Silica sand is the major ingredient of all types of glass. The main glass products are containers (coloured and clear), flat glass (windows, mirrors ,vehicle windscreens), tableware (drinking glasses, bowls and containers), glass fibre ( composite reinforcing and insulation materials) and special uses ( TV tubes, Plasma screens, optical glass)

Clear glass is made from silica sand with a very low iron content( .<0.1% for flat glass and around 0.03% for clear container glass). In 2004 glass manufacturing accounted for 53% of silica sand sales. Sand can be fused on its own to produce glass but only at very high temperatures (1700 °C). The addition of sodium carbonate significantly reduces this temperature. Calcium oxide, magnesium oxide and alumina are added to give stability and durability.

Increasing amounts of silica are being used in the form of recycled glass known as cullet. Some 37% of glass containers are now recycled in the UK.