A SERIES of virtual business events are to give an insight into the world’s first Global Centre of Excellence for glass coming to St Helens, which is set to decarbonise the glass industry.

The facility is set to connect the glass industry and academia to deliver exportable R&D and innovation, as well as training and up-skilling opportunities, ensuring glass making’s future is built on sustainable, recyclable, carbon-zero products.

Glass Futures, the not-for-profit research and technology organisation, has secured more than £30 million in funding from national, regional and local Government plus £20 million investment committed from industry to support the groundbreaking facility to be based at former United Glass site, which is adjacent to Saints' Totally Wicked stadium..

The company has also secured more than £8 million funding to progress a range of other cutting edge R&D developments for the glass sector, including the exploration of low carbon fuels such as hydrogen and biofuels in glass making, alongside the development of new raw materials and new furnace technologies, all of which will help to further reduce the carbon footprint of glass products to help the industry meet it’s 2050 decarbonisation targets.

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Glass Futures will hold a series of open access virtual collaborative and interactive workshops to provide information about the proposals, how the centre of excellence will benefit glass manufacturing, technology suppliers and end users, the carbon saving opportunity and how up-skilling and training will be delivered within this safe environment.

Aston Fuller, General Manager of Glass Futures, explains: “This Government investment into the Glass Futures Centre of Excellence will transform our industry. No one single manufacturer, no matter how large, can explore the ideal technological solutions the sector needs to evolve, but together we can.

“Glass Futures is a collaborative project and inclusion, input and expertise from the wider industry is vital. We want to work closely with suppliers, manufacturers, contractors and product users to ensure we can best respond to the industry needs, as well as delivering solutions that advance us towards the net zero carbon goal.”

The events will be held on:

• Wednesday, January 27 2pm – 3.30pm

• Wednesday, February, 24 2pm – 3.30pm

• Wednesday, March 31 2 – 3.30pm

To find out more or to register for any of the sessions please visit: eventbrite.co.uk/e/glass-futures-open-design-events-tickets-132538350775