Gokhan Sen (pictured below), Chief Executive Officer of Ciner Glass, discusses the company’s glass plant in Lommel, Belgium.
The European glass manufacturing sector stands at a critical inflection point.
After decades of underinvestment, the industry is now ripe for transformation.
Many plants across the continent still operate with furnaces built decades ago, using technologies that are no longer fit for purpose in a world demanding bold actions on innovation to build more sustainable industries.
Heavy industry is often seen as slow to change. It is bound by legacy infrastructure, high capital intensity, and complex supply chains.
But the industry is now at a turning point, driven by the urgent need to decarbonise and modernise in support of government climate targets, and by challenger companies entering the European market and setting new standards in glass production.
At the same time, the glass market in Europe continues to grow steadily, driven by rising demand to replace environmentally harmful products with sustainable products that can be recycled.
The market research company Technavio predicted that the global glass manufacturing market is expected to grow by USD 70.3 billion from 2024 to 2028.
Currently, macroeconomic headwinds have created a strategic window for investment.
Manufacturing volumes and prices are down, but history has shown that the best returns in industrial sectors often come from investing during troughs.
The glass sector is poised for a rebound, driven by growing demand for sustainable packaging, regulatory pressure to decarbonise, and a broader shift toward circular economies.
This is the moment to build and to build differently. At Ciner Glass, it has been our ambition to develop a glass plant that is fit for the future.
Our investment in Lommel represents one of the largest foreign direct investments in Belgium in years.
The facility is being developed in Kristalpark III, a strategic industrial zone in the Flemish region, chosen for its proximity to key transport corridors, proximity to customers, access to high-quality raw materials like silica sand and cullet, and availability of skilled labour.
Once fully operational, the plant will create approximately 500 direct jobs and more than 1000 indirect jobs, supporting both local employment and regional supply chains.
The site spans 230,000 square metres and will include two high-capacity furnaces, eight production lines, an automated warehouse capable of storing 250 million bottles, and supporting infrastructure such as administrative offices, utility facilities, and rainwater infiltration basins.
With a production capacity of 1,300 tonnes per day, the Lommel plant is designed to produce up to 2.5 billion bottles annually, serving major beverage brands across Europe and setting a new benchmark for sustainable industrial development.
Both construction and employment progress are fast accelerating, with the first furnace set for completion in the first half of next year.
Over 200 staff members - ranging from mechanical engineers to operators to administrative team members - are already on site working hard to make this ambition a reality.
We see this facility as a blueprint for how renewable investment can be deployed in heavy industry.
Not just to reduce emissions, but to reimagine how industrial production can align with Europe’s environmental and economic goals.
A plant that supports European industrial renewal.
One of its most significant environmental contributions is its use of recycled materials.
Our target is for up to 75% of the glass produced at the site to come from recycled content.
This not only reduces the demand for raw materials but also lowers the energy required for production, as recycled glass melts at lower temperatures than raw materials.
Overall, the plant will look to have a lower carbon footprint.
This is achieved through our lightweight glass production approach, using advanced furnace technologies and process optimisations that cut energy consumption by around 20% compared to traditional methods.
But it is also due to our wider initiatives, such as local sourcing strategies that minimise transport-related emissions and developing an operation that is centred around a circular economy model.
The Lommel site is a strong example of what is possible by forming partnerships with key stakeholders.
By collaborating with local partners to strengthen recycling infrastructure, support regional supply chains, and reduce the environmental impact of logistics, this not only enhances operational efficiency but also reinforces in what can be done to make heavy industry more sustainable.
However, it is important to acknowledge that reaching net zero in glass production requires a practical and phased approach.
While certain processes, such as furnace operations, still lack commercially viable low-carbon alternatives at the scale needed to serve industry demand, we are actively investing in areas where meaningful progress can be made today to offset these emissions.
This includes transitioning transportation fleets to renewable energy sources.
The facility will incorporate robotics and automation, moving decisively away from legacy systems in addition to renewable installation products.
More than 7,600 solar panels will contribute to the plant’s energy needs, reinforcing its commitment to renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Furthermore, by being located near the Port of Antwerp and major European transport corridors, the plant is well-positioned to serve regional markets efficiently while keeping its carbon footprint low through lower transportation emissions.
Where possible and applicable, we are making sure the vehicles we use on site are electric.
By focusing on what is achievable now while continuing to support innovation in harder-to-abate areas, we are committed to making tangible contributions to a more sustainable future.
