FOR YEARS, COMPANIES like House of MODO, Silhouette, and Bausch + Lomb have been firmly established as OG sustainability stans. Their early efforts opened the door to a world of sustainability-focused efforts across the industry including recycling programs, environmental protections commitments, and innovations in the development of materials, packaging, and workspaces. This fresh slate of companies and initiatives are now putting their best foot forward to reduce the optical industry’s environmental impact for the long term.
Frame the Future (FTF)
This nonprofit alliance aims to “accelerate collective action on sustainability in eyewear.” Created by sustainability experts from Mykita, Net Zero Eyecare, and Skans Eyewear, FTF intends to provide a neutral platform with three key goals: resource conservation, climate resilience, and social equity.
framethefuture.org
Terracycle
ECPs can recycle materials via TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box program and Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE Free Recycling Program. Both recycle items including glasses and contacts, packaging waste from solutions, eye drops, and old contact lens cases.
866-846-7786, terracycle.com
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Vallon/Cleanhub Partnership
In partnership with CleanHub, Vallon has committed to collect and recycle 1 kilogram of plastic waste for every pair of eyewear sold. Vallon’s styles include Watchtowers, sustainable sun shields for sports made from 85% recycled fishing nets fused into a highly durable and lightweight nylon 6.
vallon.com
Eyes on Tomorrow
Marchon Eyewear’s Eyes on Tomorrow program focuses on three pillars: eyewear (sustainable products, packaging), supply chain (product manufacturing, transport, storage), and people (inclusive environment for staff). Dragon Style DR2067, made with premium Acetate Renew, reflects all three.
marchon.com
Piedmont Plastics
Got demo lenses to recycle? Piedmont Plastics will take them. The company creates custom recycling plans for its customers and will also accept demo lenses shipped from ECPs looking for a recycling option.
piedmontplastics.com
PPG Optical Monomers and Coatings
PPG manufactures UV cure technology that supports energy and production efficiency through shorter curing times, lower temperature requirements, and increased throughput. Beyond traditional lens production, UV cure technology also enables next-generation additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) and supports embedded lens components that are a necessary part of the designs for smart eyewear.
ppg.com/en-us/optical
Smart Ways to Achieve Sustainability
Marian Macowan, ABOC DR. BURFORD OPTOMETRY
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Sending our demo lenses to Piedmont Plastics has created less waste for us. It also gives our office the satisfaction of hopefully keeping landfills less full. The availability of this program is important. It not only helps [reduce] waste, but it brings different businesses together to work as one to create a lasting impact on the environment.
Julia Gogosha
GOGOSHA OPTIQUE and TEMPLE OF THE FRAMES
LOS ANGELES, CA
Frame the Future is not just about benefiting [businesses]. It’s about benefiting the greater us. If it benefits us, it benefits all. Some of it is as simple as not having excess packaging or packaging that is difficult to dispose of. And for others [it’s about] a full-circle product where the end consumer knows they’re putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to their values. Frame the Future gives a blueprint so anyone can make sustainable decisions when they’re creating their collection or [bringing] anything new into the world. It isn’t something customers think about until they’re finished with their frame [or packaging] and then they’re like, “What do I do with this?” Now they can say, “I have an option that I know specifically aligns with my values, one that’s been sussed out. I can purchase with confidence.”
