Our Commitment to Sustainability
Here at Cara Glass, we understand the importance of making choices that benefit not only our customers but also the environment. Our commitment to sustainability is woven into every aspect of our business, from the products we offer to the practices we adopt.
Dedicated To Achieving Net Zero By 2050
As we look to the future, our commitment to sustainability will only grow stronger. We are dedicated to achieving Net Zero by 2050 and we have set ambitious goals to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact. This includes investing in suppliers that share our commitment to reducing waste and increasing the use of recycled materials and continuously improving the energy efficiency of the products we install.
At Cara Glass, we believe products are about more than just achieving strong EPC ratings or lowering energy bills; it’s about responsibility, transparency and building a sustainable future.
The environmental impact of a window begins long before it reaches your home. That’s why we only work with suppliers who share our commitment to ethical manufacturing and clear environmental policies. We consider how our windows are made, the materials used and what happens when they reach the end of their life.
We don’t just install with care, we recycle with purpose. At Cara Glass, sustainability isn’t a trend, it’s our promise to future generations.
Simon Futcher, Business Manager
Eurocell: Our Recycling Partner
Eurocell Recycle is the UK’s leading specialist in uPVC recycling, collection, and extrusion. Through their closed-loop recycling system, old uPVC products are transformed into brand-new plastic items, giving them a second life. This process not only diverts uPVC windows from landfills but also supports the creation of more sustainable, eco-friendly window solutions.
At Cara Glass, we are committed to using environmentally responsible practices and continuously reducing our carbon footprint. We want our customers to feel confident that they’re choosing a home improvement company that genuinely values sustainability. In 2024 alone, we recycled an impressive 28 tonnes of glass through Eurocell.
We prioritise sourcing sustainable materials wherever possible, ensuring our products are both high-quality and eco-conscious. Our window frames are crafted from recyclable materials, which helps reduce waste and supports a circular economy.
Deceuninck: Sustainability Pioneers
Deceuninck is at the forefront of sustainable window and door manufacturing and PVC-U recycling. By installing their windows and doors, we’ve been enhancing the UK with vibrant, incredible performing products that directly go towards our vision for the future.
Since 2017, Deceuninck has been capable of reprocessing up to 45,000 tonnes of post-consumer and post-manufacturing PVC-U every year. That’s enough waste stopping power to save more than three million old windows and doors from going into landfills annually. Additionally, using recycled PVC-U reduces energy usage by 90%, and can save 90,000 tonnes in CO2.
One recent Deceuninck innovation includes the development of the energy savings calculator for calculating U-values and energy ratings. This tool not only simplifies the process for homeowners but also encourages informed decision-making when it comes to selecting energy-efficient products.
Smart: Commitment To Sustainable Practices
We are proud to install Smart Aluminium, a range of high-quality products with minimal environmental impact. At Smart, they continually evolve their practices to ensure the best outcomes. 100% of their waste aluminium is recycled into new aluminium billets, meaning their carbon footprint remains extremely small.
Smart has recently acquired planning permission for two wind turbines, which could generate more than 15% of their extrusion energy needs. This environmentally conscious move demonstrates their forward-thinking approach to manufacturing windows and doors.
At Smart, their aim is for their production operation to be carbon neutral, a target they hope to achieve through modifying their existing practices and incorporating sustainable techniques throughout all parts of the process.
URM: Glass Recycling Journey
We recycle our glass with URM, the UK’s largest purchaser and recycler of waste glass. With collection depots throughout England, URM are helping to significantly reduce the amount of glass products that end up unnecessarily in landfill each year.
Founded over 90 years ago, they offer fast and efficient glass collection services via bottle banks, kerbside pickups, and trade collections, supported by a network of depots across England. Their state of the art cullet treatment facilities, located in Knottingley, Doncaster, South Kirkby, and Tilbury, ensure high quality recycling processes.
Their team of experts is dedicated to helping optimise recycling efforts, overcome technical or logistical hurdles and enhance public awareness through education. Recycling glass brings numerous environmental benefits, most notably conserving natural resources, reducing CO₂ emissions and minimising landfill waste.
Sternfenster: Supporting Net Zero by 2050
Sternfenster is an industry leader, providing sustainable solutions to its customers. We are proud to work with Sternfenster, sharing a mission of achieving Net Zero by 2050. By sourcing their materials sustainably and continuing to invest in renewable energy manufacturing, they have already recorded an impressive 7% reduction in CO2 year on year.
Established in 1974, Sternfenster has become one of the UK’s largest trade fabricators of uPVC and aluminium windows and doors. Offering sustainable products wherever possible, they are leading the way in the industry, continually pushing forward when it comes to eco-conscious business decisions.
Delivering next-generation levels of thermal performance, their window and doors reduce heat loss significantly, improving the performance of homes across the UK. By committing to lowering their Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Sternfenster aims to use less energy and switch to renewable and more sustainable energy sources.
Saint-Gobain: Lowering Energy Consumption
At Saint-Gobain, they recycle 100% of their glass in-house, significantly improving the reduction of post-industrial waste from suppliers. With sustainability at the forefront of what they do, Saint-Gobain is increasingly finding ways to lower the energy consumption of its products.
In 2022, they repaired their furnaces to significantly increase capacity and reduce energy consumption, just one of the ways they are looking to improve their sustainability strategy.
Saint-Gobain has designed and manufactured the world’s first low-carbon glass. The innovative system is created using recycled glass and renewable energy to lower the carbon they use compared to traditional units.
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Eurocell Recycling Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cara Glass's commitment to sustainability?
At Cara Glass, we’re deeply committed to sustainability and make it a core part of everything we do, from the products we offer to the practices we follow. Our goal is to create positive change for both our customers and the environment, and we’re always working to improve and expand our sustainable efforts.
What is Cara Glass's goal for reducing its environmental impact?
Our goal is to achieve Net Zero by 2050. We’re actively working to reduce our carbon emissions and environmental impact by partnering with suppliers who share our values, focusing on reducing waste, increasing the use of recycled materials and improving the energy efficiency of our products.
How does Cara Glass handle uPVC recycling?
We partner with Eurocell Recycle, the UK’s leading uPVC recycling specialist. Thanks to their closed-loop recycling system, we’re able to give old uPVC products a new life as new materials, helping to keep them out of landfills and supporting a more circular, sustainable approach.