(PRESS RELEASE) NEW ORLEANS — CooperVision has announced that its full portfolio of silicone hydrogel 1-day contact lenses is now net plastic neutral1 in the United States, expanding the company’s leadership in sustainability and increasing the environmental impact of this trailblazing initiative. The MyDay daily disposable family now joins the clariti 1 day family, which was the first net plastic neutral contact lens1. In the year since the venture began, the U.S. effort has already prevented the equivalent of more than 22 million plastic bottles from reaching the world’s oceans. Globally, the initiative’s impact has grown to a total of nearly 28 million plastic bottles.
CooperVision’s net plastic neutral initiative is made possible through a partnership with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain. For every box of clariti® 1 day or MyDay distributed in the U.S., CooperVision funds the collection, processing, and reuse of general plastic waste that is equal to the weight of the plastic contained in the lenses and packaging.1 Over the last year, thousands of eye care professionals and their patients have already contributed to the cause, simply by prescribing and wearing clariti 1 day.
“Many current and prospective contact lens wearers are invested in improving the environment, and they make conscious purchasing decisions based on those values,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Vice President, Professional & Government Affairs, Americas, CooperVision. “By expanding the CooperVision net plastic neutral initiative to include two full families of silicone hydrogel 1-day lenses, we’re providing eye care professionals and their patients more options—and greater opportunity—to make a difference.”
In a 2021 survey, 83% of contact lens considerers agreed that their interest in trying contact lenses would increase if a net plastic neutral lens was an option.2 Similarly, 81% agreed that a plastic neutral 1-day contact lens would make them feel better about using daily disposable contact lenses.3
Over the last several years, CooperVision has continuously deepened its commitment to sustainability. In addition to pioneering the net plastic neutral concept for the contact lens sector, the company has developed best-in-class manufacturing processes resulting in award-winning conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and prestigious sustainability certifications in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Spain, and the United Kingdom. On average, more than 95% of the materials in CooperVision’s production process are recycled.4 And as part of the company’s effort to use renewable resources, all of its operations in New York and Mountpark, U.K. are powered by renewable energy.
“While net plastic neutrality is an unprecedented commitment in our industry, it is only one part of our holistic effort. We’ve built a strong foundation to make an impact today, while working on longer-term innovations to create even bigger change tomorrow,” said Melissa Kiewe, Vice President of Marketing, Americas, CooperVision.
For more information about the CooperVision net plastic neutral initiative and its commitment to sustainability, visit sustainability.coopervision.com.