In May last year, the United Nations approved an application submitted by the International Commission on Glass, ICOM-Glass and the Community Glass Associations for the UN International Year of Glass (IYOG) to take place in 2022.
Purpose of the IYOG
The IYOG is an opportunity to showcase globally what makes the glass industry so progressive and innovative. Glass plays an important role in many aspects of our day to day lives, but the advancement of technology and scientific understanding because of glass is often overlooked.
Plans
Thorough planning has been carried out to ensure the year is a success. To help with the planning, 18 Regional Organisations were created to enable each section of the globe to have a local committee. Throughout the world, events and activities have been organised, with the support of glassmakers, suppliers, academic and research establishments, museums and many others.
The opening conference for the year of celebrations will take place in Geneva in February, with the closing ceremony being held in Japan in December. Some of the other activities planned include an International ICG congress in Berlin in July and a conference ‘From Pharaohs to High Tech Glass’ is being held in Egypt in the spring. British Glass is to hold the annual Recycling Summit in March, as well as in November, when it will host the Focus Glass Awards.
The global events have been organised to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the glass industry throughout history, as well as looking to the future of the material.
