Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass to Bring Future-Focused Minds Together in Koblenz

The Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass will take place from July 27 to 30, 2026, at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, bringing together students, young researchers, and industry professionals to explore the future of circular glass systems.

Organised by Koblenz University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the EVERGLASS project, the four-day summit is designed as a hands-on, collaborative event that goes beyond traditional conferences. Rather than treating circularity as a theoretical concept, the summit invites participants to actively engage with real-world challenges and co-develop innovative solutions.

The event will focus on the current limits of glass circularity and how these boundaries can be pushed further. While glass is often described as infinitely recyclable, practical challenges remain—particularly in areas such as flat glass, where closed-loop recycling is still difficult to achieve. These gaps make glass an ideal material for experimentation, interdisciplinary thinking, and circular innovation.

Throughout the summit, participants will work in diverse teams on concrete circularity scenarios introduced by experts from industry and academia. Challenges may be technical, but they often extend beyond engineering, touching on logistics, quality standards, economics, policy, consumer behaviour, and geographic constraints. The programme encourages participants to question assumptions, test ideas, and explore unconventional approaches in a supportive environment.

The summit is open to a wide range of disciplines. While technical knowledge is welcome, creative thinking, system-level perspectives, and fresh viewpoints are equally valued. The organisers emphasise that some of the most impactful ideas emerge when different ways of thinking come together.

Shared meals and informal gatherings are an integral part of the event, providing space for continued discussion, networking, and idea exchange beyond structured working sessions. These moments are designed to strengthen connections and foster collaboration across backgrounds and experience levels.

At the conclusion of the summit, teams will present their ideas to all participants. While various awards will recognise contributions, the primary goal is the shared experience of learning, collaboration, and exploration.

The Circularity Frontiers Summit on Glass aims to create a protected space for experimentation—one without fixed answers or rigid boundaries—where participants can rethink glass circularity and imagine more sustainable systems driven by creativity and cooperation.

Young researchers, students, and industry professionals interested in glass, sustainability, and circular innovation are encouraged to participate.

For updates and further information, interested parties can register their interest or contact the organisers at summit@everglassproject.eu.