With the environment facing a lot of issues ranging from global warming to increasing amounts of greenhouse gases, it has become quite essential to walk towards the idea of sustainability. Sustainability in ecology mainly refers to the ability to persist, it also describes how biological systems will continue to diversify and be productive for a longer duration. One such method to work towards sustainability is ensuring the sustainability of glass materials. There is no doubt that even one small change can bring about a big impact on the environment. By using eco-friendly glass we can reduce the environmental impact of glass.
What is the sustainability of glass?
Environmental sustainable glass also called glass is often referred to as a green product. This is because the main constituent of glass is nothing but Silica which is commonly found in sand. Yeah but why is glass sustainable? Silica is considered to be a never ending and renewable resource which makes it an eco-friendly substance. Kiln-cast glass offers great textures for decorative purposes without having to compromise on the environmental impact of glass. Neither plastic nor resins which have a great effect on the environment are used in this process of production of glass which means by choosing glass you get to extend its lifeline.
And that’s not all. The glass packaging industry has committed itself to making glass a climate-neutral packaging solution by the year 2050. The industry has already come a long way in lowering carbon content production where glass is now 30% lighter and about 70% less energy is used in its production.
Why is glass a sustainable material?
While the line above does say glass is sustainable, the main question still remains why is glass sustainable? Here are a few of the reasons why the sustainability of glass has a positive effect on the environment.
Glass is recyclable and reusable
One of the main reasons why we consider glass to be sustainable is because of its recyclable nature. This means that recycled glass is always a part of the recipe when new containers are created. And in this fast recycling age, a bottle can easily be recycled into a new container just within one to few months.
Another one of the main benefits of using glass is its reusability. You can reuse your glass containers to not just store food but also to bring out your inner artist self or you can also turn them into candle holders, flower vases, or simple desk organisers.
It is made up of Sustainable materials
Glass is made out of raw materials that are found in nature such as soda, sand, limestone, and ash as well as recycled glass which is commonly known as cullet. These raw materials are not just sustainable but also available locally which provides great benefits even when it comes to environmental impact.
Glass can reflect and absorb solar energy
The energy absorption properties of glass make it easier to convert sunlight energy into energy required for businesses and homes around the world. If you are trying to add a touch of green to your home, you could also add glass to terrariums which will retain the heat inside and help create an ideal microclimate for your plants.
On the other hand, glass can also reflect solar energy which will protect a lot of products that are sensitive such as oils, beer, and pharmaceuticals. The colour of the container will also determine how much sunlight can pass through it and hence you see green, amber, and blue bottles.
Reduces Carbon Emission
Melting cullet which is used tends to lower the amount of carbon emissions. And since we can’t slow down the process the recycling of glass saves 670 kilos of carbon dioxide. The industry is also developing carbon neutral solutions that will reduce manufacturing emissions by about 60 percent hence also making the glass a sustainable option.
Saves Energy
One of the many benefits of glass recycling is that there is a lot of energy saved. The more recycled content is used the less the amount of energy that is wasted to get new glass and also because used glass will also melt at lower temperatures than the raw materials.
Types of Eco-friendly Glass
Based on their uses, glass can also be of multiple types. Here are a few various types of eco-friendly glass that you might come across.
Ecosense Glass
This type of glass seeks to achieve the ideal mix of economy and style along with purpose and finesse. It was mainly created with the tropical environment of India being kept in mind. It shields a space from sun radiation and provides a better cooling effect as opposed to the heating effect. It is also an energy-efficient solution since natural light enters your house. Additionally, a significant amount of near-infrared heat is both reflected and absorbed by it. This makes it possible to keep the structure’s occupant along with the interior cool no matter what climate it is. Such glass is mainly used in glass facades, windows, and skylights.
Opal Glass
Green glass is also called solar control glass and enhances the appearance of the building it has been added to. It is extremely cost-effective and is primarily made to prevent heat from entering the building. Typically, facades, windows, and exteriors of the building are made of solar control glass.
