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Against a backdrop of sluggish economic conditions in Europe and a challenging geopolitical environment, the glazing sector and flat glass industry confront significant headwinds as 2024 unfolds. Europe contends with numerous imbalances, prompting questioning of its economic model and some of its foundational policy pillars. As Europe prepares for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament and the renewal of the European Commission, the divergence between high-level political discourse and day-to-day policy work within EU institutions becomes apparent. In this context, Glass for Europe assumes its role of trying to provide clarity to all actors in the sector amidst the prevailing uncertainty.
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In response to the evolving landscape, representatives of industrial sectors must articulate a clear vision for the next five years. Glass for Europe has responded by unveiling its comprehensive five-year policy manifesto advocating for a new European Commission mandate focused on ‘enabling sustainable transformation’. This manifesto reaffirms Glass for Europe's commitment to its 2050 vision, aligning with the sector's goal of maximizing contributions towards the EU's climate neutrality objectives. Given the current economic, geopolitical, and technological realities, it emphasizes the urgent need for a holistic and supportive industrial policy, a call also echoed by Bertrand Cazes’ participation in the EU Industry Summit on behalf of Glass Alliance Europe. Davide Cappellino, Glass for Europe’s new Chairman and President of Architectural Glass at AGC Glass Europe, stresses the importance of creating the necessary industrial framework when accepting the association Chairmanship: ‘The EU needs to create the right industrial conditions to achieve its climate neutrality goal, as the difficulties to be overcome remain tentacular.’
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Amidst the advocacy for the Glass for Europe manifesto, the association's secretariat remains actively engaged in advancing important policy initiatives for the sector. Encouragingly, positive strides have been made on several fronts, including recycling and the energy performance of buildings. The past three months have seen a flurry of activity within EU policy circles, as is illustrated by this newsletter.
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As we embark in this complex year, Glass for Europe will be able to count on the support of a new member, Sicecam. With all members and partners of Glass for Europe, I am delighted and confident that our new member will bring us more expertise and strength to best represent and advocate for a strong and sustainable flat glass and glazing sector in Europe!
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Bertrand Cazes
Secretary General, Glass for Europe
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Flat Glass Industry Policy Manifesto for Europe 2024 - 2029
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In June 2024, European citizens will go to the polls to elect new Members of the European Parliament. This event is the first of a series of institutional changes – new European Commission, new President of the European Council, etc. – which will mark the start of a new five-year mandate for the European Institutions. New impetus, policy direction and strategy will emerge from these institutional changes and will guide European policy from 2024 to 2029.
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The next five years will be crucial for the European Union as Member States will implement the many pieces of Green Deal legislations and EU institutions will gear up to achieve the 55% CO2 reduction target set by 2030. At the same time, Europe will most likely remain confronted with recurrent extreme and adverse climatic conditions, a challenging energy landscape and growing competition from outside, which puts pressure on Europe’s industry and economy.
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In this context, Glass for Europe decided to go public with a policy manifesto for Europe, entitled ‘A mandate to focus on enabling sustainable transformation’.
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Boost Windows Replacement
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To mark the start of the Renovation week organized by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Glass for Europe releases the second video of its policy Manifesto, focusing on the importance and benefits of windows and glazing upgrades in buildings.
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This 15 January is an important date to highlight the importance and relevance of high performance glazing in buildings...
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Strengthen Europe’s industrial base
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On 24 January, in line with its June 2023 communication, the European Commission has presented a new package of initiatives to strengthen the European Union’s economic security. Combining a high level of ambition on sustainable policies with a competitive European-based industry is among the top challenge for the EU in the next years. To contribute to this debate, Glass for Europe puts forward concrete proposals to...
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Support energy and carbon efficiency of industrial process
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On 6 February, the European Commission presented its proposal for an ambitious 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It initiates discussions on the necessary measures to create an environment conducive to significant CO2 emissions reduction, aligning with Europe’s 2050 climate-neutrality objective. However, the challenges of achieving this goal while maintaining global competitiveness for European industries...
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Incentivise the recycling of old glazing
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Recycling is very high on the agenda of Europe’s flat glass manufacturers, and they are calling on policymakers to follow suit. The new video of Glass for Europe’ 2024-2029 manifesto introduces the conditions to create a closed-loop recycling system which can contribute to save raw materials and reduce carbon emissions in glass production.
