The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water has awarded Emirates Float Glass (EFG) an Environmental Performance Card in recognition of its environmentally safe production practices. Covering all aspects of the company’s manufacturing unit, the evaluation particularly assessed the use of chemicals, disposal of industrial waste and air pollution levels, against the environmental requirements prescribed under Federal Law 24 (1999).
Emirates Float Glass (EFG), one of the UAE’s largest, integrated float glass facilities, a subsidiary of Dubai Investments (DI) PJSC, has received a prestigious Environmental Performance Card from the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water in recognition of its environmentally safe production practices.
The commendation was presented to Ghassan Mashal, General Manager at EFG, by His Excellency Dr Rashid Ahmed Mohammed Bin Fahad, UAE’s Minister for Environment and Water, at an official awards ceremony. The Environmental Performance Card is an initiative designed to support the Ministry’s motto ‘Towards a Green Production 2021’.
The EFG facility, which launched a unique Carbon Management Programme early in 2012, was assessed by technical specialists from the government department. Covering all aspects of the company’s manufacturing unit, the evaluation particularly assessed the use of chemicals, disposal of industrial waste and air pollution levels, against the environmental requirements prescribed under Federal Law 24 (1999).
Mashal said: “The adoption of green production is already offering us economic and environmental benefits. Economically, we have decreased the cost of waste disposal operations, and enhanced access to energy and raw materials, which lowers production costs. Environmentally, the quantity and effect of our pollutants has reduced, along with health risks and industrial accidents. We champion the adoption of sustainable production and the preservation of human life and ecology.”
EFG has achieved a carbon footprint level of 553 grams of carbon dioxide emission per kilogram of glass, which is among the best global ratings. Float glass produced by EFG contains between 59 and 67% regional raw material, which is in line with international sustainability requirements. Additionally, EFG uses 6.20% post-consumer recycled material for production.
The company’s facility, which is equipped with state-of-the-art machines imported from Europe, the US and Japan, achieves 100% capacity utilization, the highest benchmark for efficiency levels worldwide. The hi-tech manufacturing unit currently holds a production capacity of 600 tons of clear molten glass per day and over 190,000 tons of glass products per year.
In addition to clear glass, EFG also produces a wide variety of tinted glass such as bronze, grey and green, as well as reflective coated glass. The AED700 million-factory has been operational since 2009.