British Glass shortlisted for BEIS-sponsored sector representation award

The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy sponsored award is one of the most competitive categories in the Trade Association Forum’s annual awards. It recognises a successful initiative, by a trade association, to tackle an important issue that will drive the future prosperity and growth of its members.

The British Glass entry features its three-year programme to facilitate collaboration between glass manufacturers and government to create a decarbonisation action plan – setting out the sectors’ priorities for energy efficiency and decarbonisation in areas such as research and development, technology implementation, energy infrastructure, recycling, skills and funding. In April of this year all ten of the UK’s large-scale glass manufacturers signed up to the voluntary action plan.

When the UK government launched its Decarbonisation and energy efficiency roadmap 2050 project – working with the UK’s eight most energy intensive manufacturing industries, including glass – British Glass saw an opportunity to develop a new type of relationship with policy makers.

British Glass technical director Nick Kirk said:

“Historically, reducing emissions has simply meant financial penalties for industry – which creates conflict between government and business. But British Glass firmly believed that sectors which took advantage of this opportunity to influence government strategy stood to reduce costs, develop resilience on energy pricing and gain a competitive edge over businesses that didn’t become green economy leaders.

We’ve been determined to create a more productive conversation and shared vision for improving competitiveness through decarbonisation and energy efficiency – and to get people on all sides to understand one another and be ready to play their part. I want to express my thanks to the British Glass staff who have made this happen.”

British Glass environmental adviser Valli Murthy said:

“We’re very proud of the way that the glass industry has come together to face the challenge of energy efficiency and decarbonisation - which will continue to define all manufacturing and markets for the coming decades.

“Our entry for this award is a thank you to them for their vision and willingness to do things differently. It’s also a thank you to BEIS for the courage and far-sightedness they have shown in working constructively with industry to fit their approach to the needs and circumstances of UK manufacturing.”

The final winner of the award will be announced at the Trade Association Forum awards in London on 12 July 2017.

Notes

The British Glass Environment and Energy (E&E) Committee works to make the UK glass industry sustainable and competitive for the future by proactively addressing policy, regulatory and legislative matters as well as actively pursuing technical innovation. The committee is made up of representatives from across the British Glass membership, and supported by British Glass subject experts.

British Glass members wanting to find out more about the Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmap 2050 and the Action Plan, or the work of the E&E Committee should email information@britglass.co.uk

Find out more about the Decarbonisation Roadmaps 2050

The Trade Association Forum encourages the development and sharing of best practice among UK trade associations and promoting the role of effective trade associations to government, industry and the wider public. www.taforum.org