Challenging EU targets have been set for reducing carbon dioxide emissions & generating electricity from renewable sources, 20% by 2020. These targets get even tighter if an International Agreement is ratified with the EU reduction target moving to 30%. In 2007, EU heads of state & government confirmed the need to save around 300M/t CO2 annually. Meanwhile, the cost of manufacture will become more expensive as energy prices rise & carbon prices rise as allowances become scarcer. This article asks where will these savings & products come from? The relationship between emissions from relevant sectors of the glass industry is examined & compared with carbon savings that can be achieved with the products the industry makes. Main areas covered are: glass fibre insulation, advanced glazing (low E & solar glass), continuous filament glass fibre & special glass applications.
