Durán International Symposium on Sustainable Glass Processing and Applications

In early 2020, Glass for Europe released the 2050 vision 'Flat glass in a climate neutral Europe'. Three years later, the industry is already on the move, busy pursuing all different avenues to maximize its contributions to the climate neutral economy. The presentation will summarize the main elements of this 2050 vision from manufacturing, processing, product development and end-of-life management and look into progress already achieved by flat glass manufacturers.
A special focus will be placed on the added-value of advanced flat glass products, manufacturing decarbonisation and recycling.

In recent years, there have been more natural disasters, storms and significant temperature extremes in both colder climates and hotter climates due to climate change. Meanwhile our aging building stock is not equipped to sufficiently handle these disturbances to maintain indoor environments to protect occupants. This paper and presentation will focus on how the architectural glass and glazing community can help with building resiliency. 

High-performance architectural glass products are available in both new construction and retrofit/remodel options to extend the habitability of buildings during extreme weather conditions. Windows and doors can be designed to help maintain the structural integrity of buildings during windstorms, fire and other disasters, as well as helping to insulate the building envelope during extreme summer heat and winter cold. In the event of extended power disruption, high-performance windows enhance building resiliency and maintain habitable interior temperatures for longer periods of time. 

Recent studies by the United States Department of Energy and the National Laboratories show that improving passive efficiency, such as, by installing high-performance window and doors that meet or exceed current energy code, saves lives during periods of extreme heat and cold. For example, “installing passive measures in existing single-family buildings to meet code requirements extends habitability by as much as 120% during extreme cold and by up to 140% during extreme heat." Another study demonstrated “over a 7-day cold spell following a winter blackout when the temperature outdoors drops to 10°F, the house or office with high-performance windows cools from 70°F to about 55°F whereas the buildings with conventional windows can drop below freezing (25°F-35°F).” 

Federal initiatives aimed at encouraging U.S. states to adopt the most recent energy codes can contribute to more widespread access to passive efficiency measures such as high-performance windows and doors.      

Bioactive glasses were the first synthetic materials to bond to bone, and for several decades they have been used clinically to regenerate bone [1]. They can degrade in physiological solutions at a rate matching that of bone formation, and through a combination of apatite crystallization on their surface layer and ion release they stimulate cell proliferation [2]. Bioactive glasses thus actively promote healing of tissue, such as bones or skin lesions [3]. They can also kill bacteria where antibiotics have failed [4]. These properties make bioactive glasses unique materials which have changed how we think about biomaterials. This talk discusses how glass structure controls bioactive glass properties and how these materials are currently used in the clinic.

For the sustainability, chemical treatments such as sol-gel coatings offer a means of increasing the strength of glasses, leading to lighter and more durable products and functionality such as antireflective coating on Photovoltaic panels. The sol-gel coating process involves chemical reactions during the formation of coatings on surfaces. Sol-gel coatings can enhance the strength of glasses and other brittle materials by filling in surface micro-flaws and providing a self-healing effect. And, with chemical engineering durable antireflective coatings on photovoltaic panels can be attained [1,2,3,4].
In this study, our primary focus will be on research and development studies related to strength improvement with sol-gel coating for bottles and durable anti reflective for PV glass. By changing the mold design, glassware can be made lighter. Sol-gel coatings offered a way to improve the strength of glassware by up to 20% without altering the design. Photovoltaic modules are deployed in many different environmental conditions and it is important that the panels have durable anti-reflective coatings
As a result, chemical treatments have the potential to provide significant increases in the strength and durability of glass, making glass more sustainable in a variety of applications such as glass container and solar panels.

