AIRTO member Glass Futures is leading a global effort to make glass production cleaner and more sustainable. Based in St Helens, the organisation is revitalising the town’s proud glassmaking heritage by creating skilled jobs, supporting local businesses, and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Following a tour of the 165,000 sq. ft transformational R&D centre, Sir Keir Starmer addressed the Glass Futures workforce and said: “You can read a briefing in London, or you can come and see the workforce. You can come and see the people with the real skills and understand what they’re doing.
“I’ve got a really good sense of what you’re doing here, how you’re doing it, the incredible way in which you are doing it and how each of you are contributing in your own way.”
At the national level, it plays a key role in advancing the UK’s green industrial strategy by helping to reduce carbon emissions and promote cleaner manufacturing. Internationally, Glass Futures serves as a unique hub where global partners collaborate to develop and test low-carbon technologies that have the potential to transform not only the glass industry but other heavy industries as well.
