O-I Glass plans to invest $65 million into the electrification and decarbonisation of its Veauche, France plant.
As the first O-I plant globally to use this technology, one of its two furnaces will be renovated and equipped with hybrid-flex technology.
This technology establishes flexibility to replace up to 70% of the conventional fossil-fuel-based energy with electricity.
The furnace will also be equipped with heat recovery and an air preheating system, creating further efficiency gains and reductions in energy consumption and emissions.
At an average 50% electricity level, on-site CO2 emissions are expected to drop by approximately 43% compared to a traditional furnace, contributing to the company’s global target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The new technology is set to reduce NOx emissions on top of the effects from the DeNOx system already installed on site.
O-I also plans to install a carbon-lowering heat recovery system in the plant.
Heat recovered from the furnace will feed a new internal energy distribution network and will supply up to 94% of the plant’s heating needs.
Once both investments are completed – expected for December 2025 – the Veauche plant will be one of the most modern and sustainable sites for O-I globally.
At that time, the entire site is expected to reduce its CO2 emissions by up to 35% versus pre-2020 levels, when its other furnace was completely rebuilt.
With two furnaces and seven lines, Veauche produces approximately 300 million bottles each year.
It is a role model for a local circular economy leveraging up to 87% of cullet sourced from a processing plant 20 km away.
The plant in Veauche is well located within a few hours of most of its customers, minimizing delivery and logistics.
Built in 1882, the plant is a key site dedicated to modern high-tech glassmaking, manufacturing bottles for premium markets such as champagne, spirits and wine.
