Jane Embury looks at National Recycle Week
National Recycle Week (20th to 26th September) is nearly upon us. It’s a chance to consider our own environmental impacts, whether as companies or individuals.
In its 18th year, it’s an initiative that is more important than ever. All of us are aware that we face a climate emergency.
This year’s theme is Step It Up, recognising that we all have a part to play, however small, in reducing waste.
We’re also doing our bit, from using recycled paper to dedicated skips for any metal offcuts. Those go to a local authorised scrap metal merchant.
Throughout our business, we’re cutting down on waste and, wherever possible, using materials than can be recycled.
But we’re also in an industry that is in itself environmentally friendly.
Glass is a sustainable material, made from abundant natural resources, and endlessly recyclable. It’s raw ingredients are sand, limestone and soda ash.
Carbon
Without glass, our world would be a cold and dark place. Glass, quite literally, has helped to shape the modern world.
The total carbon emissions from manufacturing an energy-efficient double-glazing unit is offset on average within three to 10 months by the energy savings it delivers.
The UK produces about 750,000 tonnes of flat glass every year. Over 20% of that is recycled, and that proportion is growing.
Every year, there is a new push within the industry to better reuse glass waste. It’s estimated that could be as much as one million tonnes each year across Europe.
The UK government is placing greater emphasis on sustainability in the built environment. That commitment is being echoed internationally.
Across the construction sector, we’re doing our best to find new and innovative ways of reducing carbon footprints.
At Wrightstyle, we supply advanced internal and external glazing systems for fire, ballistic and bomb protection. We’re luckier than many in the building sector. We already work with a material that is endlessly recyclable.
Photo by Jasmin Sessler on Unsplash
