Decarbonizing Cardinal
FG Float Glass
At Cardinal FG Company, quality float glass and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Our seven U.S. float glass facilities already operate with industry- leading emissions controls and are permitted as minor sources for NOx, SOx, and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Now, through a pioneering partnership with K2-CO₂ of Padova, Italy and licensor Giammarco Technologies, we are taking the next step by deploying CO₂ capture technology designed to remove up to 95% of process CO₂ emissions from participating float glass lines.
Why decarbonizing float glass matters
The impact of float glass manufacturing
Float glass manufacturing is energy intensive. Cardinal FG’s large-scale furnaces run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with each plant occupying more than 350,000 square feet and consuming substantial natural gas and electricity to keep glass in a continuous molten state at temperatures of around 2,700°F (about 1,500°C).
This energy use is what makes float glass possible, but it also generates CO₂. Reducing those emissions at the source is one of the most powerful ways we can lower the embodied carbon of the windows and doors that use our glass.
From efficiency to decarbonization
For decades, Cardinal has focused on:
- Developing high-performance LoĒ™ products that reduce building energy use.
- Implementing advanced furnace and process controls to improve operating efficiency.
- Achieving minor source status for emissions at our float glass plants through voluntary investments in emissions control technology.
CO₂ capture is the next logical step: moving beyond “less impact” to actively removing CO₂ from our float glass production.
Our partnership with K2-CO₂
and Giammarco Technologies
Industry-first collaboration
Cardinal Glass Industries is working with K2-CO₂, a global leader in CO₂ capture systems based in Padova, Italy, and its licensor Giammarco Technologies, to integrate large-scale CO₂ capture into float glass operations.
Completed years of joint research, engineering studies and technology evaluation focused on float glass furnaces.
Designed & engineered systems that are tailored for Cardinal float glass production profile and high-volume operations.
Initiated deployment of CO₂ capture at our float glass plants, with the goal of setting a new benchmark for decarbonized glass.
Designed for up to
95% CO₂ capture
The K2-CO₂ solution is engineered to capture up to 95% of CO₂ in targeted process streams associated with float glass manufacturing.
Unlike approaches that focus primarily on the energy needed to melt glass, K2-CO₂ also addresses CO₂ released from the decomposition of raw materials that go into the glass itself. While specific system layouts vary by plant, our objective remains the same: dramatically reduce the volume of CO₂ released to the atmosphere while maintaining the reliability and consistency our customers depend on.
What the numbers mean in the real world
CO₂ capture, in “tree” terms
Up to 95% CO₂ captured…
At targeted float glass lines
… means more than 1.6 million trees’
worth of carbon captured.
Per system, 10-year equivalent
To put the impact in perspective, the annual CO₂ captured by a single K2-CO₂ system at a Cardinal FG facility is greater than the amount of carbon that would be sequestered by planting approximately 1.6 million trees and growing them for a decade.
This comparison offers a tangible way to visualize the scale of the reduction, especially for architects, builders, and homeowners who are working to lower the carbon footprint of their projects.
Benefits for customers and projects
For our OEM window and door manufacturers, builders, and design partners, this initiative helps:
Lower embodied carbon of glazing systems that incorporate Cardinal float glass.
Support sustainability goals and green building programs that increasingly focus on upstream manufacturing emissions.
Strengthen their own environmental narratives with a verifiable story of decarbonized glass sourcing.
Building on minor source status
and emissions leadership
Beyond NOx and SOx
Cardinal FG’s float glass plants have invested heavily in emissions controls, with the goal, and now the achievement, of minor source status for regulated pollutants across our float operations.
Significantly reduced NOx, SOx, and particular matter (PM) emissions compared to conventional float glass baselines.
A consistent compliance record across multiple U.S. plants.
An established culture of environmental stewardship within Cardinal FG.
Adding carbon capture to the stack
CO₂ capture now adds another layer of environmental performance on top of existing controls. The result is a float glass operation that targets:
2004
Emissions controls and furnace modernization
2012
Minor source status achieved at float plants
2025
CO₂ capture deployment with K2-CO
- Lower regulated emissions (NOx, SOx and particulates).
- Dramatically reduced CO₂ emissions at the stack.
- High-quality glass that meets or exceeds Cardinal’s existing specifications.
Innovation for the next
generation of LoĒ™ glass
Cardinal is widely recognized as a leading producer of LoĒ, our energy-efficient coated glass products used in high performance windows and doors.
By pairing those products with decarbonized manufacturing, we aim to:
Help customers meet stricter energy codes and carbon-focused regulations.
Provide a clearer link between operational energy savings (on the building side) and embodied carbon reductions (on the manufacturing side).
Keep Cardinal at the forefront of glass technology and environmental responsibility.
What’s next: roadmap and
transparency
Rolling out CO₂ capture across float glass plants
Over time, Cardinal plans to:
1.
Expand CO₂ capture systems to additional float glass lines based on performance data and plant-specific engineering.
2.
Continue refining processes to balance energy use, glass quality, and capture efficiency.
3.
Explore opportunities to integrate captured CO₂ into approved sequestration or beneficial-use pathways
Sharing progress with the market
We will track and share our progress through:
1.
Updates to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) as process changes are validated and incorporated.
2.
Technical resources for OEMs, architects, and specifiers who need to document embodied carbon in their projects.
To learn how Cardinal FG’s decarbonized float glass can support your next project, contact your Cardinal representative or our technical services team.