Have you heard of our #GSOIClimateChallenge launching on February 1st?
We’re celebrating the launch of the International Year of Glass 2022 and challenging ourselves to become more sustainable in our everyday glass practices!
It can be overwhelming when we think of all the different ways we could lower our carbon footprint in our studios and lives.
- Where do we start, if we haven’t yet?
- If we’ve already implemented some climate conscious practices, what else could we do?
To help us answer these questions, we brought together members of the Glass Society of Ireland for a ThinkTank to spark ideas and motivate each other to start making small changes in our field.
To start, here are a few quick tips we came up with:
Rethink Materials
Find new uses for the “scrap” you produce – glass, grog, plaster, etc – reuse it or share it with others in your community! Your trash really could be someone else’s treasure.
Reuse packaging materials to make shipping more Eco-friendly. Collaborate with other businesses that may have excess packaging — their waste may be your packaging dream!
Be Aware of Water Usage
Remember to check your water taps for drips and fix those ASAP!
Set up a rain barrel to collect and reuse water.
Conserve Energy
Turn down the heat!
Add a layer of clothing on, or add a hot water bottle to your studio attire.
Unplug the equipment you’re not actively using.
Change your energy provider to one that provides green energy.
Recycle
It is always better to reuse before you recycle — but if you can’t reuse it, don’t forget to clean and separate your recyclables.
Bottle glass is infinitely recyclable but needs to be clean and sorted by colour.
Check your local authority for recycling guidelines.
Ask 3 Glassy Friends to Join the Challenge
Let’s all learn and motivate each other to make small changes which will help make a difference in the carbon footprint of our field. Tag a few glassy friends around the world and let’s make the International Year of Glass the greenest we can.
We’re looking forward to seeing your tips for our #GSOIClimateChallenge!
Even if you’ve been doing these things in your studio for years — please share! You’ll motivate others and create change. If you have other quick tips we haven’t listed above — please share! The more knowledge we gather and communicate with each other, the better our field will become!
Post a photo, a video, or go live in your Instagram stories to share with us! Why not bring your glass studio onto TikTok and share with the world?
Don’t forget to tag #GSOIClimateChallenge in all of your posts so we can find and re-share your tips!
The event will launch from Feb 1st — but let’s continue sharing throughout the IYOG2022 to create practices that are sustainable in our everyday glass-filled lives.
And remember: the simplest change you can make in your glass studio can make a huge difference.
