O-I Glass Pioneers Sustainable Glassmaking with Successful Biofuel Trial
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI) has successfully completed a groundbreaking trial at its Harlow, UK plant, using 100% biofuel to replace natural gas in glass-making furnaces. The trial, part of the UK government's 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' program, demonstrated significant CO2 footprint reduction in amber bottle production through a combination of biofuel and advanced technologies.
The trial achieved success by implementing:
- Cullet pre-heating technology
- 88% cullet usage throughout the trial
- Oxy-fuel furnace operation
The company, which generated revenues of $6.5 billion in 2024, views this achievement as a potential scalable solution pending sufficient biofuel availability and feasible costs. The initiative, led in partnership with Glass Futures, represents O-I's commitment to decarbonizing glassmaking and advancing sustainable packaging solutions across its 69 plants in 19 countries.
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI) ha completato con successo un trial innovativo presso il suo stabilimento di Harlow, Regno Unito, utilizzando biocarburante al 100% per sostituire il gas naturale nei forni per la produzione di vetro. Il trial, parte del programma 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' del governo del Regno Unito, ha dimostrato una significativa riduzione dell'impronta di CO2 nella produzione di bottiglie di vetro ambrate grazie a una combinazione di biocarburante e tecnologie avanzate.
Il trial ha avuto successo implementando:
- tecnologia di pre-riscaldamento del cullet
- utilizzo dell'88% di cullet durante il trial
- operazione del forno a ossigeno
L'azienda, che ha generato ricavi di 6,5 miliardi di dollari nel 2024, considera questo risultato come una potenziale soluzione scalabile, a condizione che ci sia sufficiente disponibilità di biocarburante e costi sostenibili. L'iniziativa, condotta in collaborazione con Glass Futures, rappresenta l'impegno di O-I nella decarbonizzazione della produzione di vetro e nel progresso di soluzioni di imballaggio sostenibili attraverso i suoi 69 impianti in 19 paesi.
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI) ha completado con éxito una prueba innovadora en su planta de Harlow, Reino Unido, utilizando biocombustible al 100% para reemplazar el gas natural en los hornos de fabricación de vidrio. La prueba, parte del programa 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' del gobierno del Reino Unido, demostró una reducción significativa de la huella de CO2 en la producción de botellas de vidrio ámbar mediante una combinación de biocombustible y tecnologías avanzadas.
La prueba fue exitosa al implementar:
- tecnología de precalentamiento de cullet
- uso del 88% de cullet durante la prueba
- operación de horno de oxígeno
La empresa, que generó ingresos de 6.5 mil millones de dólares en 2024, ve este logro como una solución escalable potencial, siempre que haya suficiente disponibilidad de biocombustible y costos viables. La iniciativa, liderada en colaboración con Glass Futures, representa el compromiso de O-I con la descarbonización de la fabricación de vidrio y el avance de soluciones de embalaje sostenibles en sus 69 plantas en 19 países.
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI)는 영국 하로우에 있는 공장에서 100% 바이오 연료를 사용하여 유리 제조 용광로의 천연 가스를 대체하는 혁신적인 시험을 성공적으로 완료했습니다. 이 시험은 영국 정부의 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' 프로그램의 일환으로, 바이오 연료와 첨단 기술의 조합을 통해 호박색 병 생산에서 CO2 배출량을 크게 줄였음을 보여주었습니다.
시험은 다음과 같은 방법으로 성공을 거두었습니다:
- 컬렛 예열 기술
- 시험 기간 동안 88%의 컬렛 사용
- 산소 연료 용광로 운영
2024년에 65억 달러의 수익을 올린 이 회사는 충분한 바이오 연료의 가용성과 합리적인 비용이 뒷받침된다면 이 성과를 확장 가능한 솔루션으로 보고 있습니다. Glass Futures와의 협력으로 진행된 이 이니셔티브는 O-I의 유리 제조 탈탄소화와 19개국 69개 공장에서 지속 가능한 포장 솔루션을 발전시키려는 의지를 나타냅니다.
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI) a réussi à mener un essai révolutionnaire dans son usine de Harlow, au Royaume-Uni, en utilisant 100 % de biocarburant pour remplacer le gaz naturel dans les fours de fabrication de verre. Cet essai, qui fait partie du programme 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio' du gouvernement britannique, a démontré une réduction significative de l'empreinte carbone dans la production de bouteilles en verre ambré grâce à une combinaison de biocarburant et de technologies avancées.
L'essai a réussi grâce à la mise en œuvre de :
- technologie de préchauffage du cullet
- utilisation de 88 % de cullet pendant l'essai
- fonctionnement de four à oxygène
L'entreprise, qui a généré des revenus de 6,5 milliards de dollars en 2024, considère cette réalisation comme une solution potentiellement évolutive, sous réserve d'une disponibilité suffisante de biocarburant et de coûts viables. L'initiative, menée en collaboration avec Glass Futures, représente l'engagement d'O-I en faveur de la décarbonisation de la fabrication du verre et de l'avancement de solutions d'emballage durables dans ses 69 usines réparties dans 19 pays.
O-I Glass (NYSE: OI) hat erfolgreich einen bahnbrechenden Versuch in seinem Werk in Harlow, Großbritannien, abgeschlossen, bei dem 100% Biokraftstoff verwendet wurde, um Erdgas in Glasproduktionsöfen zu ersetzen. Der Versuch, Teil des 'Net Zero Innovation Portfolio'-Programms der britischen Regierung, zeigte eine signifikante Reduzierung des CO2-Fußabdrucks in der Produktion von bernsteinfarbenen Flaschen durch eine Kombination aus Biokraftstoff und fortschrittlichen Technologien.
