The glass container industry is going through some big changes because of new rules and the need to be more eco-friendly. The European Union is bringing in a law called the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) to make packaging lighter and more sustainable. Glass containers are heavy compared to plastic or aluminum, so people are worried that the industry will be treated unfairly. But even though glass can be recycled, it takes a lot of energy and produces CO2 emissions.

To deal with these problems, glassmakers are thinking about using electric furnaces instead of ones that use gas. Electric furnaces can be better for the environment if they get their power from sustainable sources. In the past, electric furnaces were too expensive, but now that electricity costs less, they’re becoming a more realistic option. A glass manufacturer called Stoelzle Flaconnage in West Yorkshire plans to have an electric furnace up and running by 2026. But electric furnaces might not be good for making lots of glass because electricity costs more.

Another problem with electric furnaces is that the electricity grid needs to be upgraded to handle the extra demand. Even with these challenges, the glass industry is making progress in developing electric and hybrid furnaces. Ardagh Glass Packaging in Germany is testing a hybrid furnace that uses 80% sustainable electricity and 20% gas. This furnace could save 45,000 tonnes of CO2 every year. The industry is also looking into using hydrogen instead of natural gas in the future.

As well as using more sustainable furnaces, the glass industry is trying to reduce its carbon emissions by using more recycled glass. But it’s hard to get enough recycled glass. Some experts think that the best way to help the environment is to use less glass packaging overall. A study comparing the environmental impact of glass, plastic, and aluminum containers found that glass had the biggest impact, even when it was recycled.

In the end, the glass container industry is under pressure to be more eco-friendly and meet sustainability goals. Switching to electric or hybrid furnaces, using more recycled glass, and looking into other materials could be the best ways to achieve these goals.

Original news source: Why there’s a revolution on the way in glass making (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually and then write a summary of the main points. They should focus on key information, such as the new law, the challenges faced by the glass industry, and potential solutions. After they have written their summaries, have them share with a partner and discuss any differences or similarities.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 10 vocabulary words from the article and write them on the board. Divide the class into teams and give each team a whiteboard or a piece of paper. One person from each team will come to the front of the class and choose a word. They must then draw a picture to represent the word while their team members try to guess what it is. The team that guesses correctly gets a point. Repeat with different team members and words.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups and give each group a sheet of paper. Have them create a list of the pros and cons of using electric furnaces in the glass industry. After they have finished, have each group share their lists with the class and lead a discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of this technology.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the following question: “What are some ways that the glass industry can become more eco-friendly?” Give them a few minutes to brainstorm ideas individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner and share their ideas. Afterward, open up the discussion to the whole class and have students share their partner’s ideas as well as their own.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of the glass container industry. They should consider factors such as advancements in technology, changes in consumer behavior, and environmental regulations. Each group should write down their predictions and be prepared to explain their reasoning to the class. After all groups have presented, lead a class discussion on the different predictions and the likelihood of each scenario.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the new law called that the European Union is bringing in to make packaging more sustainable?
2. Why are people worried that the glass container industry will be treated unfairly under the new law?
3. Why are glassmakers considering using electric furnaces instead of gas ones?
4. Why were electric furnaces not a realistic option in the past?
5. What is one problem with using electric furnaces to make lots of glass?
6. What is Ardagh Glass Packaging in Germany testing with their hybrid furnace?
7. Why is it difficult to get enough recycled glass for the industry?
8. According to a study, which type of packaging had the biggest environmental impact, even when it was recycled?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The glass (1)______ industry is going through some big changes because of new rules and the need to be more eco-friendly. The European Union is bringing in a law called the Packaging & Packaging Waste (2)______ (PPWR) to make packaging lighter and more sustainable. Glass containers are heavy compared to plastic or (3)______, so people are worried that the industry will be treated unfairly. But even though glass can be recycled, it takes a lot of energy and produces CO2 emissions.

To deal with these (4)______, glassmakers are thinking about using electric (5)______ instead of ones that use gas. Electric furnaces can be better for the environment if they get their power from sustainable sources. In the past, (6)______ furnaces were too expensive, but now that electricity costs less, they’re becoming a more realistic option. A (7)______ manufacturer (8)______ Stoelzle Flaconnage in West Yorkshire plans to have an electric furnace up and running by 2026. But electric furnaces might not be good for making lots of glass because electricity costs more.

Another problem with electric furnaces is that the electricity grid needs to be upgraded to handle the extra demand. Even with these challenges, the glass industry is making progress in developing electric and (9)______ furnaces. Ardagh Glass Packaging in Germany is testing a hybrid furnace that uses 80% sustainable electricity and 20% gas. This furnace could save 45,000 (10)______ of CO2 every year. The industry is also (11)______ into (12)______ hydrogen instead of natural gas in the future.

