Credit: Josh Sorenson
Author: Tiago Moreira da Silva, CEO, BA Glass
At BA Glass, sustainability is not just a corporate goal; it’s a long-term commitment that drives our innovation, shapes our strategy and influences every decision we make. We have focused on the environment and society for decades, but recent achievements have highlighted our commitment to sustainability.
BA Glass’s sustainability framework is based on six key pillars: people, social responsibility, environmental responsibility, shareholders, customers and consumers. These pillars guide our approach to sustainability, from employee and community development to the environmental impact of our operations and customer satisfaction.
An ambitious goal has been set: to become carbon neutral by 2050. While aligning our strategy with global initiatives such as the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), we are leading the way in reducing emissions and creating of value for all stakeholders. In line with this vision, BA Glass aims to reduce scope one and two emissions by 50% by 2035. Our efforts in this area have already yielded significant results. In our factories, 100% of electricity consumption comes from renewable energy, resulting in zero scope 2 emissions. This achievement is just part of our sustainability journey, as we continually explore new technologies and new partnerships that can help us reduce our carbon footprint.
Encourage engagement
Our commitment to the environment goes beyond energy consumption. We are actively working to improve circularity within our operations. By partnering with the Plataforma Vidro+ initiative in Portugal, where BA Glass operates, we aim to drive stakeholder engagement across the national packaging glass value chain. In Romania, with the implementation of the deposit and return system, we expect a significant increase in the glass collection rate.
This journey goes beyond achieving specific goals: it’s about rethinking how we operate at every level.
As part of BA Glass’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability, reducing the impact of our packaging is a top priority. Aware of the environmental issues related to plastic, we have launched several projects to reduce plastic waste in our processes.
Additionally, we are also replacing cardboard with circular media, resulting in a 9% decrease in cardboard consumption per ton of production. At BA Glass, we are also focused on developing lightweight glass packaging, a key part of our strategy to reduce scope one and three emissions. In 2023 alone, the lightweighting program has systematically reduced the volume of glass used in packaging, leading to a reduction of more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Among the most notable innovations is the development of the ECO furnace, a technology that aims to revolutionize glass production using 100% renewable energy. By switching from natural gas to renewable electricity, green hydrogen or biofuels, we hope to significantly reduce our energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Collaborative workshop
Beyond all these efforts, our partnerships with our customers are essential to advancing sustainable development. Through initiatives like Collab2Zero, a collaborative workshop designed to create a step-by-step action plan with our customers, we work together to reduce our carbon footprint throughout the supply chain. Furthermore, our transport strategy is also at the forefront of innovation. Our initiatives in this area, such as the increasing use of double trailers, bioLNG electric trucks and a combination of road, rail and short sea shipping, have collectively improved efficiency, leading to notable reductions in CO2 emissions.
Alongside all of these initiatives, at BA Glass we are actively running large pilot projects to replace traditional raw materials with innovative, carbon-free alternatives that help us reduce our emissions. These changes, as well as our continued collaboration with all players in the value chain, are potentiating our positive impact on the environment. We recognize that sustainability is a shared responsibility and, by fostering partnerships with customers, suppliers and communities, we aim to create a ripple effect of positive change, leading the entire sector towards a more sustainable future.
BA Glass’s recent environmental improvements are part of a cohesive strategy that will continue to evolve. This journey goes beyond achieving specific goals: it’s about rethinking the way we operate at every level, paving the way for a greener future.