Slovenian glass manufacturer Steklarna Hrastnik has launched what it describes as the ‘world’s most sustainable glass bottle’.

It said the main game changer was the use of hydrogen in the manufacturing process.

Hydrogen can be produced in several ways, one being when electric current splits water into oxygen and hydrogen, called electrolysis.

The electricity needed for process preferably comes from renewable energy source, use of solar cells, making production and storage of renewable and green hydrogen gas possible.

The melted glass for first initial batch production of the carbon free bottles involved renewable energy source as in use of solar cells, green hydrogen gas and external cullet collected from waste recycled glass.

Oxygen and air were used as an oxidizer.

This only emission produced in the glass making process was water vapour instead of carbon dioxide.

The company aid it was prepared to invest further on an industrial scale production for brands that are exceptionally committed to sustainability and future decarbonisation.

CEO Peter Cas said: “Producing product with no significant impact on glass quality detected, made our hard work worthwhile.

"Energy efficiency in glass melting has reached its theoretical limitations in last decades, thus this technological improvement was very much needed.

“Our focus to reduce our own carbon dioxide emissions in production processes has been a priority for some time and it is with great pride we admire now this special series of bottles.

"Providing one of the clearest glass remains at the forefront of our mission, hand in hand with sustainability focus. Technological innovations will be of key importance in the coming years for Hrastnik1860.”

It plans to replace a third of its fossil fuel consumption by 2025 using green energy, an increase of energy efficiency by 10% and to decrease its carbon footprint by more than 25%.

By 2030 it will reduce its our carbon footprint by more than 40% and be neutral by 2050.

“The Climate Law is already legally mandating climate neutrality by 2050 for all member states. We will do our part. For our better tomorrow and a brighter future of coming generations,” Mr Cas added.