So, what exactly is the concept of sustainability? It’s crucial to recognize from the outset that the category of eyeglasses is inherently highly sustainable. It is because eyeglasses last a long time. Because of this, replacing eyeglasses is significantly less often than replacing footwear or other sporting equipment.
How frequently? Although optometrists advise yearly ocular examinations to guarantee that clients have appropriate prescriptions that necessitate lens replacement, the life of eyeglass frames is significantly longer. Natural materials, including horns, are used to make sustainable eyeglass frames. These materials are supplemented with recyclable packaging and other resource-efficient parts.
What Makes Sustainable Eyewear Unique?
The word is essential given the current trend in many firms towards sustainability. Unfortunately, “greenwashing,” or the construction of an environmentally benign image around items that do not meet sustainability requirements, has become more common due to this trend.
These genuine standards apply to sustainable eyewear from independent manufacturers showcased on the marketplace. They consist of:
Short distances in the supply chain:
The globalization age has caused product supply networks to span tremendous distances. Manufacturing prices and raw materials are low in some places of the world. Business enterprises should have a large portion of their products made in remote areas and inexpensively shipped elsewhere. It comes at a high cost to the environment’s CO2 emissions. Thus, minimal distances are the goal of sustainable eyewear.
Localized manufacturing:
Localized production is one of the vital strategies used by environmentally conscious eyewear makers to maintain a minimal environmental impact. Several optical companies in this article run their whole manufacturing process out of their corporate offices. Furthermore, it guarantees equitable labor practices and considerably shortens the time to market for 3D printing technology.
Eco-friendly materials:
The raw materials that go into making eyeglasses and other items also affect the total environmental impact. Because of this, it’s great to know that eco-friendly eyewear companies emphasize using clean, renewable materials. Eco-friendly materials like bamboo, repurposed wood, recycled plastic, biodegradable acetate, and ethically sourced metals were given priority when creating sustainable eyewear.
These materials have a minimal environmental impact and lessen the need for virgin resources. In some material categories, such as wood, natural horn, cutting-edge “bioplastics,” bio acetate, or a fresh assortment of recycled materials, several businesses have established themselves as “masters” with their knowledge. Of course, recycling is essential to sustainable eyewear companies.
Environmentally Sustainable Production:
Reducing their carbon footprint during production is a priority for sustainable eyewear businesses. It might entail the usage of water recycling, eco-friendly packaging, and energy-efficient industrial facilities.
Longevity and repairability:
Sustainable eyewear prioritizes repairability above disposability and gets made to last. This method lessens the need for frequent replacements and increases the longevity of eyeglasses.
Recycling at all levels:
Reusing raw materials is essential to sustainable eyewear makers along the supply chain. It begins with using recycled or upcycled materials, such as plastic or acetate, in newly designed eyeglasses. Furthermore, it involves the utilization of cardboard or recycled paper for product packaging and collateral. Maintaining a closed cycle in which nothing gets wasted is the vital goal, as the word recycling indicates!
Environmental initiatives:
Manufacturing environmentally friendly goods is just one aspect of what sustainable eyewear businesses accomplish. A large number of them also involve their collections with charitable endeavors. Tree planting and beach cleanup are two examples of these environmental concerns. Their humanitarian efforts, which include giving visually impaired people in impoverished places corrected glasses, serve as a more profound example of sustainability.
