Statement on the International Year of Glass: Our Future Is Glass

Statement on the International Year of Glass: Our Future is Glass Semavi Yorgancılar, CEO of Yorglass, commenting on the United Nations' declaration of 2022 as the International Year of Glass, highlighted how important glass is from a sustainability perspective. Yorgancılar stated, "Our future is glass, and glass will continue to play a leading role in every technology to be developed in the world, in every production to be made, in art and science, thanks to its characteristics as a healthy and sustainable product." Glass, a leading healthy and sustainable material, is becoming increasingly important every day for a better future. Yorglass CEO Semavi Yorgancılar noted that glass will gain even greater significance in the coming period and said that they have increased their activities. Yorgancılar assessed the United Nations' (UN) decision to declare 2022 as the International Year of Glass and stated that glass is positioned at the centre of sustainability efforts worldwide.

Glass in Every Field, from Factories to Offices

Noting that glass is the most efficiently recycled product, Yorgancılar stated: "The declaration of 2022 as the International Year of Glass will strengthen the public's relationship with glass. Within this scope, while work on science and innovation to be supported will bring new technologies and products to the sector, glass's sustainability characteristics will also be highlighted. The rapidly increasing use of plastic in recent years carries major risks for both human health and the environment. Glass, produced from raw materials found entirely in nature, contributes to the environment and provides energy savings. Glass is a material increasingly preferred over single-use plastic consumption and supports a circular economy; it is used in many areas from factories to offices. Because it can be recycled infinitely without compromising quality, it plays an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Glass, which ranks among the important inputs of every sector, is a product that touches nearly every moment of human life," he said.

An Advantage for the Circular Economy

Yorgancılar stated that glass is one of the most advantageous industrial products when it comes to sustainability, one of the most important agenda items for the entire world in recent years. Yorgancılar said: "Our future is glass, and glass will continue to play a leading role in every technology to be developed in the world, in every production to be made, in art and science, thanks to its characteristics as a healthy and sustainable product. It is virtually the only material in the world that has an infinite lifespan and is both reusable and infinitely recyclable. In this respect, it is of great importance for circular economies. It reduces waste and carbon dioxide emissions, and provides raw material savings," he said. Stating that the glass industry is among the sectors where innovation and R&D are conducted most effectively and efficiently, Yorgancılar said: "A series of next-generation performance solutions are being developed to further increase the potential benefits of glass in white goods and buildings. Thanks to its unique properties, glass stands at the most advanced point of technology, and this characteristic will become much more pronounced in the future. The rapid development of modern technology clearly shows us that there is no limit to how much the glass industry can grow. In this context, 2022 is a significant milestone. Therefore, 2022 being recognized as the Year of Glass will provide the sector with greater productivity, quality, transparency and sustainability awareness in glass production," he said.

A Sustainable Future

Noting that they are signatories to the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), Yorgancılar continued: "In this respect, we are unique in our sector. As a reliable and global supplier, we deliver our products to 60 countries. While our market share in Turkey has risen to 50 per cent, we are present in one in every four homes in Europe. I am proud to state that sustainability is positioned at the foundation of all our activities. We care about energy efficiency and our environmental impacts, and we will continue to work with all our might to further reduce our carbon emissions," he said.