The Opening of the 2022 International Year of Glass Took Place in Geneva

International Year of Glass 2022 Inauguration Takes Place in Geneva

In a world where the importance of sustainability is increasingly recognized and adopted, glass's strategic role in ensuring a healthy future is coming to the forefront. In 2022, the United Nations declared the year as the "International Year of Glass" with contributions from Şişecam to draw attention to this important role of glass, humanity's greatest solution partner throughout history. The inauguration of the 2022 International Year of Glass took place at an event held at the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland between 9–11 February.

Şişecam Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman: "We have collectively lit the first torch of the Glass Year, which will increase global awareness about glass that we know will be one of the most strategic materials of the future with its focus on sustainability and its properties that continue to add value to human life. There is no doubt that glass, which is already indispensable with its traditional uses, will be a fundamental component of many different and new applications in the future thanks to its unique transparency, formability, hardness, low cost, availability and sustainability properties. As stakeholders in the glass sector, it is all of our responsibility to bring glass's irreplaceable contributions to every area where it can enter and expand its benefits.

Targeting recovery of glass from every area where it is used is among the most important opportunities for our planet in combating climate change. We continue to advance our 2030 sustainability 'Carefornext' strategy based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which we have shaped in accordance with the changing problems and needs of societies and our planet, in line with our focus areas of 'Protecting the Planet', 'Empowering Society' and 'Transforming Lives'. Through the steps we take, we are boldly assuming responsibility to protect, strengthen and transform our ecosystem. This understanding and sense of responsibility form the foundation of the intensive efforts Şişecam undertook towards the declaration of 2022 as the International Year of Glass by the United Nations. Şişecam has supported the '2022 UN International Year of Glass' objective from the outset and has continued its support efforts with all stakeholders. Throughout the year, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to grow global focus on glass" he said.

In an atmosphere where the importance of sustainability is increasingly recognized and adopted, 2022 was declared the "International Year of Glass" by the United Nations with significant contributions from Şişecam to draw attention to glass's role in the development of sustainable societies. The inauguration of the International Year of Glass, which encompasses awareness and education activities to be conducted worldwide throughout 2022, took place between 9–11 February at the United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland. Şişecam was among the main sponsors of the event organized by the International Commission on Glass (ICG), which featured leading representatives of the global glass industry. At the event, where Şişecam Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman delivered the closing remarks, Şişecam Glass Technologies Director İlkay Sökmen also gave a presentation on innovative products developed by Şişecam scientists and the contributions these products provide to numerous sectors from health to agriculture.

Şişecam Chairman of the Board of Directors Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman, who delivered the closing remarks at the International Year of Glass inauguration event, stated that glass, which has added value to the development of civilizations and human life from past to present, will be one of the most strategic materials of the future with its sustainability-focused properties, and said: "Şişecam, one of the few companies that comes to mind when the world thinks of glass today, was founded 86 years ago in 1935 under the vision and direction of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. On that day, Şişecam, one of the most concrete initiatives of the young Republic's industry-based development efforts, continued its value-generating growth over the years and transformed into a globally strong company. Today, we have expanded our operations to 14 countries. While we take pride in the value we have created, we also carry our changing and deepening responsibilities towards future generations."

"Having a Material Like Glass That is 100 Per Cent and Infinitely Recyclable is One of Humanity's Greatest Opportunities"

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman noted that glass's history dates back 5,000 years and that glass manufacturing is considered one of the most important developments and key supporters of modern human history. He said, "The perception of glass has advanced tremendously with groundbreaking innovations over the past 2 centuries. Progress in glass technology has supported meeting the fundamental needs of modern society in critical areas such as architecture, transportation, pharmaceuticals, energy, communications, agriculture and imaging technologies. There is no doubt that glass, which is already indispensable with its traditional uses, will be a fundamental component of many different and new applications in the future thanks to its unique transparency, formability, hardness, low cost, availability and sustainability properties."

Noting that with the global pandemic beginning in 2019 the world has entered an entirely new era, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman continued: "Having a material like glass that is 100 per cent and infinitely recyclable is one of humanity's greatest opportunities. On this occasion, it is important to recall that glass supported humanity's efforts in every field through innovative products and technologies such as the V-Block antimicrobial coating technology developed by Şişecam during the pandemic, which is effective against viruses and bacteria on glass surfaces. Glass's endless development potential is proof of how important a position glass will hold in the future. As stakeholders in the glass sector, it is all of our responsibility to bring glass's irreplaceable contributions to every area where it can enter and expand its benefits."

"Glass Recovery is an Important Opportunity in Combating Climate Change"

Emphasizing that Şişecam is aware of the responsibilities that come with being the only global company operating in all fundamental areas of glass in the world and that it is impossible to ignore the alarm bells ringing from many different parts of the world, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman said that the world can only achieve circularity at a rate of 8.6 per cent today and that glass is the material with the greatest opportunities in this regard due to its circularity. Kırman continued: "Targeting recovery of glass from every area where it is used is among the most important opportunities for our planet in combating climate change.

We continue to advance our glass legacy in line with our focus areas of 'protecting the planet', 'empowering society' and 'transforming lives' through our 2030 sustainability 'Carefornext' strategy based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which we have shaped in accordance with the changing problems and needs of societies and our planet. Within the framework of our 'Transform Lives' claim, which is another important focus of our strategy, we will continue to increase our sustainable solutions addressing the changing needs of our planet and societies. Developing our existing products through life cycle analysis-based studies will be an important part of our sustainability goals. Due to its structure and value-added properties, glass contains tremendous diversity and richness that directly serves the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

We are conducting many activities with these objectives in mind, from solutions for energy-efficient glass in the use phase, supplying glass fibres for wind turbine input and promoting transition to low-e glass. We are taking steps in many areas such as advanced furnace control technologies, recovering glass back into the cycle, generating electricity from renewable sources in our facilities for self-consumption and supporting intensive R&D work on innovative furnace technologies. We are also continuing our science-based target-setting work to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees."

Expressing that through the steps they are taking they are boldly assuming responsibility to protect, strengthen and transform the ecosystem, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman said, "This understanding and sense of responsibility form the foundation of the intensive efforts Şişecam undertook towards the declaration of 2022 as the International Year of Glass by the UN. As an active member of the ICG, which is positioned as the world's most respected authority in glass science, Şişecam has supported the '2022 UN International Year of Glass' objective from the outset and has continued its support efforts with all stakeholders. Şişecam will continue to accelerate its efforts to grow global focus on glass throughout the year. We take great pride in playing a pioneering role in the development of a special material like glass that has been one of humanity's greatest helpers from past to present while answering the world's development needs without diminishing from it.

We view glass not only as a business area but also as service to humanity and economic development. We take justifiable pride in operating in the glass sector, which provides high employment and plays a critical role in the development of many industries. On this occasion, I would like to thank on behalf of all of us every stakeholder who contributes to glass development and transformation, from workers working close to heat around the world to engineers designing furnaces, from academics generating projects for glass development to associations emphasizing its importance.

The history of humanity is also shaped by the tools humanity comes into contact with. In this respect, we are at the right time to increase awareness about glass's important role in the development of human intellect, language and culture. We remain committed to assuming responsibility for pioneering both humanity's and our sector's contribution to human life. It is the responsibility of all of us to leave a sustainable world like glass to future generations, and as Şişecam we will never shy away from doing what is necessary in this regard."