On September 2 and 3, the Glass for Europe secretariat moved out of Brussels to the St Helens region in the United Kingdom for inspiring visits and meetings aiming at gearing up for a busy advocacy programme in the coming months.
During this trip, the Glass for Europe secretariat visited the Glass Futures facility in St Helens, the birthplace of modern British glass manufacturing. Glass Futures is a nonprofit Research and technology organisation with an impressive high-tech facility aimed at testing and demonstrating new technologies for glass making: from low-carbon energy inputs to alternative raw materials, use of AI tools, etc. By fostering cutting-edge research and connecting industrial players, Glass Futures is helping to drive technologies that are vital for the decarbonisation of flat glass production.
This visit underscored the importance of collaboration between the technical and scientific world on the one hand and the policy world on the other hand in creating conditions that are truly conducive to the industry’s sustainable advances. As ongoing debates on the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and energy policies continue, maintaining a robust dialogue between Glass for Europe and Glass Futures is essential both to inform policymaking and to drive research in technologies.
While in St Helens, the secretariat convened a strategic brainstorming session to reflect on ways to amplify its advocacy efforts and outreach. The team carefully reviewed current policy priorities, refined internal processes, and discussed approaches to be more impactful and visible on behalf of members. Efforts centred on improving communication, refining representation, and adjusting workstreams to stay agile and efficient in response to increasingly challenging regulatory and competitive pressures faced by the flat glass industry.
Taking advantage of the region’s rich glassmaking heritage, the secretariat cooled off with a visit to the World of Glass Museum of St Helens. Excellence in the European glass industry has shaped cities, communities and the world for centuries. This reality motivates everyone in the team to serve members’ immediate needs and maximise their impact in the short term.
Glass for Europe will stand up for the future of this industry more decisively than ever!
