Corning has launched Viridian Vials, the latest innovation in its expanding pharmaceutical glass-packaging portfolio. Viridian Vials bring performance and sustainability together. The new technology can improve filling-line efficiency by up to 50% while reducing vial-manufacturing carbon-dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) emissions by up to 30%.

“Corning continues to push the boundaries of glass technology to help our customers tackle their most complex challenges,” said Ron Verkleeren, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Life Sciences. “Viridian Vials’ cutting-edge coating technology allows our customers to deliver medications safely and efficiently – for both patients and the planet.”

Guardian Glass has introduced a new feature to its Performance Calculator tool. The feature allows users to calculate the embodied carbon for the glazing configurations they select. This means architects, specifiers and glass processors can better understand the environmental impact profile of the facades they design through the glass products they specify, allowing them to make more informed choices at a very early design stage.

The Knauf Group have announced that motorists passing by the company’s new Central Texas facility in the McGregor Industrial Park on S. Lone Star Parkway now see the 650,000sq.ft. building nearly in its final form. Roof decking continues, and the general contractor expects the building will be dried-in by the end of July.

"The Knauf global family, along with the McGregor community, celebrates this exciting milestone," said Knauf Senior Vice President Kevin McHugh. "We were so graciously welcomed into McGregor three years ago with just a vision in our hearts, and for all of us to be able to see this awesome facility rise from that ranch land, knowing what a great benefit this will be to all of Central Texas, is overwhelming and thrilling."

Heraeus Comvance has acquired part of the OFS Fitel Denmark ApS plant in Brøndby near Copenhagen. Heraeus will manufacture standard optical telecommunication fibres based on a European value chain and will provide these fibres to the EMEA market.

OFS will continue providing its customers outside of EMEA as well as its cable factories a full range of fibre types from world class draw towers in the US. OFS will also continue to produce and market specialty fibre in Brøndby. The two companies will be operating independently. Furukawa Electric, OFS’ parent company, will continue serving the global market with a full portfolio of telecommunication fibres from draw towers in Japan.

Glass Futures has published its report for the UK Department of Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which reveals low grade waste biofuels have the potential to decarbonise glass and ceramics manufacturing furnaces and kilns across the UK.

Combustion trials undertaken by Glass Futures found that low-grade fuels (derived from cooking and waste oils) had a similar heat transfer efficiency to natural gas and analysis of the emissions indicated that they are not expected to impact glass quality, although further investigation is required.

Sisecam is steadily advancing towards its goal of ranking among the world's top three players in its main fields of activity. Sustainability is the focal point of the company's business operations on this journey. Considering gender equality as integral to its inclusive corporate culture, it has signed the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

According to the Glass Packaging Usage Study conducted by GCA the perception of "health and safety" plays a decisive role in glass packaging usage. According to the results, 77% of bottled water and mineral water consumers prefer glass because it is considered healthy, 49% because it does not affect the taste and odour of food items, 48% because it is reliable and 32% because it offers a longer shelf life.

Investing more than €15 million in energy-efficient solutions and creating more than 50 new job opportunities for the region's residents, construction of the second high-silica glass melting furnace at the Valmieras Stikla Šķiedra production site has been completed. It will run alongside the two existing E-glass furnaces and another high-silica glass melting furnace. On Friday 14 July, the heating up of the new furnace began to prepare it for the start of glass fibre production, so that the Latvian firm can provide high-value export products in early August.

O-I Glass and FX Matt Beverage Company have announced a new partnership that introduces glass packaging innovation and accelerates the speed to market for packaging solutions. The co-packing partnership offers brands the opportunity to innovate with Drinktainer through a streamlined co-packing process.

“FX Matt is the ideal co-packing partner, bringing experience, know-how and speed to market for brands seeking to leverage the superior design and sensory benefits of Drinktainer for their beverages,” said Sarah Brennan, North America Marketing & NPD Director for O-I.