As well as using more sustainable furnaces, the glass industry is trying to reduce its carbon emissions by using more recycled glass. But it’s hard to get enough recycled glass. Some experts think that the best way to help the environment is to use less glass packaging overall. A (13)______ comparing the environmental impact of glass, plastic, and aluminum containers found that glass had the (14)______ impact, even when it was recycled.

In the end, the glass container industry is under pressure to be more eco-friendly and meet sustainability (15)______. Switching to electric or hybrid furnaces, using more recycled glass, and looking into other (16)______ could be the best ways to achieve these goals.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and why is it important?
2. How would you feel if the glass container industry was treated unfairly compared to plastic and aluminum?
3. Do you like the idea of using electric furnaces in the glass industry? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it is worth investing in electric furnaces if they are more expensive to use? Why or why not?
5. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using electric furnaces in the glass industry?
6. How would you feel if the electricity grid needed to be upgraded to support electric furnaces?
7. Do you think using hydrogen instead of natural gas in glass production is a good idea? Why or why not?
8. What are some ways the glass industry can reduce its carbon emissions?
9. How do you feel about using more recycled glass in glass production? Why or why not?
10. Do you think using less glass packaging overall is the best solution for the environment? Why or why not?
11. What are some other materials the glass industry could consider using instead of glass?
12. How important do you think it is for industries to be more eco-friendly and meet sustainability goals?
13. What are some other industries that you think should focus on being more eco-friendly?
14. How can individuals contribute to making the glass container industry more sustainable?
15. Why do you think it’s important for industries to adapt and change to be more eco-friendly?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. sustainability
2. emissions
3. eco-friendly
4. recycled
5. hybrid
6. carbon
7. electricity
8. realistic
9. hydrogen
10. environmental
11. pressure
12. sustainable
13. upgraded
14. impact
15. industry

Meanings:
(A) A combination of two different things, in this case, using both gas and electricity
(B) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without harming the environment
(C) The gases released into the air from something, like cars or factories
(D) A form of energy that we use to power our homes and gadgets
(E) Something that can actually be done or achieved
(F) Something that has been used before and then processed so it can be used again
(G) A lighter, non-toxic element that could be used as a cleaner fuel
(H) Related to the natural world and the effects of human activity on it
(I) A particular field or branch of economic or commercial activity
(J) A type of element that all living things are made of, which can contribute to global warming when released into the atmosphere
(K) The effect or influence of something on another thing
(L) Being forced to do something because you are in a tough situation
(M) Not harmful to the environment
(N) Made better or more modern
(O) Being able to continue over a long period without harming the environment or using up resources completely
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why is the glass container industry going through changes?
(a) Because glass containers are too heavy.
(b) Because of new rules and the need to be more eco-friendly.
(c) Because plastic and aluminum containers are becoming more popular.
(d) Because the European Union wants to make glass containers more expensive.

2. What is the purpose of the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)?
(a) To make packaging lighter and more sustainable.
(b) To make glass containers more expensive.
(c) To ban the use of glass containers.
(d) To increase the weight of packaging.

3. Why are people worried that the glass industry will be treated unfairly?
(a) Because glass containers are too expensive.
(b) Because glass containers are not recyclable.
(c) Because glass containers are heavy compared to plastic or aluminum.
(d) Because glass containers are too fragile.

4. What is one advantage of using electric furnaces instead of gas furnaces?
(a) Electric furnaces are cheaper to operate.
(b) Electric furnaces produce less CO2 emissions.
(c) Electric furnaces can be better for the environment if they get their power from sustainable sources.
(d) Electric furnaces are more durable.

5. Why are electric furnaces becoming a more realistic option for glass manufacturers?
(a) Because gas furnaces are no longer available.
(b) Because electric furnaces are more efficient.
(c) Because electric furnaces are easier to maintain.
(d) Because electricity costs less now.

6. What is one challenge of using electric furnaces for making lots of glass?
(a) Electric furnaces produce more CO2 emissions.
(b) Electricity costs more.
(c) Electric furnaces are less durable.
(d) Electric furnaces are not as efficient.

7. What is one advantage of using a hybrid furnace?
(a) It is cheaper to operate than electric furnaces.
(b) It produces less glass waste.
(c) It is more sustainable than electric furnaces.
(d) It can save 45,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

