Water Footprint Evaluation of the Production of Float Flat Glass

The ISO14046 water footprint evaluation method was used in this study to calculate the water shortage footprint and water degradation footprint in plate glass production, in order to improve the water efficiency and management level in the production process of plate glass in China. A certain enterprise in Hebei province was selected for investigation in 2018. The results show that the water shortage footprint generated by the production of flat glass was 0.435 m3H2Oeq/weight box. The proportion at raw material production stage was the largest, being 86%, so the water consumption control in raw material mining and the circulating water system should be strengthened and improved to reduce the fresh water consumption. Water degradation footprint in flat glass industry mainly consisted of eutrophication and acidification footprints. The eutrophication footprint was calculated as 0.027 kgNO3-eq/weight box, and water acidification footprint was 0.271 kgSO2eq/weight box. The largest proportion occurred at flat glass production stage. It should be paid attention at this stage, to update the relatively clean production equipments and add the waste gas processing steps to reduce pollution discharge.