New Panes from Old
 Exciting news in sustainability comes as Audi announces recycled glass will be standard in the Audi Q4 e-tron. In the future, the company with the four rings will use glass made of up to 30 percent recycled material from car windows damaged beyond repair. Through this, the "GlassLoop" pilot project will be shifted into standard production.
Audi, in cooperation with its partner companies, will be the first premium auto manufacturer to establish a glass cycle of this kind. Until now, damaged car windshields and panoramic roofs have been used for less demanding purposes, such as bottles and insulation - in what is known as 'downcycling'.
This pilot project is the first to demonstrate how glass can be reused at comparable quality. Audi, along with partner companies, have spent a year testing how to make new windshields for the Audi Q4 e-tron out of defective car glass. Now the process is ready for standard production. So how does it work?
"First, the car windows are broken into small pieces using an innovative recycling process. Then all non-glass elements, like glue residue, are eliminated. The partners melt down the glass granulate obtained and feed it into the production process for automotive plate glass. From September 2023, the windshields produced this way will be used in production of the Audi Q4 e-tron."
Ultimately, using glass granulate makes it possible to reduce the need for other primary materials such as quartz sand.
The program's vision is to configure the effects of Audi's supply chain to be as gentle as possible on both people and the environment.
Audi, in cooperation with its partner companies, will be the first premium auto manufacturer to establish a glass cycle of this kind. Until now, damaged car windshields and panoramic roofs have been used for less demanding purposes, such as bottles and insulation - in what is known as 'downcycling'.
This pilot project is the first to demonstrate how glass can be reused at comparable quality. Audi, along with partner companies, have spent a year testing how to make new windshields for the Audi Q4 e-tron out of defective car glass. Now the process is ready for standard production. So how does it work?
"First, the car windows are broken into small pieces using an innovative recycling process. Then all non-glass elements, like glue residue, are eliminated. The partners melt down the glass granulate obtained and feed it into the production process for automotive plate glass. From September 2023, the windshields produced this way will be used in production of the Audi Q4 e-tron."
Ultimately, using glass granulate makes it possible to reduce the need for other primary materials such as quartz sand.
The program's vision is to configure the effects of Audi's supply chain to be as gentle as possible on both people and the environment.
