Regulation, compliance and opportunity: glazing sector urged to adapt to sweeping change

The UK glazing industry faces one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history, according to Michael Butterick, Marketing Director of Saint-Gobain Glass and President of the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF), who warned that businesses must adapt quickly to a shifting regulatory and commercial landscape.

Speaking at Industry Connect 2026, the GGF’s annual conference held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Butterick told delegates that while change presents clear challenges for the sector, it also offers substantial opportunity for companies able to innovate and respond.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience in the industry, Butterick said the scale of regulatory reform, evolving customer expectations and growing scrutiny of compliance represents a moment of profound transition for the sector.

“I genuinely cannot remember a moment when there’s been such significant change that’s already happening and is just about to happen,” he told attendees.

A complex regulatory environment

Butterick identified the evolving regulatory framework governing construction products and building performance as one of the most immediate pressures facing the glazing industry.

In response, the GGF has established a Consultation Response Group (CRG) comprising representatives from across the federation’s membership. The group meets monthly to coordinate industry responses to government consultations and ensure that policymakers hear the sector’s collective voice.

According to Butterick, this collaboration has helped position the industry as a credible and informed contributor to regulatory discussions. “The government recognises our expertise and leadership,” he said, adding that maintaining constructive dialogue with policymakers is essential if the industry is to influence future regulation.

However, Butterick warned that increasing scrutiny from regulators means businesses must take compliance more seriously than ever. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) recently released findings following investigations into heat-soaked thermally toughened glass, highlighting what it described as a “deep structural compliance issue” within parts of the sector.

For companies operating in the industry, Butterick said, compliance is no longer simply an administrative requirement but a core business responsibility. “It’s the difference between leadership and liability,” he told delegates, noting that the OPSS has the authority to halt business operations where products fail to meet regulatory standards.

New building standards approaching

Further change is expected as the government prepares to introduce the long-awaited Future Homes Standard, which will reshape energy efficiency requirements for new homes in England. Butterick also highlighted ongoing discussions around Document Q, which governs security standards for dwellings. Proposed revisions could extend its scope beyond new-build housing to include replacement windows and doors.

If implemented, such a change could have significant implications for the replacement sector, potentially affecting a far larger portion of the market than the Future Homes Standard itself. Similar regulatory developments are also emerging in Scotland and Wales.

Despite these complexities, Butterick emphasised that the glazing sector is central to the UK’s ambitions for more energy-efficient housing. Windows and doors, he said, play a crucial role in ensuring that technologies such as heat pumps operate efficiently. Without high-performance glazing, the benefits of low-carbon heating systems cannot be fully realised.

A major retrofit opportunity

Butterick also pointed to the scale of the retrofit challenge facing the UK housing stock. More than 80 million windows in existing homes do not comply with current building regulations, representing a vast potential market for the industry as properties are upgraded to meet modern standards. However, he argued that the sector must ensure that replacement products deliver high levels of performance and are accompanied by clear communication of their benefits to consumers.

Window Energy Ratings, widely used across the industry, have provided a simple method of communicating product efficiency for more than 25 years. But Butterick suggested that the scheme may now need to evolve.

Changing climate conditions and consumer priorities mean that other factors – including security, acoustic insulation and protection against overheating – may need greater emphasis in future product ratings. The industry is therefore exploring the possibility of complementary “effectiveness ratings” that could highlight these broader performance benefits without replacing existing schemes.

Sustainability and industry reputation

Butterick also addressed the wider perception of the glazing sector, arguing that the industry must better communicate the environmental value of its work. Replacement windows and doors play an important role in improving energy efficiency, while many of the materials removed during refurbishment can be recycled and remanufactured into new products.

This circular approach, he said, reduces the need for raw materials and strengthens the sector’s sustainability credentials. That sustainability narrative may also help attract younger workers to the industry. Butterick noted that an increasing number of new recruits are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to environmentally responsible industries.

Collective strength

Closing his speech, Butterick emphasised the importance of collaboration across the sector during a period of rapid change. Industry bodies such as the GGF, he said, play a vital role in bringing together expertise from across the supply chain and representing the sector’s interests in policy discussions.

For businesses operating in the glazing market, the coming years will demand adaptability and innovation. But Butterick expressed confidence that the industry has the capacity to meet the challenge.

“One of the great strengths of our industry is our collective ability to adapt,” he said.

“As long as we continue to do that, we can turn these changes into opportunities rather than threats.”