Glass futures Is a UK-based yet globally reaching non-profit researching the production of more sustainable glass.

Glass Futures is working with the global glass industry and the supply chain to develop the technologies to revolutionise glass manufacturing.

Glass Futures provides:

• R&D technical advice
• Innovation Funding
• Networking
• Training and Development

Projects of key interest include:

1. Development of alternative fuel technologies
2. Robotic operations and automation
3. Heat recovery, abatement and CCUS demonstrations
4. Secondary raw materials for a circular economy
5. Raw material and cullet processing technology
6. New compositions and treatments
7. Industry 4.0 applications
8. Next generation refractories
9. Inspection equipment and sensors

Glass Futures is creating a Global Centre of Excellence to make glass the low carbon material of choice, including a new glassmaking Pilot Plant facility in St Helens, United Kingdom, to provide a Global Centre of Excellence for sustainable manufacture of glass.

The centre of excellence tackles projects such as: Development of alternative fuel technologies, robotic operations and automation, heat recovery, abatement and CCUS demonstrations, secondary raw materials for a circular economy, raw material and cullet processing technology, new compositions and treatments, industry 4.0 applications, next generation refractories, inspection equipment and sensors.

Additionally, it conducts R&D for the global glass sector. Innovations include:

1. Industrial Fuel Switching
2. Deployment of End-to-End Process (DEEP) Control
3. Transforming Foundation Industries Fast Start projects (UKRI): EnviroAsh, BOS Slag, PowerCO2, Catalytic Conversion of Methane to Hydrogen

Glass futures has approximately 85 members, to name a few - Bormioli pharma, British glass, calumite, Diageo, Enciric, Guardian glass, Heineken, Magma, NSG, RHI Magnesita, Siemens…