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In today’s European policy landscape, Glass for Europe must engage across an ever‑widening range of issues affecting our industry. This newsletter reflects that diversity, touching on industrial policy, automotive component recycling, building glass products, advanced materials, etc.
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Amid this steady stream of new EU initiatives, intense work to champion the benefits of solar control glazing and to advocate for its inclusion in EU policies has been undertaken. We must now deploy it all across Europe. Accelerating the uptake of high‑performance glazing can help support markets. It is also essential for the long term: advanced glazing is part of the solution to a warming climate—not the cause of overheating in buildings.
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Strong engagement from national glazing associations is essential now. As Member States implement the EPBD, we must make the most of both the institutional momentum and the seasonal reality: spring is here, and with it a higher risk of overheating in buildings. This is a prime opportunity to highlight the effectiveness of solar control glazing and its role in delivering comfortable, energy‑efficient and climate‑resilient living spaces.
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Bertrand Cazes
Secretary General, Glass for Europe
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Joint statement on the role of high-performance buildings to reduce demand for heating & cooling and enable electrification
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On 5 March, a broad coalition of stakeholders representing key materials and components of the building envelope wrote to the European Commission to highlight the potential of high-energy-performance building envelopes in the context of the upcoming Heating & Cooling Strategy and Electrification Action Plan.
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The Heating & Cooling Strategy and Electrification Action Plan, which are expected to be adopted on 19 May, are intended to accelerate the decarbonisation of the H&C sector, improve its efficiency and system integration, and speed up the cost-effective and system-friendly electrification of the EU’s energy consumption in transport, industry, and buildings. These initiatives should therefore directly acknowledge the essential role that high-performance buildings can play, as heating and cooling is first and foremost a matter of minimising energy demand. In this regard, high-performance glazing is key...
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Glass for Europe publishes a new paper on the role of solar control glass in passive cooling of buildings
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With the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) placing increased emphasis on summer comfort and a new Heating and Cooling Strategy under preparation, Glass for Europe has seized the opportunity to publish a new informative paper highlighting how advanced solar control glazing can play a decisive role in addressing this challenge through passive means before resulting in active systems or additional materials for shading purposes.
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As Europe faces rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves, building overheating is becoming a critical challenge for occupants, designers, and policymakers alike. In its latest paper, The Role of Solar Control Glazing in Passive Cooling of Buildings, Glass for Europe highlights the decisive role of solar control glass in addressing this challenge...
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Glass for Europe contributes to the public consultation on Climate Resilience and Risk Management
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On 23 February, the European Commission closed the public consultation on the future integrated framework for European Climate Resilience and Risk Management. The regulation proposal is expected to be adopted by the end of 2026 (last quarter).
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Published in 2024, the first European Climate Risk Assessment identified several risks related to health and infrastructures including “wellbeing due to non-adapted buildings” and the “damage to infrastructure and buildings”...
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The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation moves forward with key provisions for automotive glass
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On February 25, the European Parliament’s ENVI and IMCO committees voted on the agreement of the new End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation.
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For the flat glass value chain, two key aspects were of particular importance in this provisional agreement. First, the mandatory dismantling of at least 70% of glass from windshields, rear windows, side windows and glass rooftops. Second, the mandatory recycling of this dismantled glass into new glass.
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These provisions shall lead to increased glass recycling, thus contributing to circularity in our sector and reducing energy use and CO2 emissions from glass production...
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Glass for Europe reacts to the publication of the Industrial Accelerator Act
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On 4 March, the European Commission unveiled the long-awaited proposal, presenting it as the centrepiece of its strategy to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness. The Industrial Accelerator Act is designed to increase demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies and products. The proposed regulation covers the manufacturing industry, with a focus on energy intensive industries, the automotive value chain, and net-zero technologies...
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Glass for Europe welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament’s report on the Housing crisis in the EU
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On 10 March, the European Parliament adopted the final report of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis. It contains recommendations to help address rising prices and shortages by supporting the construction and renovation of energy-efficient buildings.
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The report from MEP Borja Giménez Larraz (EPP, ES) was adopted by 367 votes in favour and 166 against, with 84 abstentions. MEPs recommend to earmark specific funds for renovation and specific renovation earmarks, to improve the energy performance of residential buildings. The report stresses the need to improve energy performance, indoor air quality and thermal insulation of the building stock...
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Davide Cappellino re-elected Chairman of Glass for Europe
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On 11 March, the Board of Directors of Glass for Europe convened for the association’s General Assembly, where members confirmed the leadership of Davide Cappellino (AGC Glass Europe) for another term. The Board unanimously re-elected Mr Cappellino as Chairman for a second two-year mandate.
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At a moment of significant challenge for the European flat glass sector, D. Cappellino underlined the need for strong collective action to safeguard the industry...
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Glass for Europe contributes to the public consultation on the Advanced Materials Act
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The European Commission explicitly recognised ‘dynamic, optically transparent and glazing technologies‘ as advanced materials. The public consultation, which ended on 13 January 2026, provided an opportunity to emphasise the importance of advanced glazing materials and to make proposals for the upcoming Act, which is expected at the end of the year.
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The European Commission acknowledged flat glass as an advanced material...
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Glass for Europe attends the first meeting of the Whole Life Carbon Forum for Buildings
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On 26 February, Glass for Europe took part in the first meeting of the Whole Life Carbon Forum for Buildings. This informal gathering brought together a large range of stakeholders from across the entire construction value chain interested in exchanging on the concept and more specifically relevant provisions from the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.
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The flat glass industry endorses a comprehensive life cycle...
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Glass for Europe hosts a workshop on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
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On 26 February, Glass for Europe organised a workshop on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Although flat glass is not used or transformed in packaging products, our sector uses packaging to protect and transport products and to receive packaged products from suppliers. This is why our sector, like almost all others, monitors the work and prepares for new PPWR rules...
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