Glavel's Commitment to Sustainability

Glavel is a Vermont-based manufacturer producing foam glass gravel, a lightweight, insulating aggregate made from 100% post-consumer recycled glass. This material serves as a sustainable alternative to traditional subslab insulation and lightweight fill materials like foam board and geofoam.

At the heart of Glavel's operations is a dedication to circular economy principles. Their manufacturing facility in Essex, Vermont, is the first in North America to utilize an electrified kiln powered by renewable energy, significantly reducing the embodied carbon of their products. Each year, this facility transforms 7,500 tons of recycled glass into high-performance foam glass gravel, diverting waste from landfills and contributing to a more sustainable construction industry.

Why Glavel Wanted an EPD

Glavel has always been committed to making a positive environmental impact.

But for CEO Rob Conboy and the Glavel team, it wasn’t enough to simply speak to their product’s benefits — they wanted third-party proof.

“We always knew what we were doing was going to have a positive impact, but we also never wanted to make claims on our own terms. We knew that we needed third-party verification to be transparent and authentic.” — Rob Conboy, CEO

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) provides exactly that: a standardized, third-party verified report on the environmental performance of a product.

Partnering with Pathways

Glavel partnered with Pathways to remove the complexities of a first EPD - choosing a partner who could match their pace, precision, and commitment to impact.

Combining proprietary data ingestion technology with a hands-on, flexible support system, Pathways led the Glavel team through data collection and LCA modeling, ensuring a comprehensive and accurate assessment of their product's environmental impact.

Rob Conboy reflected on the collaboration:​

"[EPDs] are such a weird, analytical thing, but I think the energy and excitement that Pathways brings to data and understanding data is kind of infectious."​

Continuous Improvement and Collaboration

For Glavel, publishing the EPD is not the finish line.

They see it as a foundation for continuous improvement, and part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability and transparency.

"This isn't a sort of one and done kind of thing. We will continue to iterate and be part of the process, which I love."

About Glavel

Manufactured in Northern Vermont, Glavel's product is non-combustible, rot-resistant, and offers excellent thermal insulation properties, making it ideal for various construction and industrial applications. With a strong commitment to local job creation and environmental stewardship, Glavel addresses the need for low embodied carbon materials and boosts economic opportunities in its rural community.