Glass for Europe (GfE) participated in the Glass Conference organized by the National Glass Association (NGA) from February 5 to 8 in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The event brought together over 100 industry professionals from the USA and Canada to discuss regulatory and technical issues affecting the glass manufacturing and fabrication sector in North America.
As part of the ongoing effort to enhance cooperation between the two organizations and address common challenges, Glass for Europe attends NGA’s conferences annually. In the ‘sustainability’ session, Glass for Europe’s Secretary General, Bertrand Cazes, presented Europe’s flat glass industry’s initiatives to increase cullet recovery from old windows and building glass, promoting recycling and circularity. The presentation prompted a discussion on the state of flat glass recycling in the USA and potential learnings from Europe’s experiences. The dialogue extended to an exchange with a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency, exploring possibilities for government support in advancing flat glass recycling in the USA.
Throughout the conference, engaging discussions took place with North American counterparts, industry representatives, researchers and officials. Key topics included the need to improve the energy efficiency of glazing and building envelopes, as highlighted by a representative from the US Department of Energy.
The consensus emphasized the shortcomings of relying solely on the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems. This US approach is equally relevant in Europe where reliance on heat pumps has taken a very prominent role in the policy response. Stephen Selkowitz from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory underscored the importance of prioritizing the renovation of existing buildings.
Glass for Europe expresses gratitude to Nicole Harris, Urmilla Sowell and the entire NGA team for the invitation and warm welcome.