Closing the loop
As ESG performance becomes a defining factor in specification and tendering, Glass Express Midlands’ partnership with Guardian Glass is said to be leading the way in responsible supply.
Demonstrating environmental responsibility is fast becoming a prerequisite for success for commercial projects, with ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) credentials and sustainable supply chains increasingly influencing tender outcomes.
For Glass Express Midlands, its partnership with Guardian Glass on the manufacturer’s innovative cullet return scheme reflects a genuine commitment to closing the loop on glass production – and to helping its customers strengthen their own sustainability story.
The initiative allows waste glass from Glass Express Midlands’ manufacturing process to be collected, returned, and recycled directly into Guardian’s float glass production. It’s a simple yet powerful system that turns what was once waste into a valuable resource.
“Every offcut that leaves our factory now has a second life,” explained Fraser Caithness, sales director at Glass Express Midlands. “We collect all our cullet in dedicated bins that Guardian collects and feeds back into their production line.
“That glass is then remade into new float glass, so the circle continues. It’s proof that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated – it just needs commitment.”
The environmental impact is considerable. By reintroducing cullet into the manufacturing process, Guardian reduces its reliance on virgin raw materials like sand and stone, while also cutting the energy required to melt them. The result is a lower-carbon product with far less waste to landfill.
“Recycling glass through the cullet scheme doesn’t just make environmental sense, it makes business sense,” Fraser continued. “It reduces waste disposal costs, conserves natural resources, and helps lower emissions right across the supply chain. It’s a win for us, for Guardian, and for the end customer.”
For Glass Express Midlands, initiatives like this are also a key part of its customers’ commercial success. Many of the company’s clients work on public or government-funded projects, where sustainability is now a key evaluation criteria.
“Tender documents now ask directly how you manage your environmental responsibilities and how your supply chain supports that,” Fraser said. “Installers can’t just say they care about the environment – they have to show it. Working with a manufacturer like us, who’s embedded sustainability into our processes, helps them prove it on paper and in practice.”
Glass Express Midlands’ approach to environmental responsibility extends beyond recycling. The company prioritises local sourcing to reduce transport emissions and partners exclusively with suppliers who share its sustainability principles.
“We’ve always believed that doing the right thing environmentally is also the right thing commercially,” Fraser added. “By buying locally, optimising production, and collaborating with partners like Guardian, we’re creating a genuinely sustainable model that benefits everyone involved.”
As sustainability continues to shape procurement standards and customer expectations, Glass Express Midlands’ partnership with Guardian Glass shows how meaningful collaboration can create both environmental and competitive advantages.
“As a supplier, our role isn’t just to deliver glass, it’s to add value,” concluded Fraser. “By reducing waste and helping our customers demonstrate real environmental action, we’re not just improving our footprint – we’re helping theirs look better too.”
