Cited by 171Climate Change Policy and EconomicsEnergy Efficiency and ManagementEnvironmental Impact and Sustainability

Decarbonizing the glass industry: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options

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Furszyfer Del Rio, Dylan D., Sovacool, Benjamin K., Foley, Aoife M., Griffiths, Steve, Bazilian, Morgan, Kim, Jinsoo, Rooney, David·2022·Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Abstract

Glass is a material inextricably linked with human civilization. It is also the product of an energy intensive industry . About 75%–85% of the total energy requirements to produce glass occur when the raw materials are heated in a furnace to more than 1500 °C. During this process, large volumes of emissions arise. The container and flat glass industries, which combined account for 80% of total glass production, emit over 60 million tonne of CO 2 per year. However, environmental issues relating to the glass industry are not just limited to the manufacturing stage, but also from raw materials extraction, which impacts local ecosystems and creates other environmental challenges associated with tailing ponds , waste disposal and landfills. This systematic review poses five questions to examine these issues and themes: What alternatives exist to abate the climate effects of glass and thus make the full life cycle of glass more sustainable? What are the key determinants of energy and carbon from glass? What technical innovations have been identified to make glass manufacturing low to zero carbon? What benefits will amass from more carbon-friendly process in glass manufacturing, and what barriers will need tackling? To examine these questions, this study presents the findings of a comprehensive and critical systematic review of 701 studies (and a shorter sample of 375 studies examined in depth). A sociotechnical lens is used to assess glass manufacturing and use across multiple sectors (including buildings, automotive manufacturing, construction, electronics, and renewable energy), and options to decarbonize. The study identifies a number of barriers ranging from financial to infrastructural capacity, along with high potential avenues for future research.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111885

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  • Impediments to the glass industry's decarbonization include a shortage of capital, fluctuating energy prices, and unreliable infrastructure.

    “Additionally, the study identified impediments to the glass industry’s decarbonization, including a shortage of capital, fluctuating energy prices, and unreliable infrastructure.”

    From Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review (2022) · cites this paper as Furszyfer Del Rio et al. 2022

  • The container and flat glass industries alone release over 60 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

    “Another study examined the glass manufacturing sector and its decarbonization process, noting that the container and flat glass industries alone release over 60 million tonnes of CO2 per year and that around 75–85% of energy is used to heat raw materials in a furnace (Furszyfer Del Rio et al. 2022).”

    From Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review (2022) · cites this paper as Furszyfer Del Rio et al. 2022

  • Around 75-85% of energy in glass manufacturing is used to heat raw materials in a furnace.

    “Another study examined the glass manufacturing sector and its decarbonization process, noting that the container and flat glass industries alone release over 60 million tonnes of CO2 per year and that around 75–85% of energy is used to heat raw materials in a furnace (Furszyfer Del Rio et al. 2022).”

    From Strategies to achieve a carbon neutral society: a review (2022) · cites this paper as Furszyfer Del Rio et al. 2022

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Authors
Furszyfer Del Rio, D. D., Sovacool, B. K., Foley, A. M., Griffiths, S., Bazilian, M., Kim, J., & Rooney, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Sussex (GB)
  • Queen's University Belfast (GB)
  • Khalifa University of Science and Technology (AE)
  • Colorado School of Mines (US)
  • Hanyang University (KR)
Corresponding author
Sovacool, Benjamin K.
Venue
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-03
Volume
155
Pages
111885
ISSN
1364-0321 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4200140650
Cited by
171
References
215
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 11
FWCI
4.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • Sussex Research Online (University of Sussex) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
  • Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • European Commission
  • Queen's University Belfast
  • Queen's University
  • Interreg
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Climate Change Policy and Economics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Energy Efficiency and Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Keywords
glassmaking, CO2 emissions, energy consumption, container glass, flat glass, life cycle sustainability, carbon abatement, socio-technical systems, climate policy options, barriers to decarbonization, raw material extraction, tailings ponds, waste disposal

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