Sustainable construction
At Swisspacer, we stand for high‑quality warm edge spacer bars that deliver outstanding performance in windows and façades – while minimising negative impacts on the environment and people.
Reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency, and using resources responsibly are top priorities in today’s global construction industry. With the right product portfolio, manufacturers and solution providers can play a decisive role in achieving these sustainability goals. At the same time, the environmental performance of construction products is becoming an increasingly important factor in choosing suppliers worldwide.
As an active partner in the international building sector, Swisspacer as part of the Saint-Gobain Group takes responsibility for supporting more sustainable construction practices. Our warm edge spacer bars significantly improve the thermal performance of insulating glass units, helping to reduce CO₂ emissions, lower energy consumption, and increase living comfort and well‑being in residential and commercial buildings across global markets.
Aligned with Saint-Gobain’s 2050 goal of climate neutrality, we have clear goals in our roadmap:
CO2 footprint reduction for 2030
33% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions in absolute terms compared to a 2017 baseline
16% reduction in scope 3 emissions compared to 2017
Full transition to renewable energy for production processes.
Improving water management
Comprehensive recycling strategy with focus on maximized reuse of materials & minimized use of virgin raw materials.
Most products have Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) from cradle to grave.
Constant work of our R&D department on new sustainable products, solutions for recycling and other sustainable offering
A holistic approach to sustainability
With our holistic approach, we consider four aspects of sustainable construction. Energy efficiency and the reuse of materials are only part of the picture. The high quality and performance of our products are also essential for sustainable construction because they ensure a long service life and a high rate of use. However, a sustainable building culture also has a social dimension that focuses on the health and well-being of the occupants.
For us, sustainable construction means buildings that are:
Better for the environment
Better for the people
Buildings of a better quality
Buildings with a better economic use
Better for the enviroment
Better for the environment We want not only to create more sustainable solutions for our customers, but also to make our production processes and our entire supply chain as sustainable as possible. Amongst other things, we continuously monitor our own emissions in order to reduce waste as well as water and energy consumption.
Small steps to greater sustainability
At Swisspacer, sustainability is an integral part of our production processes. We focus on reducing emissions, using energy more efficiently and conserving water across our operations.
Greenhouse gas emissions
To reduce our carbon footprint, we have transitioned our Gliwice facility to renewable electricity and continuously improve energy efficiency through targeted measures and ongoing optimization. This helps us lower emissions step by step while preparing the ground for further progress.
Energy management
Swisspacer pursues systematic energy management as required by ISO 150001. We regularly carry out energy audits, modernize equipment and refine production processes to reduce energy losses. At the same time, we continue to expand the use of cleaner energy sources as part of our broader decarbonization efforts.
Responsible water use
Reducing water consumption is another important focus area. We are implementing technologies for more efficient water use as well as rainwater collection and treatment systems. At our Swiss facility, water use has already been reduced by 70%.
Re:cycling service
With the Swisspacer Re:cycling service, recyclable production offcuts from Swisspacer spacer bars can be returned easily and responsibly. The service is designed to extend the life of valuable materials, support circularity and help customers strengthen their own sustainability efforts with minimal additional process complexity. It is a practical step towards using resources more efficiently across the value chain.
EPDs: transparent environmental data for sustainable construction and building certifications
Swisspacer supports transparent, data-driven sustainable construction with externally verified EPDs. These documents make the environmental impact of spacer bars measurable and comparable across the lifecycle, providing a reliable basis for project documentation and material assessment. This transparency can support green building schemes such as LEED or BREEAM and helps architects, planners and window manufacturers make more informed decisions.
Swisspacer Ultimate | Nyxé
Innovation is a key part of our sustainability journey. Swisspacer Ultimate | Nyxé shows how product development can combine design, performance and more responsible material use: the all-black warm edge spacer bar contains 33% recycled content and, based on its life cycle assessment, indicates an around 20% lower CO₂ footprint compared with the previous Swisspacer Ultimate. In this way, our R&D roadmap focuses not only on technical performance, but also on continuously improving the environmental profile of our solutions.
"Sustainability is a way of thinking that helps us pursue an approach that conserves resources. With the help of our committed employees, we are in a position to make changes to the way we work."
Matthias Bach, CEO
“In R&D, we always start with one key question: what real value will this create – for our customers and for the environment? Sustainability is a mindset that shapes how we design, test and develop solutions. Our goal is to create innovations that improve building performance while supporting the transition towards more circular and responsible production.”
Marie Guin, Head of R&D
Better for the people
In thermal terms, windows are the weakest element in a building. This is where our warm edge spacer bars come in. The choice of spacer bar has a big impact on more than just the energy efficiency of a window. Swisspacer also increases living comfort: with warm edge spacer bars, occupants benefit from greater comfort and do not have to worry about mouldy glass edges.
The comfort of a window with warm edge spacer bars can be measured! The PHI study "Living Comfort" investigated how comfort and hygiene criteria can be defined and adhered to for windows in different climate zones.
Better economic use
Saving money on energy and heating is a subject on many people’s minds, especially at the present time. The quality of the windows plays a key role in the energy-efficient design of buildings. The use of Swisspacer spacer bars is an important approach to optimising the energy efficiency of windows.
If Swisspacer is used instead of aluminium spacer bars, 8.6% of the total heating energy and 180 kg of CO2 per year can be saved.
Better quality
Those who go for Swisspacer are opting not only for certified spacer bars that have gone through independent tests and offer an outstanding price-performance relationship, but also for a unique range of services. From initial inquiry to comprehensive, individually tailored service, we offer our customers detailed advice, training and support through our experienced specialists. Naturally, we also advise and inform all other interested parties in the supply chain – right through to the planner and architect, who have an interest in the topic of "warm edge".
