Low-carbon glazing: AGC focuses on recycling, local production and insulation

At SIBCA 2026, held from September 1st to 3rd at the Grand Palais in Paris, AGC Glass France will present its glazing solutions designed to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. The manufacturer will detail its strategy based on lower-carbon products, the decarbonization of its production, and closed-loop recycling of flat glass.

Reducing the footprint of glazing while improving the energy performance of the building envelope: this is the approach that AGC Glass France will present at the Low Carbon Real Estate Show (SIBCA), from September 1st to 3rd, 2026 at the Grand Palais in Paris.

Present at booth D17, the glass manufacturer will showcase its low-carbon glass solutions, thermal insulation, solar control, security, and fire protection. A conference scheduled for Wednesday, September 2nd at 17:00 PM will present the three key strategies employed by the company: reducing the environmental footprint of its products, transforming its industrial processes, and developing glass recycling.

A float glass with a footprint halved

AGC's Low-Carbon Glass float glass has a global warming potential of 4,8 kg CO₂e/m² for a thickness of 4 mm[1]. This result relates to stages A1 to A3, i.e. from the extraction of raw materials to the factory exit, and not to the entire product life cycle.

According to AGC, this glass contains more than 60% recycled material[2]. For comparison, the manufacturer's standard 4 mm Planibel has a footprint of 9,8 kg CO₂e/m² and a recycled content of 11,2%.

These values are taken from verified Environmental and Health Declaration Sheets (FDES). AGC indicates that they are accessible from its glazing configurator, on invoices, or in consolidated reports that can be provided to its customers.

The availability of this data should allow architects, design offices, project owners and companies to compare different glazing compositions and integrate their contribution into the environmental analysis of a building.

A flat glass production facility located in Moselle

AGC's strategy also relies on its European industrial facilities. The group notably produces standard and low-carbon flat glass at its Seingbouse site in Moselle.

In Belgium, AGC manufactures FINEO vacuum insulating glass and PYROBEL fire-resistant glass, also available in a low-carbon version. The company highlights this European presence to meet the needs of the construction market and minimize the distances between production sites, processors, and construction sites.

However, the actual impact of transport depends on the destination of the products, the transformation stages and the logistical organization specific to each project.

Closed-loop recycling as an industrial lever

The AGC Recycle Glass service organizes the collection of flat glass waste. This includes offcuts generated by industrial activities, as well as end-of-life glazing from renovation or deconstruction sites.

The goal is to reintroduce more cullet into the manufacture of new glazing. This closed-loop recycling reduces the use of virgin raw materials and helps to decrease the energy required for the industrial process.

According to data provided by AGC, each tonne of recycled flat glass would allow:

to save 1,2 tonnes of raw materials;
to avoid between 0,5 and 0,7 tonnes of CO₂ emissions;
to increase the recycled content of new glass products.

Scaling up this approach requires, in particular, identifying the glass panes that have been removed, organizing their separate collection, and guaranteeing a cullet quality compatible with new flat glass production.

A range covering insulation, solar control and security

AGC states that its low-carbon glass retains the appearance and performance properties of its standard references. It could therefore be integrated into existing projects without modifying their main technical specifications, provided that a composition with the required performance is selected.

The announced range includes, in particular:

Low-Carbon iplus low-emissivity insulating glazing;
Low-emissivity and solar control glazing: Low-Carbon Stopray and Energy;
Stratobel and Stratophone Low-Carbon safety and acoustic laminated glass;
Pyrobel Low-Carbon fire-resistant glazing;
FINEO vacuum insulating glazing.

These products address various building envelope needs. A low-emissivity coating limits heat loss, while a solar control coating reduces some of the heat gain through glazed surfaces. Their combination with appropriate light transmission must be studied according to the orientation of the facades, the building's uses, and the desired summer and winter comfort levels.

FINEO specifically targets heritage renovation

Manufactured in Belgium, FINEO relies on a 0,1 mm vacuum layer sandwiched between two hermetically sealed panes of glass. According to AGC, this technology offers thermal insulation comparable to triple glazing with a thickness close to that of single glazing.

The manufacturer announces a Ug value of up to 0,7 W/(m².K). For certain acoustic compositions, the technical documentation indicates an Rw+Ctr index of 36 dB, the final performance depending in particular on the dimensions of the glazing, its composition and the frame.

Its thin profile allows for glazing replacement while retaining some existing frames in good condition. This feature can be advantageous for the energy-efficient renovation of older and heritage buildings, where the aesthetics of the window and door frames must be preserved or where they cannot accommodate thicker, conventional insulating glazing.

From an environmental perspective, AGC presents FINEO as 100% recyclable glazing. The manufacturer assigns it a global warming potential of 35 kg CO₂e/m², approximately 30% less than a conventional insulating glass unit used as a reference. This value could be as low as 18,9 kg CO₂e/m² for the thinnest composition combined with Low-Carbon Glass.

These comparisons should be read taking into account the exact composition of the products, the scope of the environmental declarations and the conventional glazing used as a reference.

A conference on September 2nd at the Grand Palais

The AGC conference will take place on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 17:00 PM in the Churchill Room of the Grand Palais. It will address the solutions available for the residential and commercial sectors, as well as the conditions necessary for the development of flat glass recycling.

SIBCA 2026 will welcome real estate and construction professionals from Tuesday, September 1st to Thursday, September 3rd. AGC will be present for all three days at booth D17.

The figures to remember

4,8 kg CO₂e/m² for 4 mm Low-Carbon Glass on the A1-A3 perimeter

More than 60% recycled content is advertised for this low-carbon glass

1,2 tonnes of raw materials saved per tonne of glass recycled, according to AGC

0,5 to 0,7 tonnes of CO₂ avoided per tonne of glass recycled, according to the manufacturer

Ug up to 0,7 W/(m².K) for FINEO vacuum glazing

[1] Global warming potential is expressed in kg CO₂e/m² for the "cradle to door" perimeter A1-A3, as defined by standard EN 15804+A2:2019. The values are taken from an AGC FDES verified by a third-party body.

[2] Recycled content is calculated in accordance with ISO 14021 and the Glass for Europe position paper relating to a harmonised definition of recycled content in the flat glass sector, excluding internal cullet.