Green construction procurement (and glass's role in the transition)

Do you want your procurement processes to be more sustainable? Discover the crucial role that glass can play.



The concept of sustainability in business is nothing new. Perhaps surprisingly, it's at least as old as Hans Carl von Carlowitz's 1713 treatise on sustainable forestry.

Whether in 1713 or 2026, sustainability is all about using resources in a way that meets present needs without harming future generations.

So, what's the difference in 2026? Primarily, it's the fact that nowadays sustainability is rapidly becoming an expectation, not a choice. If your business is to show it's on the right side of history, you'll need to demonstrate a commitment to environmentalism in some form.

In the construction industry, this takes several forms. In this article, we focus on the critical issue of procurement.

The process of purchasing sustainable materials and services for construction projects is known as "green construction procurement". As with all sustainability drives, its key aim is to minimise environmental damage.

Under this banner, materials are selected that can be shown to be low-carbon, recycled or renewable. Energy efficiency is prioritised and suppliers with green credentials are selected.

Here at ToughGlaze, our speciality is glass – and glass can play a crucial role in sustainable procurement. But before explore this critical contribution, let's take a closer look at green construction procurement in general.

What is green construction procurement?

There are five main facets of green construction procurement. The first is assessing and evaluating the environmental impact of products. This impact can be tracked from the start to the end of the life cycle – from the extraction of raw materials to the disposal of the finished product.

The second is using sustainable materials. These will be low-carbon or no-carbon, and include products such as recycled plastic, glass, green concrete and engineered wood.

Thirdly, materials and systems are selected that use less energy and generate less waste. These could include types of heating, ventilation, air conditioning or lighting.

Where the materials come from matters. Green construction procurement typically involves purchasing materials from local suppliers. This is to help keep down the carbon emitted in the transportation of materials.

Finally, construction firms committed to green procurement work with suppliers that are similarly committed to the process. This helps ensure that every stage of the procurement process is sustainable.

That's what green construction procurement means. So, how can glass help you get there?

What role can glass play in green construction procurement?

It's no understatement to say that glass can play a critical role in any green construction procurement strategy.

Modern glazing techniques prioritise energy efficiency, whether through thickness, double or triple glazing, special coatings or laminated interlayers. These kinds of glass are all good for maintaining the overall ambient temperature of a building.

Other kinds of glass are specially designed to help with solar control. Sandblasted glass, for instance, lets just enough light in for visibility.

Meanwhile, switchable smart glass can be changed from transparent to translucent to opaque and back again with just a few clicks of a smartphone app. This means buildings (and the people in them) can use only the heating and electric light they need.

On top of this, glass is 100% recyclable, and when it's recycled, it doesn't suffer any loss in quality. It can either be reused as glass or used as a raw material in another construction project.

Recycled glass, sometimes known as low-carbon or green glass, helps contribute to the overall sustainability of procurement.

And high-quality glass is sustainable for another reason. It lasts a long time, meaning there should be no need for frequent or, hopefully, even infrequent replacements down the line.

Some kinds of glass facades allow for natural ventilation. This reduces a building's energy usage and reliance on HVAC systems. It can also improve the quality of the air circulating.

High-performance glass, whether or not it was manufactured in a sustainable fashion, can also contribute to sustainability by maintaining stable and comfortable indoor temperatures all year round.

What are the benefits of using glass in green construction procurement?

From one point of view, the benefits of using glass in green construction procurement boil down to one big benefit. Glass helps the construction industry to be more green for the myriad reasons we explored above.

After all, the construction industry has something of a waste and pollution problem. Green construction procurement helps offset and mitigate these negative environmental impacts. In many ways, this ties in with the construction industry's steady transition to a low-carbon economy.

Green construction procurement is forward-thinking and future-proofing. Investments are made for a long time, not on the basis of their initial costs alone.

On top of all this, green construction procurement ties into circular economy practices. When these forward-thinking processes go hand in hand, the industry moves closer to sustainability and invests more money (and faith) in green building materials.

Glass and the circular economy

These days, much is made in the business world of circular economies. So, what are they – and how do they work?

Traditional economies work in a straight line. This line is sometimes referred to as "take-make-waste". Materials are extracted, used and then disposed of. This creates unnecessary carbon emissions and contributes to environmental damage.

The circular economy aims to bring back used materials into circulation, whether by refurbishing, reusing or recycling.

The immediate point is to reduce waste. More broadly, the intention is to find a model of economic growth that doesn't involve consuming resources without regenerating them.

As a 100% recyclable material, glass can play a key role in a future circular economy. But at present, the infrastructure for glass recycling is inconsistent and not always effective.

Improvements are being made, however. Advanced, high-speed sensor technology is being used to quickly identify and sort glass within recycling facilities, reducing mis-sorting and waste. Novel collection processes are being introduced to make sure more glass gets recycled and less goes to landfill. And improved reprocessing techniques are helping manufacturers create higher-quality products from recycled glass.

How much of an impact these innovations make remains to be seen. We'll be sure to keep you posted as and when developments emerge.

Founded in 1993, ToughGlaze is a trusted supplier of toughened glass and other specialist glass products. Visit our free resource centre for more industry news and insights.