Sustainability Programs & Resources
To provide architects with the assurance and documentation they need to meet and verify their sustainability goals, Vitro Architectural Glass participates in a range of programs and initiatives. To learn more about our programs or to download applicable documentation, please review the information below.
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
In 2017, Vitro became the first North American manufacturer to publish third-party verified EPDs for flat glass and processed glass products. These documents provide detailed data about the life-cycle impacts of Vitro glass products on the environment. EPDs may be used as credentialing for LEED® and other green building certification programs and are now necessary to demonstrate compliance with embodied carbon limits in places like California, which recently amended its CALGreen Building Standards Code to place limits on embodied carbon emissions in commercial and school buildings.
In 2019, the National Glass Association (NGA) published an architectural glass EPD that evaluated the embodied carbon of clear, low-iron and tinted flat glass produced by four member companies of the NGA’s Forming Committee, including Vitro. Its findings suggested an industry average GWP of 1430 kilograms for comparable products. Vitro’s 2023 EPDs indicate that its products contain just 1350 kilograms of CO2 equivalent, which is 6% lower than the NGA’s industry standard figure and an improvement on figures reported in 2017.
For more information on utilizing our EPDs to earn LEED® credits, visit the Materials & Resources section of our LEED® guide.
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ (C2C) Products
In 2008, Vitro Architectural Glass became the first U.S. glass manufacturer to have its entire collection of architectural glass products recognized by the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Products Program.
Today, Vitro Glass’s product selection is Cradle to Cradle™ Bronze certified; subcategory certification levels, valid through April 23, 2024, are below.
| Category | Certification |
|---|---|
| Material Health | Gold |
| Material Reutilization | Gold |
| Renewable Energy and Carbon Management | Bronze |
| Water Stewardship | Bronze |
| Social Fairness | Silver |
Material Health Certificate
The Material Health Certificate uses the material health assessment methodology of the Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard.
LEED Recycled Content Letter
Vitro Architectural Glass recycled content reporting documentation.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Vitro Architectural Glass is committed to product stewardship, occupational safety and health, and spill-handling procedures.
Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List of Materials
Vitro Architectural Glass products, version 4.0 compliance letter.
Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) Compliance Letter
This document addresses common questions concerning the Buy Clean California Act (BCCA) and provides documentation of Vitro Architectural Glass's compliance with the BCCA.
