TRIALS are set to start aimed at increasing the strength and thereby reducing the weight of glass bottles.
Three major players in the sector are collaborating on the technology. Dassault Systèmes, Ardagh Group and EXXERGY will begin ‘virtual twin’ trials on Diageo’s Johnnie Walker bottle in January 2022 to research and develop a coating that will enable the glass bottle to be lightweighted without comprising its strength or shape.
The trial will use science-based innovations to reduce the time and cost needed to test glass products, while also reducing the raw materials and energy used in the process.
A virtual twin is a real-time digital representation of a product or process that is used to model, visualise and predict new innovations before any physical trials take place. The trial aims to develop an external coating for glass bottles to reduce the naturally occurring micro-cracks in the surface, which will allow the glass to be much lighter while maintaining its strength.
If successful, glass bottle testing will begin in summer 2022.
Ardagh Group will work with EXXERGY to research and develop the coatings for Diageo. Dassault Systèmes will provide contract research services using its BIOVIA applications to create a nanoscale virtual twin of the coatings, simulate their interaction with the surface of the glass, and test their efficacy.
John Sadlier, chief sustainability officer at Ardagh Group, said, “Ardagh Group has pioneered the lightweighting of glass and as a leading global supplier of infinitely recyclable, sustainable metal and glass packaging, we have a responsibility to respond to the sustainability challenges we all face. Together with our customers and supply chain partners, we are eager to explore the potential of digitalisation to drive new and innovative lightweighting solutions.”
Glass lightweighting is one solution for reducing the glass sector’s carbon footprint.
Florence Verzelen, executive VP, industry, marketing & sustainability, Dassault Systèmes, added, “There is a growing urgency to change our ways of production and consumption. We need to rethink everything, and dare to imagine the boldest sustainability initiatives.
“Using Dassault Systèmes’ virtual twin technology, companies can design and simulate radically different new sustainable materials, products and processes in record time. They can be right, but also sustainable the first time.”
Lucy Fishwick, head of procurement – grain to glass sustainability, Diageo, added, “At Diageo, sustainability and particularly sustainable packaging is a key priority. We’re excited to be part of this pioneering trial that embraces the principles of our Diageo Sustainable Solutions platform which encourages innovation and collaboration in developing scientific solutions to the impact of climate change. We’ve made a commitment in our Society 2030 strategy to have net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2050 or earlier, and should this trial be successful, it’s a great step towards us achieving that.”
