SCHOTT receives funding to develop climate-friendly glass production
24 November 2021, Mainz, Germany
- German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) grant supports technology change to reduce carbon emissions
- 5 million Euro grant funding will support research on glass melting using green electricity heating
- Grants will help SCHOTT make a considerable reduction in carbon emissions
The government subsidies will be used for two development projects that aim to replace the fossil fuel natural gas with electricity from renewable energy sources in heating the company’s glass melting units in the future. With the new technologies, SCHOTT plans to make a substantial reduction in its carbon emissions.
"Technological transformation is our greatest challenge on the path toward climate neutrality. It requires us to fundamentally rethink glass production and make some groundbreaking innovations. In particular, we are focusing on electrification through green electricity and hydrogen technology. The government research funding will help support our efforts in this area. That is why we are very grateful to have been awarded these grants," explained Dr. Frank Heinricht, Chairman of the Board of Management at SCHOTT.
The first development project focuses on the melting process for pharmaceutical glass, which is used, for example, in manufacturing the vials for COVID-19 vaccines. Here, the research funding amounts to around 784,000 Euros. The second project involves the melting process for specialty glass used in technical applications. Here, the grant amounts to 3.72 million Euros.
Specialty glass is melted at temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees Celsius. Because glass melting is a highly complex process, developing new technologies in this area is associated with big challenges.
SCHOTT wants to achieve the ambitious goal of climate neutrality through an action plan with four fields of action. In addition to technological change, these include continued improvement in energy efficiency, switching to 100 % green electricity, and compensating for any unavoidable residual emissions.
Pioneering – responsibly – together
These attributes characterize SCHOTT as a manufacturer of high-tech materials based on specialty glass. Founder Otto Schott is considered its inventor and became the pioneer of an entire industry. Always opening up new markets and applications with a pioneering spirit and passion – this is what has driven the #glasslovers at SCHOTT for more than 130 years. Represented in 34 countries, the company is a highly skilled partner for high-tech industries: Healthcare, Home Appliances & Living, Consumer Electronics, Semiconductors & Datacom, Optics, Industry & Energy, Automotive, Astronomy & Aerospace. In the fiscal year 2020, its 16,500 employees generated sales of 2.24 billion euros. With the best teams, supported by the best digital tools, the group intends to continue to grow. SCHOTT AG is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the oldest foundations in Germany. It uses the Group's dividends to promote science. As a foundation company, SCHOTT has anchored responsibility for employees, society and the environment deeply in its DNA. The goal is to become a climate-neutral company by 2030.
Salvatore Ruggiero
Vice President Marketing and Communication