Glasopor construction aggregate is made from recycled glass containers

In the circular economy, crushed glass in a recycling plant may be reused for making bottles, glassware and other consumer products. Glass that contains certain colour additives, is contaminated or is too finely ground for this purpose requires safe disposal – and may end up in landfills.

Glasopor converts waste glass particles into a lightweight material that has superior properties when used as construction filler, and for drainage and insulation.

Glasopor foam glass consists of 20 per cent glass and 80 per cent air, and is foam-like in the kiln. Once it cools at room temperature it naturally cracks into rock-like blocks varying from 10–60 mm in size. The air provides exceptional thermal insulation and makes the material much lighter and easier to handle than standard concrete aggregates, without sacrificing strength and durability.

Glasopor may be used in road surfaces, as an aggregate filler in pipe bedding and building foundations, and for rooftop insulation and grass bedding.

Glasopor’s lighter weight makes it economical and easy to transport, with far lower transport emissions than traditional rock landfill. The material is manufactured at two top-modern, energy-efficient factories in Norway. One plant was recently converted to all-electric production for zero CO₂ emissions.

Strong and stable, Glasopor is well-suited for constructing roads, tunnels and railways on slopes or other areas with challenging building conditions. The Glasopor blocks are cubic with a coarse surface, providing stability even at an angle of 45 degrees.

Laying a compensated foundation with Glasopor requires less digging – saving on construction time and transportation. In difficult ground conditions, Glasopor can be used as a foundation for machinery before installing piles.

Glasopor is also ideal for use in green roofs and green areas, which make cities more capable of handling rainwater, help to lower urban air temperatures and provide habitats for wildlife.

Glasopor can be used for numerous other applications as well, including drainage and insulation in sports fields and water supply and sewerage networks.

The global foam glass market size was valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 2 billion by 2026.

Glasopor is a pioneer in producing a foam glass building material from 100 percent recycled glass containers. Glasopor was established in 2002 and is owned by Sirkel Materialgjenvinning AS, Norway’s recycling facility for glass and metal.