Sunshield Glass
Sunshield glass is designed in such a way that it gives a super cooling effect even in the worst climate of India. It is also strong and increases energy efficiency while also providing great aesthetics. It is mainly favoured by people wishing to develop green structures due to the abundance of unmatched characteristics. It also decreases the glare after its installation. It also has a protective coating that prevents UV rays from entering the building. It also has a lot of advantages which makes it an ideal glass for exterior uses.
Environmental impact of glass
Glass is used almost everywhere. However, if you ask whether it is biodegradable. The answer would be no. But then how to ensure sustainability of glass? Well, the answer is quite simple, by utilising and reusing the glass as much as possible. Here are a few of the environmental impacts of glass.
Protects marine life and seafloor
Marine debris which refers to the litter that ends up under the oceans and seas has a very serious problem associated with it. This mismanaged garbage tends to get collected under the oceans forever. This can in turn also harm the marine ecosystem highly. You can protect the ocean floors better by managing your garbage well. Since glass is also 100 percent recyclable you can make every effort to reuse and recycle it instead of discarding it.
Economic benefits
There are several economic benefits that you get when you recycle glass. First of all, recycling of glass can cost much less than creating glass from scratch. That’s why cullets are always much more in demand among glass manufacturers. The second benefit that is associated with recycling is that recycling will generate more jobs and hence reduce unemployment.
Promoting sustainability
Glass is 100 percent recyclable and can also be used several times without having to compromise on its quality. Therefore there is no risk that the world will ever run out of glass. Additionally, glass is a key ingredient in the production of renewable energy through photovoltaic cells and solar panels. So by recycling glass, you ensure that industries can produce renewable energy.
Reduces Landfill space
All of the waste that humans produce both domestic and industrial tends to end up in landfills. There is also an alarming rate of adverse effects related to the environment. It is also predicted that the world will soon run out of landfill spaces. Once glass is dumped into the landfills it can take up to centuries to degrade which makes it hard to clear off.
Glass production can lead to adverse effects
Glass production usually takes a lot more energy while also releasing greenhouse gases as compared to when you reuse or recycle glass. By reducing the environmental impact of glass processing we can help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change while also preserving the earth for future generations.
Benefits of glass recycling:
While we now know what is the environmental impact of glass along with why glass is sustainable here are a few of the benefits of glass recycling that will help you move towards a more sustainable option.
Energy saving
One of the main benefits of glass recycling is that making products from recycled glass can actually reduce the consumption of energy to about 40 percent as compared to when you make these products from new glass.
Savings in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
By using a cullet, the carbon emissions are significantly reduced between 20 to 50 percent. For every recycled ton of glass, the emissions can range widely from 200 kilos of carbon dioxide to 315 kilos of carbon dioxide which can be easily avoided.
Improvement of air and water quality by reducing its pollution
There is improvement in both air and water quality which also reduces pollution by 20 percent. For every 10 percent of the glass that is recycled the emission of particles into the atmosphere is reduced by 8 percent. Not to mention how for every 3 thousand kilos of recycled glass bottles being used there is about 1000 kilos of garbage being prevented from ending up inside a landfill.
Saving resources
By recycling, the glass manufacturing industries could be supplied with a lower amount of resources which can amount to 34% lower than what it usually needs.
Conclusion:
Sustainability of glass hence needs to be our first priority. But how? Well, by actively taking part in recycling glass and also actively participating in waste reduction you can now ensure that the glass items do not end up unused. Glass is also an option that you need to go for in order to ensure you are at least going one step forward to a sustainable environment. If you are wondering who could help you out in all matters regarding glass? Well, we have got experts from Finepoint Glass who can help you with everything you need to know about glass and how you include glass for your house.
FAQ:
- Is glass biodegradable or not?
Glass is not biodegradable and hence it is recommended mostly by glass vendors to reuse it as much as possible.
2. Is glass more environmentally friendly?
Glass is a material that is infinitely recyclable which means that you will be reducing water and saving natural resources when you reuse this glass in your house.
3. Is glass Synthetic or natural?
Glass is a synthetic material that is made from sand or mostly silica from sand.
4. How sustainable is glass recycling?
When we talk about sustainability of glass, recycling of glass can lower air pollution by about 20 percent and can also reduce water pollution by about 50 percent.