3 Ways Achieving Sustainability in Glass Manufacturing

We all know glass is sustainable but do we know that its making ( manufacturing process) involves a lot of minute steps and that may not be sustainable? This can have a significant impact on the environment, two of them are energy consumption and waste generation.

Let’s see three of the potential steps that are already being taken to minimize the harmful effects of glass production:

Recycling Technologies Technologies such as spectral imaging, machine learning & AI, bottle-to-bottle recycling and ultrasonic washing systems have all come to contribute to effective recycling of glasses. All these technologies have one thing in common and that is the reduction of waste in the glass manufacturing & recycling processes.

Alternative Raw Materials Incorporating recycled glass (cullet), fly ash, rice husk ash, baking soda, crushed glass waste, kaolin, magnesium oxide & industrial by-products offer sustainable substitutes for traditional inputs. All of these alternatives are linked to achieving net-zero emissions and reducing CO2 footprints.

Reduction of Carbon Emissions There is no denial of in the fact that glass-making has a major hand in CO2 emission. Using alternative raw materials like recycled glass, which requires less energy compared to traditional raw materials best suits in the process.

To conclude, if the glass manufacturers add steps to optimizing the manufacturing process, improving energy efficiency and exploring renewable energy sources - this will contribute to a greener and more sustainable production, helping to reduce the environmental impact of making glass.

Tell us through the comments what you think about this.