Penn State University and Italian glassmaker Bormioli Luigi have marked a major milestone by renewing their collaboration on LionGlass, a next-generation sustainable glass aimed at the cosmetics packaging industry. The second-year agreement continues efforts to commercialize LionGlass and scale production for industrial use.
Launched in 2024, LionGlass is designed as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional soda-lime glass. It melts at temperatures up to 400°C lower than traditional glass and eliminates direct carbon dioxide emissions by removing carbonates from the glass batch. In addition, it offers significantly enhanced mechanical durability, with crack resistance up to ten times higher than standard glass in certain applications.
In March 2025, Penn State researchers joined Bormioli Luigi in Murano, Italy, for a two-day pilot trial. The teams melted two 100-kilogram batches of LionGlass in a gas-powered furnace, producing more than 150 clear glass cups. Despite the furnace not being designed for continuous large-scale production, the trial successfully demonstrated LionGlass’s formability, transparency, and compatibility with traditional industrial manufacturing techniques.
Nicholas Clark, co-inventor of LionGlass and assistant research professor at Penn State, highlighted the importance of these results for commercial scale-up. John Mauro, Penn State professor and co-inventor, noted that major cosmetics brands have already expressed interest, signalling LionGlass’s potential to reshape luxury packaging sustainably. 
Future plans include refining compositions to improve mechanical performance and chemical durability, with innovations such as strontium oxide (SrO) addition. Another pilot trial in Italy is anticipated in the coming months, bringing LionGlass closer to full-scale commercialization.
Elisa Biavardi, researcher at Bormioli Luigi, praised the collaboration: “The successful Murano trial shows what’s possible when tradition meets innovation. We look forward to continuing this journey together.”
Source: psu.edu with additional information added by Glass Balkan
