Carbon footprint of glazing tempering and aluminium profile production processes

Since the Industrial Revolution, the demand for natural resources has increased and this situation has triggered climate change, one of the most critical environmental problems of today. Careless use of resources and inadequate environmental protection measures have led to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. In this context, glass and aluminum production processes are important areas that need to be carefully considered in terms of their environmental impacts. The glass tempering process is a process applied to increase the mechanical strength and thermal resistance of glass and creates a significant carbon footprint due to high energy consumption. The technologies and production parameters used in this process directly affect the emission levels. High-temperature processes such as melting and forming of aluminium significantly increase energy consumption and consequently carbon emissions. The type and amount of energy resources used in these processes are the main factors determining direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. The calculations are based on internationally accepted methodologies such as the ISO 14064-1:2018 standard, the GHG Protocol, the IPCC 2006 Guidelines and the DEFRA 2023 emission factors. The plant's activities were analyzed with a holistic approach, covering direct emissions (Scope 1 - 86.26 tCO₂e), indirect energy emissions (Scope 2 - 108.86 tCO₂e) and other indirect emissions (Scope 3 - 238.74 tCO₂e). In the light of the data, the impacts of glass and aluminium production processes on the total carbon footprint were analysed and strategies were developed to reduce emissions. These strategies include energy efficiency improvement, use of renewable energy sources and optimisation of production processes. This study presents a comprehensive assessment aimed at improving environmental sustainability in glass and aluminium production facilities and proposes feasible solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.