Pilkington signs Sustainability Covenant for manufacture of energy-efficient glass

Australia's largest glass manufacturer, Pilkington, has become the first manufacturer to sign a Sustainability Covenant with EPA Victoria, and will become the first company to produce energy-efficient coated glass (EECG) in Australia.

Signatories to the Covenant (EPA Victoria, Pilkington Australia, The Australian Industry Group and Sustainability Victoria) will support Pilkington in increasing the resource efficiency of its products and services, and in achieving sustainable business growth.

The Pilkington business case for sustainability will also be used as a model to inspire Victorian businesses to achieve sustainable growth by demonstrating the impressive economic, environmental and social benefits of this approach, and will include a baseline for measurement of success.

The announcement of a $130 million upgrade of Pilkington's Dandenong plant will enable Australian production of new products including energy-saving glass for buildings, self-cleaning glass and glass for solar energy production.

By reducing heat loss in winter and heat absorption in summer, EECG can reduce energy use of heating and cooling by almost 40% in homes†.

Although more energy is used in the production of EECG, it is estimated that, over a typical 25 year lifetime, this glass will save up to 48 times the amount of energy taken to manufacture it*. The upgrade will also make the plant more efficient in its use of energy and natural resources.

Pilkington Australia's President, Laurie Kruger, says the plant upgrade, which has attracted investment support from the Victorian Government, will transform Pilkington from a manufacturer of commodity products to a source of innovative value-added products.

"New glass products will also support future systems of renewable energy generation and other emerging high-tech environmental businesses in Victoria," Mr Kruger says.

"From an international trade perspective, this investment will allow Pilkington to better differentiate our products and enhance our ability to penetrate export markets."

Each signatory partner to the sustainability covenant will play a valuable role in spreading knowledge among key decision-makers about energy-efficient glass products.

More information on Sustainability Covenants and Pilkington is available from EPA's website.

* The life cycle assessment of energy-efficient glass was conducted by the Centre for Design at RMIT University as part of the Sustainability Covenant.

† Energy savings based on Energy Partners Australia report “Evaluation of Energy Enhancements from Pilkington Glazing” July 2006.

Pilkington is a member of the Carbon Innovators Network.