Şişecam Brings Glass Sector Together in Digital Environment

Şişecam, one of Turkey's most established institutions, held the 35th edition of its Glass Symposium this year online, adapted to pandemic conditions, a tradition it has maintained since 1985. The digital symposium, themed "Glass in a Sustainable Future: Pandemic and New Ecosystem," brought together approximately 800 researchers, scientists and industry professionals from 39 countries. The symposium addressed the future of glass, new conditions and trends created by the global pandemic, sustainability and new technologies. Şişecam, a global player in the glass and chemicals sectors, held its 35th Glass Symposium. Organized online due to the pandemic, the international symposium's main theme was "Glass in a Sustainable Future: Pandemic and New Ecosystem." The symposium brought together approximately 800 researchers, scientists and industry professionals from 39 countries to discuss the future of glass, new conditions and trends created by the global pandemic, sustainability and new technologies. Sessions were held under titles such as "New Ecosystem," "Advanced Technological Materials," "Sustainable Glass Production" and "Operational Excellence," with 17 presentations delivered. Şişecam Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman noted that the traditionally held symposium was organized online for the first time this year due to pandemic conditions, stating: "The pandemic prompted us to reflect on our interaction with nature. We encountered new rules and meanings not only in economics and business sustainability, but also in education systems, tourism and social interaction. We have undergone a transformation to adapt to these new rules and concepts. For this reason, we decided that this year's symposium theme should be glass's role in this new ecosystem and sustainability."

Sustainability among glass industry's core focus areas

Kırman noted that glass is one of the most impactful materials of our age and plays a key role in improving quality of life, stating: "With properties such as transparency, formability, hardness, easy availability and low cost, glass is a vital material that finds applications in many areas including electronics, healthcare, communications, defense, energy management and smart applications. Sustainability is among the most fundamental focus areas of the glass industry, which continues to expand its presence and prevalence in applications and processes. To achieve a sustainable future, we need not only government commitment but also the will and competence of core industries. The glass industry is one of these core industries. As we all know, coated architectural glass significantly reduces heating and cooling costs, achieving substantial energy savings and contributing meaningfully to reducing carbon emissions that cause climate change. Glass's ability to be recycled infinitely makes it the safest packaging material for both people and the environment. Reducing all types of waste, developing melting technology, reducing emissions, implementing integrated control systems, advanced functional coatings and health-oriented applications should rank among the most important items on our research and development agenda." Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman also invited 35th Şişecam Glass Symposium participants to support the efforts of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) toward having 2022 recognized by the United Nations as the "International Year of Glass."

Also hosted the International Commission on Glass's annual meetings

The Şişecam Glass Symposium, first organized in 1985 by Şişecam—the world's third largest producer of glass tableware and fifth largest in flat glass and glass packaging—along the principle that "knowledge multiplies when shared," has in recent years grown to international scale. The Şişecam Glass Symposia have hosted three times to date the annual meetings of the International Commission on Glass (ICG), the world's most respected institution in glass science and representing 33 countries in total. Over 35 years, Şişecam aims to create a sustainable platform through the Şişecam Glass Symposia, steadily and respectably conducting knowledge and skill-sharing activities.