220 years of glass tradition: Stoelzle relies on climate protection and innovation!

220 years of glass tradition: Stoelzle relies on climate protection and innovation!

Voitsberg, Österreich - in Köflach, where the glass tradition is deeply rooted, Stoelzle Oberglas is celebrating an impressive anniversary this year: 220 years of glass art and innovation! The company is not only one of the largest employers in the region with over 500 employees: inside, but also a pioneer in climate protection and sustainability. "The commitment to environmentally friendly practices is an integral part of our corporate culture," said CEO Georg Feith.

since 2021, Stoelzle has been a climate education partner of the state of Styria, which underlines how important the company is to train its employees in the field of climate protection. For example, over 70 percent old glass shards are used in glass production - a real step towards saving raw materials, energy and CO₂. In addition, photovoltaic panels on the warehouses generate more than 3,000 mWh of green electricity every year, of which surpluses are fed into the local network.

sustainability in focus

Stoelzle also presents his third sustainability report, which grants the commitment to continuous improvement and decarbonization of the highest priority. The ambitious goals are clear: by 2030, greenhouse gas emissions (SCOPE 1 and 2) are to be reduced by 50 percent, while the reduction of SCOPE 3 emissions is to be 15 percent - based on 2019. These scientifically sound decarbonization goals were also accepted by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTI), which makes Stoelzle one of the more than 4,000 companies worldwide that have committed to these standards.

In order to further increase efficiency, Stoelzle has implemented comprehensive measures, including the introduction of a process and energy management system at all locations, which has led to energy savings of 3 to 5 percent. These measures range from optimizing cooling curves to monitoring water consumption - an example of the far -reaching steps that have contributed to the reduction of water consumption in the Austrian plant.

A look into the future

The investments in sustainable technologies and research are clearly recognizable. Stoelzle is part of an international research consortium that wants to deal with the development of environmentally friendly melting technologies. The use of hydrogen and electricity is planned instead of gas, which is a revolutionary step in glass production. A large milestone will be the full electrical feeder, which is to be put into operation in the Austrian amber glass stove by 2024.

The positive effects of the innovative approaches can already be felt: for example, the waste heat from production is used to supply around 1,800 households with district heating. And that's not all, because Stoelzle has set itself the goal of working climate -neutral by 2050. With a modern heat exchange system, an energy saving of 4,000 MWh is achieved annually, which shows that innovation spirit and a sense of responsibility go hand in hand.

For everyone who wants to be part of this exciting chapter of the glass tradition: On September 13, 2025, the 220th anniversary is celebrated with a large hut festival. In addition, the mouth blasal hut is part of a glass museum and for visitors: accessible on the inside - a wonderful view of the art of glass bladder, which is estimated in the region.