8. What is one way the glass industry is trying to reduce its carbon emissions?
(a) By using more recycled glass.
(b) By using plastic containers instead of glass.
(c) By using more aluminum containers.
(d) By using less glass packaging overall.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Glass containers are heavier compared to plastic or aluminum, which has raised concerns about unfair treatment for the industry.
2. The glass container industry is not facing changes due to new regulations and the need to be more environmentally friendly.
3. The European Union is not introducing a law called the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation to make packaging lighter and more sustainable.
4. The glass industry is not exploring the use of hydrogen and hybrid furnaces to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability.
5. Electric furnaces can be more environmentally friendly if they are powered by sustainable sources.
6. Glass can be recycled, but the process does not require a lot of energy and does not produce CO2 emissions.
7. The cost of electricity has decreased, making electric furnaces a more viable option for glass manufacturers.
8. Glassmakers are considering using electric furnaces instead of gas-powered ones to address these issues.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the new law called that the European Union is bringing in to make packaging more sustainable?
2. Why are people worried that the glass container industry will be treated unfairly?
3. What is one advantage of using electric furnaces instead of gas furnaces?
4. What is one challenge of using electric furnaces to make glass?
5. According to a study, which type of packaging had the biggest environmental impact, even when it was recycled?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The new law is called the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
2. People are worried that the glass container industry will be treated unfairly because glass containers are heavier compared to plastic or aluminum, which means they require more energy and produce more CO2 emissions to produce and recycle.
3. Glassmakers are considering using electric furnaces instead of gas ones because electric furnaces can be better for the environment if they get their power from sustainable sources.
4. Electric furnaces were not a realistic option in the past because they were too expensive. However, now that electricity costs less, they are becoming a more realistic option.
5. One problem with using electric furnaces to make lots of glass is that electricity costs more, which could make it less economically viable for large-scale glass production.
6. Ardagh Glass Packaging in Germany is testing a hybrid furnace that uses 80% sustainable electricity and 20% gas.
7. It is difficult to get enough recycled glass for the industry because there is not enough supply to meet the demand. This could be due to limited recycling infrastructure or a lack of consumer recycling.
8. According to a study, glass packaging had the biggest environmental impact, even when it was recycled.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) container
(2) Regulation
(3) aluminum
(4) problems
(5) furnaces
(6) electric
(7) glass
(8) called
(9) hybrid
(10) tonnes
(11) looking
(12) using
(13) study
(14) biggest
(15) goals
(16) materials
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. sustainability
Answer: (O) Being able to continue over a long period without harming the environment or using up resources completely

2. emissions
Answer: (C) The gases released into the air from something, like cars or factories

3. eco-friendly
Answer: (M) Not harmful to the environment

4. recycled
Answer: (F) Something that has been used before and then processed so it can be used again

5. hybrid
Answer: (A) A combination of two different things, in this case, using both gas and electricity

6. carbon
Answer: (J) A type of element that all living things are made of, which can contribute to global warming when released into the atmosphere

7. electricity
Answer: (D) A form of energy that we use to power our homes and gadgets

8. realistic
Answer: (E) Something that can actually be done or achieved

9. hydrogen
Answer: (G) A lighter, non-toxic element that could be used as a cleaner fuel

10. environmental
Answer: (H) Related to the natural world and the effects of human activity on it

11. pressure
Answer: (L) Being forced to do something because you are in a tough situation

12. sustainable
Answer: (B) Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without harming the environment

13. upgraded
Answer: (N) Made better or more modern

14. impact
Answer: (K) The effect or influence of something on another thing

15. industry
Answer: (I) A particular field or branch of economic or commercial activity
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why is the glass container industry going through changes?
Answer: (b) Because of new rules and the need to be more eco-friendly.

2. What is the purpose of the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)?
Answer: (a) To make packaging lighter and more sustainable.

3. Why are people worried that the glass industry will be treated unfairly?
Answer: (c) Because glass containers are heavy compared to plastic or aluminum.

4. What is one advantage of using electric furnaces instead of gas furnaces?
Answer: (c) Electric furnaces can be better for the environment if they get their power from sustainable sources.

5. Why are electric furnaces becoming a more realistic option for glass manufacturers?
Answer: (d) Because electricity costs less now.

6. What is one challenge of using electric furnaces for making lots of glass?
Answer: (b) Electricity costs more.

7. What is one advantage of using a hybrid furnace?
Answer: (d) It can save 45,000 tonnes of CO2 every year.

8. What is one way the glass industry is trying to reduce its carbon emissions?
Answer: (a) By using more recycled glass.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Glass containers are heavier compared to plastic or aluminum, which has raised concerns about unfair treatment for the industry. (Answer: True)
2. The glass container industry is not facing changes due to new regulations and the need to be more environmentally friendly. (Answer: False)
3. The European Union is not introducing a law called the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation to make packaging lighter and more sustainable. (Answer: False)
4. The glass industry is not exploring the use of hydrogen and hybrid furnaces to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability. (Answer: False)
5. Electric furnaces can be more environmentally friendly if they are powered by sustainable sources. (Answer: True)
6. Glass can be recycled, but the process does not require a lot of energy and does not produce CO2 emissions. (Answer: False)
7. The cost of electricity has decreased, making electric furnaces a more viable option for glass manufacturers. (Answer: True)
8. Glassmakers are considering using electric furnaces instead of gas-powered ones to address these issues. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