In the small country of the Netherlands a number of sheet glass manufacturers launched an initiative, back in 2000, to set up a voluntary recycling scheme in order to meet their responsibilities as producers of sheet glass. Three organizations participated in the initiative: the Manufacturers of Double Glazing in the Netherlands (FIGIN), wholesalers and importers of sheet glass, who were collectively represented by the Glass Branch Organization (GBO) and the Dutch Glass Federation (NGF). To that end they conducted an experiment in the northern provinces of the Netherlands. On the basis of the favorable results of that experiment, the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment gave its approval to the system and the method used for financing it. In 2002, the foundation Vlakglas Recycling Nederland, VRN for short, was founded.

This organization now coordinates at country-level all activities associated with recycling and collecting waste glass in an efficient, environmentally friendly manner and at the lowest possible cost. It supports and coordinates the participating companies and agencies; it also oversees the collection of the recycling fee and acts as an information point for all those involved. Furthermore, the foundation promotes awareness of and enthusiasm for recycling glass. The government of the Netherlands has also demonstrated its commitment to this process by legislating for the sheet glass recycling levy on all traded and imported double and triple insulating glazing.

The paper will explain the VRN system, its business model, its 20-years + functioning, its lessons learned and its view on closing the flat glass recycling loop for a decarbonized economy.

- The current situation with flat glass recycling, the limitations for flat glass furnaces, the quality demands from the glass industry, the EPR system VRN as implemented in the Netherlands explained,Recycling cycle lessons learned,Current developments and challenges, and future views on circularity and decarbonisation

The formation and accumulation of pharmaceutical waste is a global problem. In excess of 30 billion vials are disposed of annually, and yet no recycling targets have been set for pharmaceutical glass. That is 351,000 tonnes of lost CO₂, €26,325,000 lost Carbon Credit, and a cost of €655,000,000 for the disposal of the glass.
Pharmaceutical glass is generalised as being parenteral pharmaceutical containers of a sterile medication for parenteral administration (injection or infusion) and encompassing ampules, vials, syringes, and lab bottles.
Borosilicate glass is used in the pharmaceutical industry due to its high chemical stability. However, sue to its higher melting temperature it is unsuitable for the traditional container glass or window glass markets. The additional medicinal residues in the empty vials make them even more of a challenge to recycle.
Historically the medical industry has been cautious over the handling of spent parenteral packaging from hospitals to domestic sites, focusing on yellow bag or bin collection and destruction through incineration, a practice designed to minimise risk to the patient, practitioners, or the public, but rarely been considerate of the environment. Producer responsibility and decarbonising has become centre stage with national health services and consumers demanding change. Regulators such as the EU are evaluating regulations to include the pharmaceutical industry within the packaging regulations.
The components of parenteral packaging have historically challenged their re-use as well as the proportionally high CO₂ cost of their collection, sterilisation, deconstruction, and re-assembly. A more considerate approach is required, one where the packaging is recorded, processed, and recovered on site.
This presentation will look at these challenges, including the physical properties of borosilicate, contamination, and financial constraints. Then examine the solutions already available, open-loop recycling and the associated CO₂ benefits of its processing and recovery, as well as new marketable products and cullet production. As well as highlighting the definite need for policies and regulations in this particular area of glass recycling.
As a result, the suggested strategy for the recycling of pharmaceutical waste glass involves the development of a compact parenteral packaging deconstruction machine which is fully auditable, can sterilise all materials during deconstruction, processing and recycling. The recovery of each element significantly decreases the CO₂ footprint of the pharmaceutical industry and offers full accountability in accordance with producer responsibility and current and future packaging regulations.

Glass development works traditionally iteratively by melting series of samples, investigating their properties, and then melting more samples with modified composition. The whole process might be pretty long and can take several months, up to one year in special cases. Fraunhofer ISC has developed a rapid-screening systems during the last years, which is currently being optimized in collaboration with the BAM in Berlin.

The robotic glass melting systems currently running in Berlin allows the melting of 20 samples during 24 hours and is backed up with high throughput RFA, LIBS and DSC devices for chemical composition, glass transition and crystallization characterization. As an additional option, the system can be extended with a robotic in-line characterization module for fundamental glass properties like viscosity, thermal expansion and crystallization behavior. Therefore, the method TOM - Thermo-Optical-Measurement method" was developed at Fraunhofer ISC to characterize physical and chemical parameter of glass.

