Morgan Sindall proponent of Global Sustainability Standard

Morgan Sindall Construction, along with 22 other organisations, are tackling the perennial issue of high levels of CO₂ generation in glass production through the world’s first global sustainability standard.

The Standard creates a framework for responsible glassmaking, covering all stages of the value chain from sourcing raw materials and energy, to product design, glass production and recycling.

At the draft stage, the Standard is now open for a 60-day public consultation allowing construction companies, as well as other types of organisations, policymakers, suppliers, NGOs, stakeholders and customers to provide input.

Kane Greenough, Senior Sustainability Manager at Morgan Sindall Construction said: “Embracing circular economy principles is essential to decarbonising the built environment – it offers a clear, effective pathway to achieving meaningful progress.

“Preserving our natural resources keeps valuable materials in continuous use, playing a key role in reducing emissions across the glass industry.”

What to know about the sustainability standard

The Standard focuses on six main areas relating to glass production:

• Management systems – ensuring manufacturers have the necessary related policies and reporting systems in place.
• Responsible business practices – from legal compliance to stakeholder engagement and sustainability data.
• Responsible sourcing – requiring companies to understand and assess the environmental and social impacts of the materials and energy they use in glass production while promoting greater supply chain transparency.
• Environmental performance – covering areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, waste management and pollution.
• People and communities – including worker health and safety, human rights and engagement with local communities affected by glassmaking operations.
• Circularity and sustainable product design – encouraging greater use of recycled materials, improved recycling and recovery rates, and the development of glass products designed to reduce environmental impacts.

Glass manufacturers will also be subjected to independent audits against the Standard, receiving certification if they pass.

The Standard will also introduce the use of consistent definitions and reporting methodologies across issues such as carbon emissions, responsible sourcing and recycled content.

Uniting across industries 

Spearheading the initiative is Alan Knight, former Board Member at ResponsibleSteel, a network of more than 160 members which similarly helped to achieve internationally recognised sustainability standards for the steel industry. Francis Sullivan, former Head of Sustainability at HSBC is also at the helm. Both are leading the initiative through the ResponsibleGlass not-for-profit organisation established in December 2025. 

ResponsibleGlass has 23 founding members including construction companies Morgan Sindall Construction, which markets such as education, commercial, healthcare and  industrial, and Bovis, which specialises in homebuilding and construction in the UK. ResponsibleGlass members and supporters have a combined workforce of 150,000 people across the glass sector and generate approximately US$90bn in annual revenue. Together they aim to to “maximise the contribution of glass to a sustainable society”.

Francis says: "Glass is fundamental to modern life, from buildings and vehicles to solar technology and packaging, yet the sector has never operated under a unified, independent global sustainability framework. The publication of this first ResponsibleGlass Draft Standard is an important milestone in changing that.”