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Decarbonizing Cardinal FG Float Glass

Decarbonizing Cardinal
FG Float Glass

At Cardinal FG Company, quality float glass and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. Six of our seven U.S. float facilities are now operating at minor source levels for NOX, SO2, and particulate matter (PM) emissions, leading the industry. The seventh facility, which is home to 2 float lines, is in the process of upgrading emissions control systems to achieve the same minor source level of environmental performance.

Now, through a pioneering partnership with K2-CO₂ of Padova, Italy, 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.

Carbon
Capture at
Cardinal FG

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 700,000 square feet and consuming substantial natural gas and electricity to keep glass in a continuous molten state at temperatures of around 2,900°F (about 1,600°C).
This energy, when applied to glass-making raw materials, also generates CO2. Reducing these emissions before they exit the exhaust stack is one of the most powerful ways we can lower the embodied carbon of the windows and doors that utilize 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

Industry-first collaboration

Cardinal Glass Industries is working with K2-CO₂, a global leader in CO2 capture systems based in Padova, Italy, 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 SO2

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, SO2, 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:
From Day One

Our plants started up under BACT (best available control technology) requirements for air emissions.

2016
The first of our upgraded APCs came online, which established the ability to operate at minor source levels.
Q1 2028
Carbon capture equipment installation to begin on site.
  • Lower regulated emissions (NOX, SO2 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.

LoĒ³-366
LoĒ³-340+
LoĒ-i89

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.