Founded in 2020 by Tulane University students Franziska Trautmann and Max Steitz, Glass Half Full has transformed from a grassroots initiative into the nation’s first company turning recycled glass into coastal restoration material. With support from local partners like the St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation, Meraux Foundation, and Benson Capital Partners—and a $5.7 million research collaboration with Tulane and the National Science Foundation—the company has opened a state-of-the-art, three-acre facility in Chalmette, capable of processing over 300,000 pounds of glass daily.
A new report from global news outlet Reuters highlights Louisiana’s growing prominence as a dynamic Gulf Coast energy hub, citing the state’s leadership in LNG exports—projected to exceed $30 billion in 2024—and its advancement of more than 60 carbon capture projects alongside expansions in hydrogen, ammonia, and steel. Major global companies like Meta and Hyundai Steel are investing heavily in the state, attracted by Louisiana’s abundant natural gas, the lowest industrial electricity costs in the nation, and smart policy positioning that appeals to both Republican and Democratic administrations.