Recent advances include the preparation of larger samples with masses of up to 200 g, an optimized cooling process and a better batch as well as glass melt homogenization system.

Further advancements of the system towards the development of glass-ceramics as well as enamel systems are discussed. 

The implementation of the circular economy is a challenge nowadays. The recent consumption model brought inappropriate use of natural resources, bringing great consequences to the world. Industrial production contributes to CO2 emissions and the glass industry has a great challenge in this context. Glass is a 100% recyclable, noble material and, if reinserted as a secondary raw material back into the chain, it makes a great contribution to reducing emissions.

The biggest challenge is building the reverse logistics chain for this material, as most glass industries are receptive to this raw material. Only countries participating in the European Union have an organized and funded collection system to ensure that recycling is possible. The challenge in Brazil is huge, it is a country of continental dimensions, with recent legislation and where the chain is structured to generate income for collectors.

Glass is a material with low added value, which limits its collection through, however, high recyclability and possible applications in different segments, such as the glass industry, paints, ceramics, abrasives and filters.

Vitrification is a widely used technology for treating high-level radioactive wastes (HLW) [1]. Borosilicate glasses are the matrix internationally selected for the immobilization of HLW. However, the use of this glass is linked to melting at high temperatures or sintering the glass powders loaded with wastes, which poses a risk of evaporation of volatile radioactive elements [2]. 

An attractive technology that implies the use of boro-aluminosilicate glasses (BASG) to produce materials with interesting properties for the stabilization of contaminants is the alkali activation [3]. Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are widely recognized as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional high-CO₂ binders. Alkali-activation technology also plays an important role in advancing the circular economy by effectively transforming inorganic waste streams into valuable products [4]. One of the promising areas for AAMs is the wastewater treatment. Various works addressed this topic. However, the use of these materials for immobilizing nuclear waste has been investigated less frequently, probably due to the intrinsic complexity of radioactive materials, that include a long half-life, high activity, solubility in water, and high volatility. One of the highly problematic radionuclides is cesium [5]. 

This work presents a new method of cesium immobilization, using alkali activation of BASG. This sustainable approach involves reused powdered glass from discarded pharmaceutical vials that are treated with a 2.5 M CsOH aqueous solution. The glass powders are suspended in the solution and consolidated at 40°C for 7 days, resulting in condensation reactions at hydrated surface layers. The products from partial glass dissolution combine with Cs⁺ ions to form a boro-pollucite (CsBSi₂O₆) solid solution. The immobilization process involves the formation of a stable gel that binds both the residual glass powder and the newly formed crystal phase. 

The main novelty lies in the use of a very low temperature to incorporate cesium into a framework mineral structure, which is recognized as one of the most promising options for storing radioactive cesium. Additionally, boro-pollucite represents the first example of an insoluble crystalline phase formed through the combination of activation by an alkaline compound (CsOH) and glass dissolution products. Cesium remains immobilized in blocks that can withstand immersion in boiling water. 

Further stabilization was achieved through the formation of glass matrix viscous flow sintered at temperatures as low as 700°C. The content of cesium remained almost constant before and after sintering. The effectiveness of the immobilization is confirmed by leaching test using the MCC-1 standard.

Advocacy includes educating the public; providing information and resources to individuals. For Glass it is vital to support or denounce policies such as healthcare, education, and environmental regulations.

It has to be ensured that all people in society are able to have their voice heard on issues that are important to them. Protect and promote their rights. Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives. It is a deliberate process of influencing those who make decisions about the change you want to see. Successful advocates are able to articulate issues so that they inspire others and motivate them to take action.

Right kind of Advocacy helps to explore options and rights (without pressuring), provide information to help make informed decisions, help to contact relevant people, or contact them on Industry’s behalf. 

