Leading glass container manufacturer, Encirc, and industry research and technology organisation, Glass Futures, are partnering on a ground-breaking project to create what should be the world’s most sustainable glass bottle.

In Quarter 1 2021, Encirc’s Derrylin plant in Northern Ireland will be pioneering the use of bio-fuel on one of its furnaces, hoping to pave the way for an industry-wide reduction in carbon emissions.

The deadline to submit entries for this year’s Glass Focus Awards has been extended to 2 October.

The extra time allows for nominations of people, products and initiatives that will help to celebrate glass as a material and the supply chain that supports it. British Glass is looking for bottles and building designs, outstanding apprentices, sustainable and safe practices and innovations from across the industry.

The categories for the 2020 awards are: Design of the year – container; Design of the year – flat; Innovative solution; Health and safety action; Sustainable practice; Rising Star; Strengthening business through people; and Marketing impact.

Ardagh has committed to set science-based targets through the Science-Based Targets initiative, a project that aims to encourage corporate climate action for a low carbon economy.

By committing to the initiative, Ardagh will set specific goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement 2015, where governments mutually pledged to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5oC.

To prepare for setting these ambitious targets, Ardagh’s Chief Sustainability Officer, John Sadlier, has signed the commitment letter confirming Ardagh will develop new goals to be reviewed and approved by the SBTi committee.

The conference programme for next month’s glasstec VIRTUAL event will feature free expert lectures from industry and science and with reference to globally trending themes such as climate protection, resource efficiency, urbanisation, added value and happiness.

The three day event will be held from 20 to 22 October 2020 online at virtual.glasstec.de and will feature extensive services for exhibitors to present themselves to the sector and interact with potential customers.

The glasstec conference is divided into segments such as glass production, processing and finishing, as well as glass products and applications.

Guardian Glass has completed its first ribbon pull at its second float glass facility in Czestochowa, Poland to help meet growing demand for high performance coated and fabricated glass products in Poland and throughout Eastern Europe.

The first pull of glass completes the plant’s start up, which began with ground-breaking in 2018 and led to the start of the plant’s technologically advanced glass coater on 6 July.

Reacting to the European Commission’s plan to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and to put the EU on a path to become climate neutral by 2050, Bertrand Cazes, Secretary General of Glass for Europe has called for concrete actions to take place, particularly when it comes to renovating Europe’s ageing buildings. “Huge efforts will haveto be made to cut CO 2 emissions from buildings” he says. “The European Commission has said so for many years now and it’s positive this direction is confirmed. But more than a confirmation, what the climate needs now are decisive acts.”

Turkish glassware brand Pasabahce has launched the Aware Collection, made from 100% recycled glass and combining sustainability with style and aesthetics, while reducing its carbon footprint and industrial waste.

Through its eco-friendly Aware Collection, the company contributes to environmental protection by collecting and recycling glass that was previously used at least once.

Pasabahce designed its Aware collection with the inspiration of the turquoise of the Bosporus.

The collection features two glass mugs and two tumblers. Pasabahce collects used glass products from recycling containers and separates them according to size and characteristics.

Used glass products that undergo the necessary processes are revived through this collection.

The SORG Group has recently commissioned a melting system at Wiegand-Glas in Schleusingen, Germany, a project made more challenging by the fact that it was carried out and completed in the middle of the global Covid-19 pandemic.

The project required a flexible approach that gave careful consideration to the health and safety of many different companies working within the bustling construction site at every stage.

A regenerative end-fired furnace for clear glass, featuring a working end and forehearths was

specially optimised to the customer’s requirements. Two completely sealed dog houses were also built utilising EME-NEND technology.

www.sorg.de

FEVE Secretary General Adeline Farrelly is among the speakers at next week’s Packaging Waste and Sustainability digital forum, organised by informaconnect.

The FEVE presentation, ‘Capitalising on sustainability to continue to lead: The container glass industry vision’ is a central pillar of the ‘Material innovations, sustainability and recycling’ session on 25 September.

www.informaconnect.com