Flat glass is a highly technological material, it is essential for energy efficiency, safety, protection and comfort in buildings and cars.
Glass allows, in all its various applications, continuous innovations and at the same time improves people's lives and is very careful to try to keep the environment healthy.
The flat glass sector has strong European roots: from raw materials to manufacturing, processing, installation and end-of-life management, the sector generates economic activity and jobs across Europe.
In Europe there are 48 industrial plants subject to the ETS, located in 12 countries, producing 10 million tons of glass per year, mainly responding to the demand of the EU market.
For example, over 85% of the windows installed in the EU are made with European glass.
A network of thousands of SMEs manufactures and installs insulating glass, automotive glass and other products, such as glass for solar panels, to enable the transition to a zero-emission economy
It is an irreplaceable material in buildings. The glass facades and windows provide natural light inside the buildings, ensure a view to the outside and offer comfort and well-being for the occupants by creating healthy environments.
Glass is the material that provides transparency, energy efficiency, safety and durability at an affordable cost in the construction industry.
Perhaps not everyone knows that it is a dynamic supplier to the automotive industry.
Each year in Europe 1,3 million tonnes of flat glass are produced and transformed into windshields, side windows, sunroofs, rear lights and mirrors to meet the needs of the automotive industry around the world.
Over the past five years, this segment of the glass market has seen a 38% increase in sales to meet the demand of European auto manufacturers.
Non-polluting mobility will require increasingly sophisticated glass products in the decades to come.
Let's not forget that flat glass is essential in countless applications (solar, electronics and digital devices, appliances, furniture, etc.) and offers unique features and additional functionality.
For example, glass is the first component by weight of photovoltaic modules or that the touch-screen technology that paved the way for the production of smartphones and the mobile web is due to an innovation in glass.
Source: glassforeurope.com
