.com.
About Guardian Industries
Guardian Industries, a global company headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, operates facilities throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Guardian companies employ 11,800 people and manufacture high-performance float glass; coated and fabricated glass products for architectural, residential, interior, transportation and technical glass applications; and high-quality chrome-plated and painted plastic components for the automotive and commercial truck industries. Guardian’s vision is to be a preferred partner to our customers, suppliers, employees and communities based on a foundation of mutual benefit. This drives our relentless focus on improving people’s lives by providing products and services they value more highly than their alternatives and doing so responsibly while consuming fewer resources. Guardian is a wholly owned subsidiary of Koch, Inc. Visit guardian.com.
Guardian, Guardian Glass, the Logo, Guardian NEXA, Guardian UltraClear, Guardian ExtraClear, Guardian LamiGlass, Guardian Bird1st Lami, SunGuard, ClimaGuard and Guardian Sun are trademarks of Guardian Industries LLC and/or its affiliates. All other trademarks not owned by Guardian are the property of their respective owners.
LEED – an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ - is a registered trademark of USGBC. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® green building program is the world’s most widely used and was created as a leadership standard defining best practices for healthy, high-performing green buildings.
BREEAM is a registered trademark of BRE (the Building Research Establishment Ltd. Community Trade Mark E5778551). The BREEAM marks, logos and symbols are the Copyright of BRE and are reproduced by permission.
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Guardian Glass publishes new Environmental Product Declarations for glass products manufactured in Europe.
(Photo Guardian Glass, LLC, GRDPR207)
Editorial enquiries
Sophie Weckx
Guardian Glass
Elena Loseva
EMG