Bormioli Luigi has renewed its partnership for a second year in a project with Penn State University (PSU) aimed at commercializing a new family of eco-friendly glass. 

The glass, known as LionGlass, could be used for cosmetic packaging.

The partnership began in 2024 and is focused on scaling up Penn State’s LionGlass as a sustainable alternative to traditional soda lime glass.

LionGlass melts at temperatures up to 400°C lower than conventional glass and eliminates direct carbon dioxide emissions by removing carbonates from the glass batch. It also offers enhanced mechanical durability, in some cases up to 10 times higher crack resistance than conventional glass, according to PSU.

Nicholas Clark, an assistant research professor at Penn State—and co-inventor of LionGlass—said in a statement,

“We were able to not only show that LionGlass could be melted at significantly lower temperatures and without carbonates, but we also demonstrated the formability of LionGlass and its ability to remain transparent and smooth.”

Pilot Trial in Italy

Researchers ran a pilot in Murano, Italy. Over two days in March, the team melted two 100-kilogram batches of LionGlass and formed over 150 clear glass cups.

The trial also confirmed compatibility with traditional, industrial-style glass manufacturing techniques, according to PSU.

The next steps for the project include refining LionGlass compositions to improve mechanical performance and chemical durability, with hopes of matching or exceeding the properties of soda lime glass.

Another trial in Italy is anticipated in the coming months, according to PSU.

Verallia, a large producer of glass containers for food and beverages, also formed a partnership with PSU to scale up the use of LionGlass.

In the photo above from left to right: Brittney Hauke, Penn State doctoral student; Titus Reed, Penn State doctoral student; Elif Akman, Penn State doctoral student; Elizabeth Aichele, undergraduate student at Penn State; Andrea Marostica, of Bormioli Luigi; Elisa Biavardi, of Bormioli Luigi; Nicholas Clark, postdoctoral scholar at Penn State; and John Mauro, Penn State professor.

Photo: Michael Owen / Penn State. Creative Commons