Der Versuch war erfolgreich durch die Implementierung von:
- Technologie zur Vorwärmung von Cullets
- 88% Cullets-Nutzung während des Versuchs
- Betrieb von Sauerstoffbrennern
Das Unternehmen, das im Jahr 2024 6,5 Milliarden US-Dollar Umsatz generierte, sieht diesen Erfolg als potenziell skalierbare Lösung, vorausgesetzt, es gibt genügend Verfügbarkeit von Biokraftstoff und tragbare Kosten. Die Initiative, die in Partnerschaft mit Glass Futures geleitet wird, stellt O-Is Engagement für die Dekarbonisierung der Glasherstellung und die Förderung nachhaltiger Verpackungslösungen in seinen 69 Werken in 19 Ländern dar.
- Successful demonstration of 100% biofuel usage in glass production
- Significant CO2 footprint reduction achieved in amber bottle production
- Technical viability proven for large-scale implementation
- Strong revenue performance with $6.5 billion in 2024
- Full-scale implementation dependent on biofuel availability and cost feasibility
- to trial phase, not yet implemented across full operations
Insights
O-I Glass's successful biofuel trial represents a significant technical milestone in glass manufacturing decarbonization efforts. The combined approach—utilizing 100% biofuel with cullet pre-heating,
What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is overcoming the technical challenges of replacing natural gas entirely with biofuel at industrial scale. Glass manufacturing requires precisely controlled high temperatures (typically 1500-1600°C), and maintaining consistent production quality while changing fuel sources is technically complex.
However, the company's careful language about implementation being contingent on biofuel availability "in sufficient quantities and at a feasible cost" highlights the current practical limitations. Biofuel supply chains remain underdeveloped for industrial applications of this scale, and cost premiums persist compared to natural gas.
While the environmental benefits are clear, this represents an incremental rather than revolutionary advancement within glass manufacturing's sustainability journey. The company has proven technical feasibility without yet demonstrating economic viability at scale across their global operations.
For context, glass manufacturing typically produces 0.6-0.8 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of glass produced. A significant reduction in this carbon intensity could substantially impact O-I's overall emissions profile, especially considering their global production volume.
This biofuel trial positions O-I Glass favorably within the increasingly ESG-conscious packaging sector, though with immediate financial impact. As a
The strategic value lies in three areas: regulatory preparedness, customer relationships, and potential cost management. European carbon pricing mechanisms and regulations increasingly penalize carbon-intensive manufacturing, making decarbonization technologies potential regulatory cost avoidance measures. Major beverage brands—O-I's primary customers—have established aggressive packaging sustainability targets, making supplier environmental performance increasingly procurement-relevant.
However, the announcement lacks quantification of implementation costs, timeline for broader rollout, or expected ROI. The careful language about waiting for biofuels to become available "at a feasible cost" signals economic hurdles remain substantial.
This development should be viewed within O-I's broader competitive context. While leading in scale, O-I faces margin pressures from alternative packaging materials and sustainability expectations. This innovation helps defend glass's inherent sustainability advantage (infinite recyclability) while addressing its primary environmental weakness (energy-intensive production).
For investors, this represents a prudent strategic position rather than a transformative breakthrough—O-I is demonstrating technological readiness without committing to potentially uneconomical near-term investments.
- Achieved significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions using
100% biofuel - Successfully demonstrated the technical viability of using biofuel at scale
- Trial was part of the UK government's "Net Zero Innovation Portfolio" program
PERRYSBURG, Ohio /HARLOW, United Kingdom,, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- -- O-I Glass, Inc. (“O-I Glass” or “O-I”) has recently successfully completed a groundbreaking trial in its plant in Harlow, UK, using
Key Highlights:
- Significant Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By combining biofuel with advanced technologies such as cullet pre-heating,
88% cullet usage throughout the entire trial period, and an oxy-fuel furnace, the Harlow plant achieved a significant reduction in the CO2 footprint for the amber bottles produced. - Technical Viability: The trial at O-I's Harlow plant has demonstrated the potential for using biofuel on a large scale. This successful trial indicates that O-I could implement this solution when biofuels become available in sufficient quantities and at a feasible cost for full-scale production.
“Our participation in this program is a testament to our unwavering dedication to driving positive change in the industry. The successful completion of the trial in Harlow has proven the feasibility of alternative fuels and has the potential to open up exciting new opportunities for the industry.” said Randy Burns, Chief Administrative & Sustainability Officer for O-I. “Glass is already recognized as the ideal sustainable packaging material, and our job is to integrate innovative approaches with efficient processes to further decarbonize glassmaking. By doing so, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable and economically viable future for the entire industry.”
This project underscores O-I's dedication to continually innovate and unlock new sustainability opportunities.
About O-I GLASS
At O-I Glass, Inc. (NYSE: OI), we love glass, and we are proud to be one of the leading producers of glass bottles and jars around the globe. Glass is not only beautiful, it is also pure, healthy, and completely recyclable, making it the most sustainable rigid packaging material. Headquartered in Perrysburg, Ohio (USA), O-I is the preferred partner for many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. We innovate in line with customers’ needs to create iconic packaging that builds brands around the world. Led by our diverse team of approximately 21,000 people across 69 plants in 19 countries, O-I achieved revenues of
Jim Woods Corporate Affairs James.Woods@o-i.com
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