As one of the world’s most established producers of industrial minerals for the glass industry, Italy-headquartered Minerali Industriali has joined the global certification and standards programme called ResponsibleGlass, to advance more responsible, low-carbon glass production and sourcing.

The company is the first major mining company to join the ResponsibleGlass initiative.

Minerali Industriali specialises in the extraction, processing and supplying of sands, feldspars, clays and kaolin to supply glass, ceramics, sanitary ware and paint industries globally.

The group operates production units and mine sites across Italy, the UK, Türkiye, Czech Republic, Egypt, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Guatemala.

The company holds mining concessions covering more than 3 500 ha and produces about 3.5-million tonnes of raw materials a year.

In turn, ResponsibleGlass is supported by the world’s largest glass producers, industrial manufacturers, global mining organisations and automotive brands.

Minerali Industriali aims to strengthen upstream representation of the glass value chain and ensure the role of raw material extraction, processing and sourcing is fully embedded within the industry’s sustainability framework.

“We joined the ResponsibleGlass project to bring our unique perspective as raw materials producers from the mining industry into this collaborative and forward‑looking space. 

“We see a valuable opportunity to contribute to meaningful discussions and gain insights from other stakeholders across the glass end‑to‑end value chain,” says Minerali Industriali research and development director Ivano Menso.

Unlike sectors such as steel or timber, the glass industry has long lacked a unified, global sustainability framework covering the full value chain – which ResponsibleGlass aims to address.

Participating in this project allows Minerali Industriali to reflect on key sustainability challenges while sharing its expertise on the essential role of raw materials in the green transition.

As demand for glass grows across construction, automotive, renewable energy, packaging and advanced technology markets, scrutiny over land use, sourcing practices and supply chain transparency is intensifying.

Minerali Industriali believes sustainability in the glass industry starts at the source, with global mining firms needing to contribute to the initiative so that standards are grounded in the realities of extraction and raw material supply.

ResponsibleGlass will continue to expand its international membership through the year as it develops certification criteria and prepares for pilot assessments across the glass value chain.

“We believe our involvement can help strengthen the dialogue around circular economy practices and highlight how responsible sourcing is fundamental to the future of the glass industry,” Menso concludes.