What are the current boundaries in glass circularity and how can we push them further? Join the Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass, organised by the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences and the EVERGLASS project.
The Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass is a four day, hands-on event for students, young researchers and industry professionals who enjoy thinking, making and solving problems together.
At the summit, circularity is not treated as a buzzword or a lecture topic. Instead, it becomes something you actively explore. Participants work together on creative and innovative ways to use glass more efficiently and to close material loops that are still far from complete.
From the very beginning, the focus is on collaboration. Experts from industry and academia introduce real world circularity scenarios and share where and why glass systems still break down in practice. Sometimes the challenge is technical. Often it is not. Logistics, quality requirements, economics, policy, consumer habits, and geography all play a role.
You will dive into these challenges as part of an interdisciplinary team. Over several working sessions, you sketch ideas, question assumptions, test concepts, and rethink approaches. There is room to experiment, to be bold and to follow unexpected directions.
The material at the centre of it all is glass. It is indispensable in everyday life and often described as infinitely recyclable without loss of quality. In theory, this is true. In practice, recycling rates differ widely between sectors. While container glass performs well in Europe, other areas such as flat glass still struggle to close the loop. These gaps make glass a perfect playground for circular innovation.
The summit is open to participants from a wide range of disciplines. Technical expertise is welcome, but it is not the only ingredient. Creative thinking, system level perspectives and fresh questions are just as important. The best ideas often emerge when different ways of thinking collide.
Shared meals are an essential part of the event. Lunches, coffee breaks and evening meals are designed as informal moments to continue conversations, exchange ideas, and get to know each other beyond disciplines and job titles. Whether discussions revolve around glass recycling challenges or completely different topics, these shared moments help build connections, spark new ideas, and make the intense working days both enjoyable and memorable.
At the end of the summit, teams present their solutions to all participants. All ideas are celebrated with different awards, but the real value lies in the shared experience. Working intensely together, learning from each other and discovering that circularity can be challenging, messy, and genuinely enjoyable.
The Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass creates a protected space to explore without fixed answers or rigid boundaries. It is a place to think out of the box, to connect with others and to imagine what circular glass systems could look like when creativity and collaboration take the lead.
For any questions or suggestions, contact dh@esci.eu.