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Flat glass manufacturers are eager to use more recycled glass in...
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A news-packed and fruitful Glass for Europe General Assembly
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On 20 March 2024, Glass for Europe held its annual General Assembly in Brussels, bringing together senior executives and committee chairs from EU-based float manufacturers.
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This year’s General Assembly was marked by the welcome of a new member. Şişecam operates four float glass production lines in the EU, two in Italy and two in Bulgaria, and is a major global player in flat glass production. With this new member, Glass for Europe now represents around 90% of EU flat glass...
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Glass for Europe updates its paper on the recycling of end-of-life building glass
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On the Global Recycling Day (18 March), Glass for Europe launched a new webpage dedicated to flat glass recycling. It gathers all our resources (position papers, videos, news…) on this key issue, including the newly released updated version of its paper on the recycling of end-of-life building glass.
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Recycling is a priority of flat glass manufacturers as it is one of the most prominent ways to improve the sustainability of manufacturing by reducing raw materials...
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Glass for Europe publishes a new Q&A on glass in sustainable buildings
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Glass for Europe has published a Q&A on the role of glass in sustainable buildings. Structured around three main questions, the Q&A helps to approach the issue of carbon from different angles. As the operational carbon of buildings (generated by the heating and cooling systems) is increasingly understood and addressed in policies, the focus is shifting to the embodied and whole life carbon of the built environment to ensure the full decarbonisation...
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An Industrial Deal is needed to realise the promises of the EU Green Deal
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On 20 February, the EU Industry Summit took place in Antwerp in presence of over 75 industry top executives, representatives of nearly 20 different manufacturing sectors, European trade unions as well as European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo. The flat glass sector participated to this event with the presence of Jean-Marc Meunier, CEO of AGC Glass Europe, and...
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Glass for Europe’s workshop on the EPBD political agreement
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On 19 February, Glass for Europe invited its National Partners to attend a workshop to analyse the political agreement reached on 7 December on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). If the agreement is yet to receive final endorsement by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament’s plenary...
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Glass for Europe Strengthens Transatlantic Cooperation at NGA Glass Conference
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Glass for Europe participated in the Glass Conference organized by the National Glass Association (NGA) from February 5 to 8 in Charleston (SC). The event brought together over 100 industry professionals from the USA and Canada to discuss regulatory and technical issues affecting the glass...
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The EC builds plan for industrial leadership in advanced materials… including flat glass!
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Recently, the European Commission (EC) published a communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership to outline its strategy for “advanced material” research, innovation, and production in the EU.
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The EC outlines its intention to keep the current EU leadership in this sector, reach strategic autonomy regarding advanced materials, and attain Green Deal objectives with the help of...
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The EU Parliament adopts its report on the Directive on the weights and dimensions of certain vehicles
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On March 12, the European Parliament adopted its position on the revision of the Weights & Dimensions Directive.
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The text provisions to enable better-harmonised rules for cross-border transport of up to 44 tonnes is an excellent step to cut some CO2 emissions and organisational burdens in the flat glass sector. Member States that elevate the maximum weight...
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Political agreement reached on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
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The plenary session of the European Parliament has voted in favour of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, one of the final texts of the ‘Fit for 55’ package. Once formally adopted at ministerial level, implementation can begin.
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On 12 March, the European Parliament has adopted the political agreement on...
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Explanatory paper on Microplastics and Interleavants in the flat glass sector
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The European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of 25 September 2023 ‘restricting synthetic polymer microparticles on their own or intentionally added to mixtures’ entered into force in October 2023. Its purpose is to ban the placing on the market of mixtures containing synthetic polymer microplastics. The ban from placing on the market does...
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JRC study on Construction and Demolition Waste confirms Glass for Europe’s policy asks
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The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) started the year with the publication of a study on Techno-economic and environmental assessment of construction and demolition waste (CDW) management in the EU.
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CDW accounts for almost 40% of waste generated in the EU. Part of it is flat glass coming from windows, glass doors, and curtain walls. Flat glass currently represents 0.2% of the total CDW generated and 4% of...
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Renovation Week organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU
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Over four days, from 15 to 18 January, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU organised the Renovation Week in Brussels. The event could not have been more topical as on 15 January, Members of the European Parliament from the Industry & Energy committee adopted the political agreement on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (37 +, 20 -, 6 abstentions).
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The Presidency structured the event around high-level discussions and...
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