Pilkington UK, part of the NSG Group, has launched a new glass range with 50% less embodied carbon when compared to standard float glass ‒ representing the lowest carbon product of its kind on the market.

The manufacturer has introduced Pilkington Mirai as four in five (79%) architects say clients are more concerned about the embodied carbon of building products than they were five years ago, according to a new study by the glassmaker.

Pilkington Mirai can be offered as a low carbon alternative to regular float glass, with no difference in performance, quality, or aesthetic appearance.

It’s been pioneered using a combination of alternative fuel, high recycled glass content, and green electricity sources.

The name Mirai, meaning 'future' in Japanese, was chosen to mark the start of the next generation of low carbon glass products.

Kristian Chalmers, Global Strategic Commercial Manager at the NSG Group, said: “The launch of Pilkington Mirai represents the beginning of an exciting journey.

"The new range will be instrumental in providing architects with the solutions they need for reducing the carbon intensity of their projects.

“We aim to expand our offering through further collaboration and technological advancements in the near future on our journey towards achieving carbon neutrality.”

Pilkington Mirai is available in various thicknesses, for uncoated and coated specifications, as well as having the ability to be laminated.

The glass can be combined with other high-performance low emissivity, solar control, and acoustic coatings in the Pilkington product family ‒ enabling building owners and design professionals to proactively reduce embodied carbon while meeting other building performance and compliance requirements.

Dave Dalton, Chief Executive at industry body British Glass, said: “Pilkington UK’s new low carbon glass is an exemplar for what can be achieved when a manufacturer collaborates with its partners and innovates.

"Driving sustainability in the built environment represents a huge challenge, but products like this will make an important contribution in how we tackle decarbonisation across the glass supply chain.”

Aston Fuller, General Manager at Glass Futures, said: “We work collaboratively with our members to complete groundbreaking trials and demonstrate the feasibility of industrial scale alternative low carbon fuels like hydrogen and biofuel.

"To see the application of this technology and cut half of the embodied carbon of glass is a major technical achievement, with an abundance of research well underway on how the industry can ultimately cut all carbon ready for 2050.”