Glass Aquarium (20L)

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard 20-liter glass aquarium consists primarily of soda-lime silicate glass panels forming the tank structure. The composition includes silica sand as the primary ingredient, providing structural integrity and transparency. Limestone serves as a flux material to lower melting temperatures during manufacturing. Soda ash acts as another flux component that improves workability during forming processes.

Modern glass production incorporates cullet, which represents recycled glass content typically ranging from 30 to 50 percent of the total material input. For a typical 20L aquarium weighing approximately 6 kilograms, the glass panels account for roughly 5.4 kilograms or 90 percent of total weight. The remaining 10 percent consists of silicone sealants and edge treatments that bond the panels together.

Manufacturing Geography

China dominates global glass container and flat glass production, accounting for over half of worldwide manufacturing capacity. The country’s extensive industrial infrastructure and established supply chains for raw materials make it the primary manufacturing region for consumer glass products including aquariums.

Chinese glass manufacturing facilities rely heavily on coal-fired electricity generation, resulting in a grid intensity of 555 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour. This carbon-intensive energy mix significantly influences the climate footprint of glass products manufactured in the region. Natural gas availability for high-temperature melting furnaces also varies by province, affecting regional emission profiles within China.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	28.0	Baseline
European Union	275 gCO2/kWh	22.4	-20%
Turkey	485 gCO2/kWh	26.1	-7%
India	642 gCO2/kWh	31.2	+11%
Mexico	458 gCO2/kWh	25.6	-9%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Facility-specific electricity consumption data measured in kilowatt-hours per kilogram of glass produced, along with documentation of renewable energy procurement or on-site generation capacity.

2. Detailed recycled content verification showing the percentage of cullet incorporated into the glass melt, supported by supplier declarations or third-party certification of recycled material sourcing.

3. Natural gas consumption records for melting furnace operations, including any efficiency improvements or alternative fuel substitutions that reduce combustion emissions per unit of glass output.

4. Transportation documentation covering shipping distances and modes from manufacturing facility to distribution centers, particularly for products manufactured in regions distant from end markets.

5. Raw material sourcing information identifying quarry locations for silica sand, limestone, and soda ash, especially when materials are obtained from lower-emission extraction operations or shorter transport distances.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions including raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation to retail distribution centers, excluding operational use and end-of-life disposal.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate the footprint due to energy-intensive glass melting processes and upstream raw material production, while Scope 2 reflects electricity consumption for manufacturing equipment operation.

• The functional unit covers one complete 20-liter aquarium suitable for residential fish keeping, assuming standard dimensions and glass thickness appropriate for water containment.

• Exclusions include operational energy for heating and lighting during aquarium use, which research indicates typically exceeds manufacturing emissions over the product lifetime.

• Data gaps exist for product-specific lifecycle assessments of small residential aquariums, requiring estimation based on container glass studies and material composition analysis.