Glass defines our lives in many areas, whether as container glass, in architecture, medicine, telecommunications, optics, the automotive and textile industries or in high-tech products. However, the goal of achieving climate neutrality in the next ten years will be a race for survival for companies in the glass industry. This is because natural gas still supplies more than three quarters of the energy required for production. This means that 450 kilograms of carbon dioxide, which is harmful to the climate, are produced per tonne of saleable glass. Without the use of cullet made from recycled glass in addition to sand and carbonates, experts have calculated that the figure is as high as 550 kilograms.

This is why the "Quali-Glas" junior research group at TU Bergakademie Freiberg is conducting interdisciplinary research into alternatives. The project involves the practical training and promotion of six young scientists. Key topics will be integrated into the developing GlasCampus Torgau network, the Bergakademie's Centre for Efficient High-Temperature Material Conversion and courses. Torgau will play a decisive role as a centre of the glass industry. According to initial results, solutions for new raw materials in glass production could include sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and fine cullet.

An essential building block towards climate neutrality is also the improvement of recycling, for example through the clean separation of used glass from disused cars. The institute is involved in a joint project to find innovative dismantling and intelligent sorting processes for glass. Research is also being conducted into the recovery of raw materials for glass production from residual and waste materials. The use of more electrical energy from green electricity could be another plus for the industry. The problem still to be solved is that the processes are based on gas. All-electric melting changes the manufacturing conditions, which means that glass colours change. The alternative use of microwaves or hydrogen is also being investigated.