Foundational Documents Approved
This month marks a defining moment in the ResponsibleGlass journey.
The Board has approved three foundational documents:
- Our ‘Vision and Mission’
- International Standards Development Procedures
- International Standard for Glassmaking – Terms of Reference
Together, these documents define how ResponsibleGlass will operate and how the standard will be developed.
We are proud to share our approved vision: A world where glass is made, used and reused responsibly – protecting people and the planet.
“Sustainability standards only build trust when the process behind them is rigorous and transparent. These foundational documents set out clearly how ResponsibleGlass will operate and how the standard will be developed.”— Matthew Wenban-Smith, ResponsibleGlass
You can access the documents here →
Coming Up: The Preliminary Draft Standard
With these foundations in place, we now move into the next phase.
At the end of this month, ResponsibleGlass will publish the first draft of the standard — a major step forward.
We look forward to sharing it with you.
Watch this space!
On Site with NSG Group
Matthew Wenban-Smith and Ali Lucas from the ResponsibleGlass team recently visited NSG Group, a Founding Member of ResponsibleGlass, in St. Helens.
We met NSG colleagues across Sustainability, Procurement, Manufacturing, Marketing and Communications to discuss silica sand, supply chains, circularity, greenhouse gas emissions, batch production data, automotive and architectural markets and much more.
The visit included site visits to NGF Europe, where we saw glass cord production, and the main NSG glass making facility at Greengate Works, where float glass and rolled glass are produced.
These on-the-ground insights are essential as we develop the new standard, and we look forward to further site visits with our members and supporters as the development of the standard progresses.
We thank the teams at NSG and NGF for their openness and hospitality.
Launching the Responsible Sourcing of Silica Sand Project
ResponsibleGlass is launching a major new programme on the responsible sourcing of silica sand — the primary raw material used in glassmaking.
Sand is the world’s most extracted resource, and in some contexts extraction is linked to serious environmental and social risks. Around 75% of glass by volume is silica, from sand or cullet. If glass is to be made responsibly, its raw materials must be sourced responsibly too.
This project will:
- Map the global footprint of silica sand used in glassmaking
- Analyse supply chains and traceability
- Assess social and environmental impacts
- Test how existing standards, including IRMA, can be applied or adapted to the extraction of silica sand
Two research tracks — a global desk study and on-the-ground site assessments — will run in parallel, with findings feeding directly into the design of the ResponsibleGlass Standard.
We are seeking to work in collaboration with IRMA, ARM and the Coalition for Responsible Sand and Silicates to ensure alignment and credibility.
Further details will follow as the work progresses.
Welcoming New Members
We are pleased to welcome the following organisations who joined ResponsibleGlass this month:
- Glass Futures — Founding Member
- ReSolar — Supporter
This Month’s Media Coverage
Our Chair, Francis Sullivan, recently contributed a thought leadership article to Sustainable Packaging News exploring the need to modernise glass and the role standards can play in strengthening transparency, credibility and long-term trust across the sector.
Modernising Glass: Why Collaboration Is the Only Path to a Sustainable Future
We also received significant coverage on Glass Futures joining the initiative from outlets including Glass International, Packaging News and Glass on Web.
Warm regards,
Francis Sullivan
Chair, ResponsibleGlass
