Turkish industry giant joins Glass Futures to deliver R&D investment into UK
Turkish glass giant, Şişecam, has joined the St Helens-based Glass Futures initiative, which opened in June 2023.
The £54m Glass Futures Global Centre of Excellence aims to deliver industry and government-backed research and development projects focused on decarbonising the glass and foundation industries.
Now, in a significant boost to the Turkish and UK sectors as well as the wider international glass communities, Şişecam has become a strategic member of Glass Futures.
As the only global company operating in all core areas of glass manufacture, Şişecam joins Glass Futures’ membership of international flat glass, hollow glass and fibre glass producers working alongside major brands, technology suppliers, associations, academia and leading users of glass towards the common goal of achieving sustainable and zero carbon glass production.
A signing ceremony was held at Şişecam’s headquarters with Carl Spychal, Head of Economics and Prosperity at British Consulate General Istanbul, and Pinar Celikcan, Head of Science and Innovation Network at the British Embassy Ankara, in attendance alongside senior members of the Şişecam and Glass Futures management teams.
Jill Morris, British Ambassador to Türkiye, said: “Building on our shared knowledge, innovation, and determination and uniting our efforts through joint initiatives such as these, we can drive forward sustainable solutions that will benefit future generations and ensure a resilient planet for all.”
With capacity to produce the equivalent of 60,000 wine bottles and 4km of flat glass daily, the 15,000 sqm Glass Futures plant features trailblazing technology.
Justin Kelly, Glass Futures CEO, said: “As one of the world’s leading producers of glass packaging, flat glass and glassware, we look forward to welcoming Şişecam to Glass Futures’ industrial scale pilot plant where key industry stakeholders will experiment with alternative low carbon fuels.
“Şişecam’s strategic membership provides a significant boost to the UK industry by means of overseas R&D investment, as well as advancing the common sustainability and decarbonisation goals of Glass Futures’ wider international membership.”
Şişecam CEO, Görkem Elverici, said: “We are proud to become a strategic member of Glass Futures. The collaborative technologies we will develop together will further enhance our environmentally-friendly and sustainable production capabilities.
“These collective efforts will serve as a driving force in achieving our 2050 carbon-neutral commitment.”
