By Marge Axelrad and Gwendolyn Plummer
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 2:00 AM
While sustainability and environmental concerns are not new, during the pandemic, people have become more sensitive to the environmental impact of their shopping decisions. In fact, much of the world’s recognition of the perils of climate change and accompanying social responsibility combined with shifting consumer priorities have led companies, executives, organizations and private citizens to dub this an era of a “global eco-awakening.”
By Marge Axelrad
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 1:59 AM
NEW YORK—Much progress continues to be made in developing new sustainable materials options for eyewear and sunwear manufacturers via the initiatives and collaborative efforts of Eastman (NYSE:EMN), one of the world’s largest plastics producers. Through the company’s multi-year efforts to create a more sustainable, circular approach to the system of recycling plastics into partnerships aimed at limiting the environmental impact of acetate frames and by using what they describe as “eco-responsible” formulas of recycled content and bio-sourced materials, a series of announcements have continued through 2021 and into 2022, “with more to come,” executives told VM.
By Staff
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 1:57 AM
For the team at Burnt Hills Optical in Burnt Hills, New York, being more eco-friendly is all about working sustainable practices and products into the every day. The optical offers a variety of eco-friendly lines or pieces within lines, and participates in Bausch + Lomb’s Terracycle program, encouraging patients to bring their contact lens waste into the office for the team to recycle for them.
By Staff
Tuesday, May 24, 2022 1:56 AM
NEW YORK—The major contact lens companies are each amplifying their commitments to sustainability efforts via materials, manufacturing and packaging processes, as VM reported last month. Alcon, Bausch + Lomb and CooperVision are expanding sustainability and recycling. Among many other things from each of these companies, Alcon said it has earned the GreenCircle Zero Waste to Landfill Certification for three of its ophthalmic drop and solutions’ manufacturing facilities—two in Fort Worth, Texas, and one in Singapore.
By Staff
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 12:27 AM
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—
Johnson & Johnson Vision, which works to help people around the world see better, connect better and live better, said it understands the value in extending this commitment to ensure it supports the health of the planet as well. “After all, it takes a healthy planet to have healthy people and communities,” the company noted in a recent LinkedIn post coinciding with World Earth Day (April 22). In addition, J&J Vision said late last week that it has made two important changes to the way some products are made and distributed to benefit the planet. The changes and products are:
By Staff
Friday, April 22, 2022 12:33 AM
NEW YORK—The leading contact lens companies, along with many other businesses in the optical industry, noted this week their efforts to expand plastic recycling programs and to create, what one company calls, “a more sustainable world.” The announcements from three major contact lens companies—
Alcon,
Bausch + Lomb and
CooperVision—identify specific new programs they currently have under way and outlines some of the results coming from their ongoing efforts toward sustainability. The announcements included the following:
By Staff
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 12:27 AM
BERLIN—
Mykita and
Eastman (NYSE:EMN) will join forces to accelerate the transition to sustainable materials in the eyewear industry, the companies said. From today, leading independent eyewear brand Mykita will exclusively source the sustainable Acetate Renew, produced by Eastman’s innovative molecular recycling technology.
By Staff
Monday, March 14, 2022 12:18 AM
NEW YORK—
Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) announced last Friday a new partnership with
Eastman (NYSE:EMN) to pioneer a first-of-its-kind demo lens molecular recycling program. One of the greatest environmental impacts within the eyewear industry is the lack of a recycling solution for demo lenses—the clear plastic lenses used across the industry to maintain frame shape and integrity while in transit, on display and for try-on. With the 600 million frames produced annually industry-wide, the announcement said, this practice accounts for over 5,000 tons of waste per year globally.
By Staff
Friday, February 25, 2022 12:21 AM
SAN RAMON, Calif.—One year after
CooperVision established the first plastic neutral contact lens though a trailblazing partnership with
Plastic Bank, the program has made a significant environmental and social impact worldwide, according to an announcement from CooperVision.
By Staff
Monday, February 14, 2022 12:21 AM
HONG KONG—
Icare Group said last week that it achieved the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus. This demonstrates Icare Group’s continuous effort to preserve the environment and to reach outstanding levels of corporate social responsibility (CSR), the announcement noted.
By Staff
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 12:15 AM
LAVAL, Quebec, and TRENTON, N.J.—
Bausch + Lomb, a leading global eye health business of
Bausch Health Companies Inc (NYSE/TSX: BHC), announced its exclusive
ONE by ONE and
Biotrue Eye Care Recycling programs have recycled a total of 41,358,603 million units, or 248,516 pounds, of used contact lens, eye and lens care materials.
By Staff
Monday, November 15, 2021 12:15 AM
MILAN—As its organizers note that
Mido "has always promoted a sustainable connection with both people and the planet, aiming at a restart that is going to be respectful of the 'Wonder' around us," the show is launching "Stand Up for Green," a competition that rewards exhibiting booths that stand for eco-awareness. Mido, the international eyewear and optics exhibition set to return to an in-person show Feb. 12-14, 2022, with the theme "Craving Wonder," provided some details this week of the new competition, for which applications are to be accepted through Jan.15, 2022. Organizers say they are "looking for booths made of reusable modules, eco-friendly materials or low environmental impact raw materials."
By Staff
Thursday, October 28, 2021 12:18 AM
LAVAL, Quebec, and TRENTON, N.J.—
Bausch + Lomb, the eye health business unit of Bausch Health Companies (NYSE/TSX: BHC), announced the launch of the
Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program, which the company said is the first and only eyecare recycling program in the U.S. The new program will allow consumers who participate in the program to properly recycle all brands of their eye drop single dose units, lens cases and lens solution caps, as well as Biotrue Hydration Boost Lubricant Eye Drops multi-dose bottles through a collaboration with TerraCycle, a world leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, according to the announcement.