CircuClarity: Reuse and circularity in the glass industry

Dr. Lisa Rammig and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Linda Hildebrand

Dr. Lisa Rammig (Director at Eckersley O'Callaghan, right) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Linda Hildebrand (Professor at the Chair of Reuse in Architecture, RWTH Aachen University, left) founded "CircuClarity" together in 2022.
Photo: Marcel: Bilow

13.07.2024

The idea of "CircuClarity" was born at glasstec 2022. The vision of founders Lisa Rammig and Linda Hildebrand was to create a platform for the exchange of knowledge that leads to real progress and innovation within the glass industry. The focus is on circularity, resource efficiency and environmental impact. In this interview, the two explain what drives them and what they would like to see in the glass sector.

How does circularity impact your day-to-day work?

Linda Hildebrand: “Circularity is a concept that merges the demand on the building industry with planetary boundaries. The application of circular principles increases resource efficiency and therefore lowers the environmental impact of material production.

Given the current climate crisis, circular principles must be considered on any project currently being developed. Establishing the relevance and potential of available technology that can be applied to improve circular performance is one of the key drivers leading to innovation in the industry.”

About „CircuClarity“

Lisa Rammig: “With the vision to exchange knowledge and experience to reach climate neutrality and circularity in the glass and glass-related sector we teamed up to bring together professional knowledge on glass and facade with circularity and climate neutrality. We started with a small impulse session at glasstec 2022 for which we brought together collaborators from industry, project development, academia and a foresight consultant to outline a demand for circular thinking through short presentations. The feedback we received was more than positive and within an hour we had a group of more or less 50 individuals and organisations signed up to join the initiative. A very humbling and exciting experience. We are grateful to be part of this network in which people are willing to share their knowledge, experience and progress to achieve a bigger common goal.”

How did 'CircuClarity One’ come about at glasstec? What makes the program so special?

Lisa Rammig: “The interface of academia and industry and the collaboration between the two is what differentiates the conference from others. Our intent is to provide a platform for knowledge exchange that leads to true progress and innovation within the industry.

We started the CircuClarity initiative around the last glasstec 2022, based on the understanding that there was a demand in the glass industry for a discourse in relation to circularity. The feedback we received was spectacular with many individuals and organisations expressing interest of joining and hence the initiative quickly grew into a movement that is very much driven by an inherent interest of wanting to make a change in the industry.

Given that we kicked the initiative off at glasstec, we are very happy to be back this year in 2024 with a comprehensive conference that will showcase the current state of the art and innovation related to a circular economy within the glass industry. We will have two days filled with academic paper presentations as well as summary discussions that will showcase the progress made over the last 2 years. Our aim is to provide a platform for knowledge sharing that leads to real progress and innovation within the industry.”

Linda Hildebrand: “We should add that the progress that will be visible at the event really is driven by all the work, research and development that every individual contributes and that they are willing to share through the platform we are providing.”

CircuClarity means for us…

Lisa Rammig: “Transparency – Circularity – Knowledge sharing”
Linda Hildebrand: “Circularity – Collaboration – Glass”

This year, the "CircuClarity Award" will be presented for the first time. Why was the award created? What would you say as a jury member: Who should apply and why?

Linda Hildebrand: “The award aims to encourage the showcasing of new ideas and novel topics in the industry. Specifically, it provides a platform for young researchers and professionals to showcase their ideas and innovative approaches, increasing visibility that might increase opportunity for realisation and commercialisation.”

Lisa Rammig: “It’s a completely new thing. We are trying to showcase innovation in a field that typically is not seen very well because circularity is not typically a product or a design project and we are trying to show that circularity and good design are not mutually exclusive.”

What do you think are the future trends and developments in the industry? What do you think the material glass has in store for us?

Linda Hildebrand: “Reuse will be one of the big topics in the glass industry. Considering how we can design and build with an existing form of the material and using it in the form shape and size available will bring new challenges but also new innovation and design concepts. Digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence have the potential to access secondary resources and increase the reuse and recycling potential already available.”

And now a question on glasstec: Why should people visit the show?

Lisa Rammig: “glasstec offers a unique platform for the industry to showcase new materials, processes and products and share knowledge in all areas of the glass industry. It is equally important to manufacturers, suppliers, fabricators, architects, engineers and academics, because the exchange is encouraged, and innovation is showcased.

One of the highlights for me is always the glass technology live (gtl) show, where selected new technology and innovation around glass is highlighted, providing a platform to showcase experimental ideas on all levels. We are proud that this year we are curating a small area of the gtl. With a team of collaborators, we have designed an exhibit that will host a story about glass circularity and the future the material holds.”

Linda Hildebrand: “The event also provides an opportunity for researchers and educators to interact and exchange knowledge with the industry and vice versa. This is particularly important in relation to circularity, because we need to move innovation from research to reality fast and therefore require the close collaboration between academia and industry.”