After the success of IYoG, it is imperative that baton for Glass promotion remains high and that too collectively by the industry associations on some of the common issues with the help of UNICEF, WHO, UN, WWF, FEVE, GPI, ICG, Glass Worldwide, Glass International and other media/magazines etc. i.e., on Health/Environmental/Forest/Marine/Energy topics. 

The AIGMF especially since 2018 has been pro-active by involving college and school students via its annual Youth outreach programs and the results have been extra-ordinary, who generally think out of the box. Together, we were able to deliver some interesting projects for the benefit of society at large, some of the effective campaign/s from India were: (winners work will be shown over the PPT) 

• Green Energy via Solar Glass (2023)
• Glass in our Lives (2022)
• Glass Protects (2021)
• Green as Glass (2020)
• Adopt a Glass Bottle I and II (2018 & 2019)

Numerous worldwide activities on Glass under the aegis of ICG/IYoG as well as FEVE’s successful campaign on ‘Glass is Life’ are good examples of such effective programs. 

It will be appropriate to run a regular global/annual campaign on a common theme to make Glass more visible in our daily lives; as a voluntary service to society, thereby bringing increased awareness of Glass for all segments i.e. float, container, pharma, solar, specialty glasses etc. 

Expectations have changed, and customers increasingly value the contribution to society and to the planet that companies pledge and make choices based on how companies respond. Today, businesses are facing increasing expectations from stakeholders to create sustainable and long-term value. According to the research, 87% of people across society agree that stakeholders are most important to long term company success, correspondingly customers increasingly value the contribution to society and to the planet that companies pledge and make choices based on how companies respond. Sustainability trends now require more integrated and cross functional approaches of companies, and the global developments rapidly accelerated the attention on ESG issues. In addition to the climate crisis, issues such as the EU Green Deal and the Energy Crisis brought energy transition, sustainable manufacturing, and shift to recyclable products to the top of the agenda.
Running a “sustainable” business isn't about "gate to gate" actions, it's about putting sustainability at the centre of your shareholder value proposition and acting collectively to respond to today's requirements. No approach has not been harmonized with the needs of the planet and society cannot be sustainable.
As a global company that operates 45 production facilities located in 14 countries around the world, Şişecam needs to manage our large and widespread organization holistically. This structure and scope necessitate a strategy that is inclusive and compatible with global trends.
From this point of view, Şişecam has created its new term sustainability strategy “CareforNext”, with a holistic and inclusive perspective to covers the entire ecosystem with the philosophy of “people first”.
Under this strategic approach, the company is committed to taking responsibility boldly, without leaving anyone behind, for all our stakeholders in the entire value chain. Şişecam’s aim is to achieve strong global transformation goals that align with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with the priority targets set under the standard methodology, we track our progress every year, report it transparently, and take steps as needed accordingly.

Weathering phenomena occurring during storage of tableware glasses with the different chemical composition have been examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Electron Diffraction X-Ray Analysis (EDX). The tumblers of different chemical composition of tableware glass, crystalline type, have been prepared in a pot furnace. They have been packed in paper boxes and placed in the storehouse. Samples were withdrawn after 4 months, one and half year and 4 years. The SEM and EDX analysis have been done from the inner surface of the samples as well as concentration profiles of the glass wall have been measured by EDX. Relevant differences in surface layer chemical composition were observed. The comparison of the Na₂O and SiO₂ change is discussed in connection with the glass weathering resistance of different glass composition.

This dramatic 17 minute video recreates the atmosphere of last December’s Debriefing Session in New York at the UN Headquarters; it showcases many ‘International Year of Glass’ events, particularly ones that supported the UN 2030 Education and Equality Goals. A voiceover links amazing images and provides a context which makes the jigsaw whole. Along the video a summary of the most relevant events of IYOG2022 are presented with the aim of providing a roadmap to travel the Age of Glass

The video is designed and produced by the Executive committee of IYOG2022

It is produced by Marco Demichelis.

