This study evaluates the environmental impact of scaling up the reuse of post-consumer glass through a process-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). By analyzing key parameters such as material recovery rates, energy consumption, and transport distances, the study identifies critical hotspots in the reuse preparation process. Results highlight the importance of optimizing glass sorting and minimizing transport emissions to enhance sustainability. While challenges remain, particularly with coated glass panes limiting recovery yields, findings suggest that strategic improvements in processing efficiency and logistics can significantly reduce environmental impacts, supporting glass reuse as a viable circular strategy in construction.
Angelica Rota
Environmental benefits of scaling up glass reuse and remanufacturing
Company: AGC Glass Europe, Polytechnic University of Bari, Belgium
About the speaker:
Angelica Rota is a PhD student at the Polytechnic University of Bari (POLIBA) in partnership with the company AGC Glass Europe. The research project titled: “Design for Disassembly (DfD) in the building facades” aims to evaluate the application of DfD in the context of building facades and associate a reuse potential to the glass components. She graduated at POLIBA with a Master degree in building engineer and by carrying out a thesis about the mechanical feasibility of reusing architectural glass.
