Industry strives for net zero

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Professionals from across the glass supply chain and wider have come together to discuss the industry’s aim to achieve net zero by 2050.

Across two events, over 120 delegates joined British Glass to support the development of the new net zero strategy.

During the first online event, speakers - Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Paro Konar, Director of Industrial Energy from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy – shared presentations on the challenges industry face to achieve the government’s net zero target announced as part of the climate change act in 2019.

The second event focused more closely on the work being undertaken by the glass industry to achieve the targets, with presentations from Antonia Mattos, Principal consultant at Element Energy, Rob Ireson of Glass Futures and David Cast, Climate change director at NSG.

Paul Pearcy, Senior Environmental Adviser at British Glass said, “In 2019 the UK government set a legally binding target to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050 and the glass industry is going to have to change dramatically to meet this target.

“In order to achieve this, we need to be very clear to government on the changes required for net zero. Ensuring policy changes do not lead to carbon leakages and the loss of manufacturing in the UK – government need to support the industry with policy recommendations.

“Together with industry, British Glass is developing the sector’s net zero strategy which will provide an industry overview, fuel options and barriers and policy recommendations.

“The target will be extremely challenging for the glass sector given the uncertainty in the future policy and energy landscape and the long investment cycles associated with furnace technologies. As the glass industry we have a huge responsibility in achieving net zero with a major part to play in circular economy and decarbonisation, so it is important we get this right.”

For further information or to support British Glass’ work to achieve net zero contact p.pearcy@britglass.co.uk  

Catch up on the net zero webinars:

The outlook for net zero

Net zero in the glass industry