How can we reduce our carbon emissions with new furnace concepts and ideas. New ideas only can be safely developed and tested by using validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) such as GS Glass Furnace Model (GS GFM). It is quite logical that no glass producer will build a new furnace concept melting 100+ tons per day without thorough analysis, calculations and extensive CFD modeling. Lately most glass producers are asking how to reduce carbon emissions with either increasing the amount of electric melting or hydrogen. We have seen in the past such intensive use of CFD modeling when the Oxy-fuel applications emerged. Now with the next generation of large Hybrid (with more than 50% electric boosting) or all Electric melters we can see an increase in demand once again.

“La Maison Française du Verre » (LMFV) is producing borosilicate glass for cookware in its factory of Châteauroux (France). 

Its hybrid furnace is melting around 160 tons per day and its design is improved during each rebuilt, every 5 years, focusing on glass quality and energy efficiency. Currently, the combustion space using oxygen and natural gas, combined with electric boosting within the bath of glass. This configuration has been successful in increasing the electrical energy to a high degree, resulting in significantly reduced CO₂ emissions.

To address the rebuilt needed in 2022, to face the realities of global warming and to tackle once gain CO₂ emissions, “La Maison Française du Verre”, Glass Service a.s and F.I.C worked together during three years to determine what could be the next step for this furnace and its forehearths.

The presentation will be divided into three parts:

• First, we will present an overview of the initial data analysis and all the benefits obtained for the understanding of the furnace and its potential evolutions.  
• Secondly, we will describe a synthesis of the modeling and design work, for the furnace and one of its forehearth, to obtain a final recommendation. There was a redesign discussed in implementing new design features and to convert the entire design into a FIC-HVP-system that potentially can go all Electric with 80% Energy savings.
• To conclude, we will show final results after the rebuilt led during summer 2022  

The final furnace emits only 157 kg of CO₂ per ton molten glass.

How can we reduce our carbon emissions with new furnace concepts and ideas. New ideas only can be safely developed and tested by using validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) such as GS Glass Furnace Model (GS GFM). It is quite logical that no glass producer will build a new furnace concept melting 100+ tons per day without thorough analysis, calculations and extensive CFD modeling. Lately most glass producers are asking how to reduce carbon emissions with either increasing the amount of electric melting or hydrogen. We have seen in the past such intensive use of CFD modeling when the Oxy-fuel applications emerged. Now with the next generation of large Hybrid (with more than 50% electric boosting) or all Electric melters we can see an increase in demand once again.

“La Maison Française du Verre » (LMFV) is producing borosilicate glass for cookware in its factory of Châteauroux (France). 

Its hybrid furnace is melting around 160 tons per day and its design is improved during each rebuilt, every 5 years, focusing on glass quality and energy efficiency. Currently, the combustion space using oxygen and natural gas, combined with electric boosting within the bath of glass. This configuration has been successful in increasing the electrical energy to a high degree, resulting in significantly reduced CO₂ emissions.

To address the rebuilt needed in 2022, to face the realities of global warming and to tackle once gain CO₂ emissions, “La Maison Française du Verre”, Glass Service a.s and F.I.C worked together during three years to determine what could be the next step for this furnace and its forehearths.

The presentation will be divided into three parts:

• First, we will present an overview of the initial data analysis and all the benefits obtained for the understanding of the furnace and its potential evolutions.  
• Secondly, we will describe a synthesis of the modeling and design work, for the furnace and one of its forehearth, to obtain a final recommendation. There was a redesign discussed in implementing new design features and to convert the entire design into a FIC-HVP-system that potentially can go all Electric with 80% Energy savings.
• To conclude, we will show final results after the rebuilt led during summer 2022  

The final furnace emits only 157 kg of CO₂ per ton molten glass.

