Johnson Matthey is a leading manufacturer of frits and glazes for the glass and ceramics industries. A frit is a glass which is made by melting together raw materials and quenching to ambient temperature. Frits and glazes are used to finish glass and ceramic products. Different chemical compositions of frits give the product different physical properties including melting point and firing characteristics.

Lead has traditionally been used in the manufacture of frits and glazes since it imparts favourable properties to the finished product. Concerns over potential health risks to end users from lead in glazes and frits, coupled with the expensive precautions necessary to protect workers in the manufacturing process have resulted in manufactures seeking out novel alternatives to the use of lead.

Johnson Matthey has pioneered the engineering out of lead in a number of key products. Today Johnson Matthey has market leading ranges of lead free products for the glass industry. This innovation was recognised in 1995 when Johnson Matthey received recognition for the development of unleaded decorative products for tableware and glass in the annual Business Commitment to the Environment awards in the UK.