At HYT, we believe the industry is already one with sustainability at its heart. Glass is already a sustainable material and implementing new initiatives industry-wide can future-proof glass production.
This is why we’ve stepped up efforts to offer the most sustainable packaging solutions and practice what we preach in every aspect of our business.
We’re aligning our daily operations with broader environmental goals that benefit the planet. These include measuring our carbon footprint, setting ambitious emission reduction targets, creating effective plans of action to achieve them, and ensuring the UN Sustainable Development Goals are at our heart.
The HYT ‘World of Sustainability’ demonstrates our proactive approach and unwavering commitment. It showcases the many different initiatives we’re currently involved in, with the sole objective of minimising our environmental impact.
The majority of our glass containers are produced utilising hybrid furnaces, using both natural gas and electricity. We already have 100% electricity powered furnaces at our disposal which can be used in several productions.
We are planning around hydrogen and further hybrid and fully electric furnaces which will see a significant impact on carbon reduction even in large -scale production.
Within our supply partners, successful trials have been carried out on alternative fuels such as 100% biogas, delivering the same benchmarks for quality and performance on bottles with an estimated 99% reduction in carbon footprint. Whilst the commerciality isn’t there yet, this showcases what is possible.
We’re also investing in making bottles lighter and using more post-consumer recycled (PCR) content – a ‘closed loop’ process which results in significant energy savings, less extraction of virgin raw materials, and lower CO2 emissions. Lowering melting temperatures whilst with a new UK government we hope and campaign for a grownup, nationwide approach to recycling, with used glass returned to manufacturers rather than recycled containers being used elsewhere.
Our international distribution network allows us to offer customers short supply chains, thus minimising our environmental impact. Initiatives including trials using rail have proved promising for the future.
To celebrate 150 years in the glass industry, we funded the planting of 150,000 new trees recently through Ecologi and were recently recognised with a prestigious Gold Award at the ‘For our Planet’ Awards organised by the social enterprise. Winning such an accolade is testament to our dedication to leading the industry in environmental stewardship.
Closer to home, we’re offsetting the carbon footprint of every single employee, with clear achievable targets to be carbon neutral by 2025. This will be achieved through social enterprise partners by hitting 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, reinforcing our belief that we can be a force for good, playing our part in local and global communities.
Personally, I couldn’t be prouder of the commitment shown by the talented team at HYT. We realise we can’t do everything, but we must do something. No matter what it takes and however big or small, we are all in this together. So, please join us on our sustainable journey and play your part in helping to shape a better future for glass packaging.
