We often think of glass in its most familiar form: the bottle. This universal container, found on our tables and in our refrigerators, plays a crucial role in the circular economy. At 2M Ressources, a significant part of our work involves processing these bottles so they can be reintegrated into the circular economy. Some are turned back into bottles, while others are transformed into mineral wool, contributing to the sustainable insulation of our buildings. But glass is far more than just recyclable packaging.
For millennia, it has shaped our lives—sometimes without us even realizing it. It has revolutionized science, opened the doors to both the infinitely large and the infinitely small, changed how we see the world, and enabled innovations that we now take for granted. Prescription glasses, telescopes, microscopes, fiber optics, and smartphone screens—glass is everywhere. Its evolution has never stopped, and even today, it continues to reinvent itself. To better understand just how essential glass is, let’s take a journey through its history and its many revolutions.
A Millennia-Old History: Between Nature and Human Craftsmanship
Long before humans mastered the art of glassmaking, this material already existed in nature. The intense heat of volcanoes, meteorite impacts, or lightning striking sand could cause glass to form spontaneously. Obsidian, a black and shiny volcanic glass, was one of the first materials used by our ancestors. Its hardness and sharp edges made it ideal for crafting cutting tools and weapons. Archaeological evidence shows that obsidian was used to shape knife blades and arrowheads over a million years ago. Even today, some surgical scalpels are made from obsidian, as its edge is finer than that of steel blades.
The history of manufactured glass begins much later, around 5,600 BCE in the Middle East. The first glass objects were decorative beads, likely the result of an accidental reaction in a metalworking furnace. Craftsmen quickly recognized the potential of this material and sought to refine it. The Egyptians and Mesopotamians perfected these techniques, creating colorful jewelry, cups, and vases. However, at this time, glass remained opaque, far from the transparency we know today.
From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance: The Quest for Transparency
It was not until the rise of the Roman Empire that glass became more widespread. The Romans mastered the art of glassblowing, a technique that allowed for the production of thinner and more abundant glassware. Glass became a part of daily life, used for storing food and transporting liquids. However, it was still far from being completely clear. For centuries, glass remained tinted or cloudy.
The true revolution in transparency came during the Middle Ages, in Italy—specifically on the island of Murano. In the late 13th century, the Republic of Venice decided to relocate all its glassmakers to this island to reduce the risk of fires in the city and to protect their manufacturing secrets. It was there that Angelo Barovier, a master glassmaker in the 15th century, developed cristallo, an unprecedentedly clear glass. By adding manganese and plant ash rich in potassium, he was able to eliminate impurities and create truly transparent glass.
This invention changed history: a new era had begun. Glass was no longer just for containing, protecting, or decorating—it became a tool for discovery. One of its first revolutionary impacts was on vision itself.
Seeing the Invisible: Microscopes, Telescopes, and Scientific Revolutions
For centuries, vision problems were an unsolvable issue. Those suffering from presbyopia or other visual impairments had no choice but to adapt as best they could. But in the 13th century, the first corrective glasses appeared in Italy. Roughly shaped glass lenses allowed their wearers to read more easily. Initially, they were reserved for scholars, monks, and scribes—those whose work required precise reading. But one invention changed everything: Gutenberg’s printing press in 1440. With the rise of books and reading, more and more people became aware of their vision problems and sought solutions. Demand for glasses surged, making them an everyday object.
Glass not only corrected vision but also allowed humans to see the invisible. In the late 16th century, a father and son, Hans and Zacharias Janssen, combined two lenses in a tube and created the first microscope.
But glass did not only reveal the infinitely small—it also opened up the cosmos. In 1609, an Italian scientist heard about a new instrument capable of visually bringing distant objects closer. This was the telescope, and that man was Galileo.
Un matériau d’avenir : du numérique à l’architecture intelligente
The impact of glass did not stop with these groundbreaking discoveries. It has played a key role in more recent advancements, particularly in communications. Today, we exchange information in a fraction of a second thanks to a global network of fiber optics—thin strands of glass that can carry light over thousands of kilometers. More transparent than water, these fibers form the backbone of the internet, fundamentally changing how we communicate and work.
And its evolution continues. While we still use glasses, microscopes, and telescopes, other forms of glass shape our daily lives. One of the most iconic is the glass used in smartphone screens. Contrary to popular belief, the glass in these devices is far from fragile.
But innovation is not limited to screens. In architecture, self-cleaning glass coated with nanotechnology allows windows and solar panels to remain clean using only the power of sunlight. Other advancements include antibacterial glass, which could revolutionize the medical field by reducing the spread of germs in hospitals.
Glass is all around us—quietly essential, both a legacy of the past and a material of the future. At 2M Ressources, we are fully aware of its importance. While our primary mission is to recycle and reintegrate glass into the circular economy, we also recognize that its impact extends far beyond that.
