Greg Morris

Editor, Glass International

Greg Morris has been editor of Glass International and organiser of a variety of physical and digital conferences since 2012, specialising in manufacturing and packaging. Prior to this he spent five years working in newspaper journalism reporting on varied events such as breaking news, sport, and Royal funerals and weddings.

Five minutes with...Greg Morris

What would you say are the main focus areas for building a sustainable supply chain?

The glass industry is committed to highlighting and improving its sustainable credentials not only to meet forthcoming European legislation but also, and just as importantly, to meet consumer trends. Food and beverage packaging has come under increased scrutiny in recent years thanks to the Blue Planet effect from consumers who are increasingly environmentally aware. They want to know that what they purchase will not impact the planet. Glass as a material is endlessly recyclable and will never lose its qualities. It is also an inert material, meaning no carcinogens leach from into a substance inside. Glass manufacturers have focused on their manufacturing furnaces and explored ways to transition from traditional fossil fuels to fire a furnace to greener methods such as electricity, bio fuels and hydrogen.

What do you hope the SIM conference will provide glass manufacturers with and why is this important?

New practical methods and technologies to help reduce the carbon footprint of the glass manufacturing process.

What kind of sustainable technology examples would you like to see presented to manufacturers during the conference and why?

No one know what the million dollar answer is yet to eliminating carbons from the manufacturing sector so anything presented should be practical as well as cost efficient to manufacturers.

In your opinion, how important is it to build a collaborative approach across these hard-to-abate sectors when it comes to sustainable industrial manufacturing processes?

The recent pandemic has proved that only by working together can people help avert a crisis. Natural historian David Attenborough said last week the problems that await the word in the next five to 10 years are far greater than the pandemic. A collaborative approach among industry is required to tackle this huge environmental challenge.

Where in the supply chain do you think requires the most attention/is the most challenging when it comes to sustainable practices?

Furnaces. Glassmakers have relied on fossil fuels for years to fire furnaces so it will not be easy to suddenly change to a new fuel in the space of a few years.