NEWS

Corning Incorporated, one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, recently joined Glass Futures to support the organization in its efforts to decarbonize the glass manufacturing industry. Glass Futures brings together organizations of all sizes, from around the world, working with the ceramics, steel, paper, chemicals, glass, and metal setors who share the same challenges for reaching net zero. Given Corning’s long, pioneering histort in glass and ceramics, Glass Futures was keen to have Corning join its 35 member companies in supporting its mission to deliver a sustainable future enabled by materials science.

Corning joins Glass Futures at an opportune time, with the organization set to move into its new £54m Global Center of Excellence in March. Glass Futures will use this glass melting facility to transform current manufacturing processes through trials to help decarbonize the global glass and ceramic industries.

“It’s through this membership, and by connecting global industry with academia and our ability to pilot new solutions at scale, that we can disrupt production methods and innovate low-carbon processes in carbon heavy industries worldwide,” Glass Futures Chief Executive Richard Katz said. “Corning understands the need to integrate sustainability into the innovation process with new products and is increasingly focused on reducing embodied carbon while continuing to invest in emerging technologies. We hope our research into natural gas replacement and biofuels will support them, and our wider membership, to use low-carbon fuel options.”

In recent years, Corning has accelerated its sustainability activity, including a more aggressive focus on renewable energy, reducing waste, and designing and manufacturing products with sustainable attributes in partnership with its stakeholders.

“Corning’s in-depth knowledge of glass science and materials processing will deepen Glass Futures’ existing expertise and enhance its ability to pilot low-carbon glass solutions that could be vital to our future,” said Dr. Dawne Moffatt-Fairbanks, director, thermal and materials engineering, Corning Incorporated. “In addition, the organization’s knowledge base will support Corning’s own efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Glass Futures is planning on officially opening its new Centre of Excellence this summer and is working to fire the first open-access 30-tonne per day experimental furnace, leveraging sustainable fuel sources, in early 2024. More information can be referenced HERE.

END

About Glass Futures:

A not-for-profit membership organisation, Glass Futures connects the global glass industry and academia to deliver R&D and innovation, ensuring glass making’s future is built on high value and fully sustainable, zero-carbon products.

Glass Futures in collaboration with the global glass industry is delivering the world’s first openly accessible, commercially available, multi-disciplinary glass melting facility, The Global Centre of Excellence in St Helens, UK with provision for research and development trials to decarbonise the global glass and foundation industries.

The 165,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility will be capable of producing up to 30 tonnes of glass per day in a purposefully designed research and development furnace. Members, researchers, and industry leaders will collaborate and experiment with different energy sources, raw materials and technologies to demonstrate solutions leading to sustainable energy usage in the glass-making process.

About Corning:
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in material science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping its customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.