In May 2021, the news that glass communities everywhere had been waiting for winged its way round the world; the United Nations had endorsed 2022 as the International Year of Glass. The application had taken the previous 18 months to prepare and included a 30-minute video, an electronic brochure and printed documents explaining the vital role glassy materials play in helping the world achieve the humanitarian goals encompassed in the UN 2030 declarations. 

The submission of the application rested largely on the International Commission on Glass, along with the Community of Glass Associations and the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Glass (ICOM-Glass). Nineteen countries co-sponsored the Resolution A/75/L.84, approving the International Year of Glass. More than 2500 institutions, companies, artists and individuals from 95 countries all over the world have written to support this common dream and messages continue coming. 

The book Welcome to the Glass Age, focusing on the various UN 2030 goals was published and a great and successful Opening Ceremony was held in the Room of Human Rights in the Palace of nations in Geneva, on 10-11 February 2022. More than 4800 online attendants on 11^th February joined the 150 in person participants, constituting the biggest event in the history of glass field but also the most wider in the history of United nations. 

In July, the ICG Congress in Berlin celebrating the DGG’s centenary gathered more than 850 participants and Tokyo celebrated a brilliant closing ceremony on 8-9th December. Several Trade Fairs displayed parallel events promoting IYOG2022 and the role of Glass in Society, in particular VITRUM 2021, GLASSMAN, in Monterrey, 11-12th May; Mir-Stekla in Moscow, 6-9th June; and Glasstech in Düsseldorf, 20-23th September, 2022. Glasspex/Glasspro in Mumbai and the China International Glass Industrial Technical Exhibition were moved to 2023.

Other worldwide activities included: a) a US Glass Day, Washington DC, April, b) an ‘Iberoamerican International Congress Women in Glass. Artists and Scientists’, Madrid, Spain in May, d) an International Festival of Art, Stourbridge, UK, August, e) a place within the Venice Biennale in September and f) dedicated issues of several glass Journals.

Events were organised locally with up to 10 000 activities, including ideas and materials such as posters, display boards, articles, comics and U tube clips. People from every corner of the planet contributed to the arts, the imaginative use of glass in architecture, its recyclability, and its role in ensuring our well-being. 

A key issue in the approval of IYOG2022 was the power of glass as a tool to build a more sustainable and a fairer planet. Glass containers represent the best example of circular economy, where one bottle is produced from other bottle, closing the circle of non-waste process. But glass in every application (glazings, vehicles windscreens, TV plasma glass, solar panels or turbine eolic blades) has also infinite lives. Flat glass industry is using more than 50% of recycled glazing, saving energy and much reducing CO₂ emissions. We have a long route to run to ensure the infinite lives of glass, using and reusing this magical material that is reborn each time with new lives and applications. 

Sustainability in any area of human endeavour requires the involvement of the wider population through education that actively engages people’s interest and ensures that goals are both clearly understood and achievable. In turn this requires partnerships between government, industry, educational establishments from schools to academia, but critically with the communications media, whose messages are often transmitted ‘under the radar’.
A second aspect is how to fully understand and ensure the preservation of technologies, to allow reconstruction, repair, innovation… This requires an in-depth understanding of how things work, accurate and comprehensive recording, and the forward transmission across the generations of practical skills.
In reality, as industries come and go, so critical knowledge can be lost or may have to be relearned. This is where the museum community and libraries play such an important role – their activities should target many operational levels. Information storage too needs to be in many different forms from the written word to dynamic, 3D images via the skills of master craftsmen that we label as experience or even muscle memory.
This talk will highlight what organisations like the International Commission on Glass and ICOM with their broad international perspective are able to offer, the role they have in shaping the future of glass in Society and some specific outcomes of the 2022 International Year of Glass.

The presentation will look at the options for the glass industry to decarbonise by investigating all fuel options in melting and forming. The presentation will give examples on what has been achieved so far and what more can be done. It will discuss large scale electric furnace melting and especially show how a recent installation on a glass forehearth has cut energy use by nearly 90% and eliminated carbon dioxide from the process if the electricity is green.