“The most significant step yet towards achieving
climate-neutral glass packaging throughout Europe.”
Brands and retailers alike have committed to ambitious sustainability goals, and as a material we use every day, glass packaging is playing a big part in this transition.
Based on pioneering innovation, the Furnace for the Future (F4F) will enable glass producers to melt 350 tonnes of amber and recycled glass together every day – making this large-scale electric furnace the first of its kind in the world. This project is the result of the combined efforts of more than 19 glass manufacturers in the EU, representing over 90% of the glass container sector in the region.
Once operational, the Furnace for the Future will enable the glass industry to switch to renewable electricity and reduce CO2 emissions by 60%. Initially, the furnace will run on 80% renewable electricity and 20% fossil fuels, which will later be replaced by greener energies (such as hydrogen or biofuels).
This breakthrough technology will transform glass packaging production, making it truly fit for the green future. Customers around the world will then be able to showcase the unlimited sustainable benefits of glass packaging, making consumer choice even clearer.
Learn more about the Furnace for the Future and how it’s helping to build a stronger, more competitive and environmentally-friendly industry.
Benefit the whole European container glass sector
For the first time, our industry will collectively fund and develop a technological innovation and prove its commercial viability. The European and Global container glass manufacturer Ardagh Group has volunteered to lead a coalition of 19 independent companies representing over 90% of the total glass container production in Europe (more than 80 billion containers yearly). Ardagh Group will build the F4F and run it in Obernkirchen, Lower Saxony, Germany. The other glass companies will co-finance the project, and in return, will receive all the necessary information (plant visits, training of operators, operating parameters) to run similar plants. This will ensure an efficient dissemination of the know-how and results to support scalability and roll-out at sector level. See the letter of endorsement of the Industry Coalition of FEVE Founding Members.
Significantly reduce CO2 emissions
The F4F technology will cut direct furnace CO2 emissions by 60%, and those of the whole installation by 50% as we replace 80% of the natural gas with renewable electricity. The potential CO2 reduction of this innovation is even higher if it can be subsequently combined with other innovative sources of energy such as hydrogen or biogas.
Be the world’s first
Building a large-scale 350 tonnes/day hybrid electric furnace, able to melt reduced (=amber) glass together with high levels of recycled glass, has no precedent.
Significantly Directly produce glass containers for the commercial markets
To test both the technical and market efficiency, the F4F will operate on a commercial basis. In this way, the path to rolling out the technology will be much shorter. The ambition is to build the F4F by 2022, with first results in 2023.
‘Close the Glass Loop’ is an industry platform to unite the glass collection and recycling value chain, and to establish a material stewardship programme that will result in more bottle-to-bottle recycling. We aim to increase the quantity and quality of available recycled glass – so that people don’t just recycle, but recycle more and better.
The glass industry is making great strides in sustainability, responsible production and consumption, and technological innovation. Here are just a few of the ways we’re delivering on our commitment to a greener future:
recyclable, in a closed loop system – that’s glass packaging!
of all glass is currently recycled in the EU.
average EU collection rate of used glass packaging – our ambition by 2030.
The CO2 reduction in the glass packaging industry over the last 40 years.
of Europe’s glass packaging industry has jointly developed the Furnace for the Future.
of CO2 emissions from glass furnaces will be reduced after launching the F4F.
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