THEEuropean container glass industry presented a historical report: the first comprehensive investigation into the path of decarbonization of the sector. The document provides a detailed overview of the actions taken to reduce emissions, accompanied by a dedicated section on the website FEVE which includes an interactive map with more than 90 case studies of decarbonisation initiatives in Europe.
The report reflects the commitment of the container glass sector towards circularity and carbon neutrality, a goal impossible to achieve without ongoing collaboration with other stakeholders.
The importance of access to low-carbon energy
Rapid and affordable access to sustainable energy sources is a key element in achieving Net Zero by 2050. Today, nearly 80% of industry's direct carbon emissions come from burning natural gas, making the shift to low-carbon energy sources urgent. However, it should be noted that more than 90% of the packaging of glass produced in the European Union is made by companies that have joined the Science-Based Targets initiative.
Political support and economic commitment
To ensure that the transition to greener technologies can be effective, access to adequate financial instruments is needed. Glass furnaces, with a lifespan of around 10-15 years and an annual replacement rate of 7-10%, will need to be progressively replaced with new low-carbon technologies. This process requires timely intervention to ensure that the sector reaches its decarbonisation target.
The glass container industry invests over 600 million euros every year to meet the demands of innovation and eco-responsibility. However, to achieve zero emissions by 2050, approximately 20 billion euros of additional capital expenditure to upgrade production technologies and adopt low-emission solutions. This estimate does not include potential increases in operating costs resulting from the use of sustainable energy sources.
A pillar of the European economy
The container glass sector has 162 plants in Europe and approximately 125.000 direct and indirect jobs, contributing over 140 billion euros to EU exports. Finally, it should not be ignored that the success of the sector is strategic for industries that are essential for the competitiveness of the European secondary sector in the world, such as pharmaceutica, food & beverage, perfumery and cosmetics.
Source: glassonline.com
