4 Factors to Prioritize When Looking for Sustainable Eyewear

As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, the individual responsibility to live more sustainably can no longer be avoided. So, a previous post highlights ten sustainable practices that can be incorporated into daily life to reduce your environmental impact and contribute to green initiatives. Such practices include using a reusable bag for grocery shopping, going paperless for bill payments, and opting for seasonal food and produce.

However, another way to make more intentional, eco-conscious choices is to look into sustainable fashion. Among the industries reevaluating their supply chains is eyewear, as it contributes to the environmental burden of plastic through its products and packaging. The globalization of the eyewear industry also made it imperative to make labor practices more socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible.

Considering brands and retailers widely vary in how they approach sustainability, here are a few factors to prioritize when shopping for green eyewear.

Research brand values and initiatives

Since more and more consumers regard sustainability as a primary influencing factor in their purchasing decisions, some companies make unsubstantiated claims that their products and manufacturing processes are environmentally friendly — a phenomenon also known as greenwashing. 

Instead of simply buying eyewear advertised as green or eco-friendly, do your research on whether or not the brand’s values and initiatives align with sustainability principles. For instance, Warby Parker partnered with Eastman to launch a molecular recycling program for its demo lenses, which are made of clear plastic and otherwise amount to over 5,000 tons of waste annually if not discarded properly.

Consider the frame materials

Besides recycling initiatives, prioritize frame materials that produce less manufacturing waste and are easier to recycle. The eyewear selection on the online optical retailer Clearly includes sunglasses frames made of eco-friendly materials that can serve as viable alternatives to plastic and acetate. 

Starting with the brand Ray-Ban, its iconic frame styles like the Aviator are available in bio-based versions, which use nylon composed of at least 40% biological content from renewable sources like castor oil. Additionally, the retailer itself has in-house, eco-friendly collections, such as the Reincarnate frames made of recycled plastic bottles.

Look for supply chain transparency

As mentioned earlier in the introduction, the eyewear industry’s environmental impact doesn’t only come from the products themselves but is also reflected across the entire supply chain. 

So, it helps to ensure the eyewear brand you’re eyeing is transparent about reducing its carbon footprint and protecting the environment, from production and manufacturing down to packaging and shipping. One way to do this is by checking how it meets the recently launched CSE (Certified Sustainable Eyewear) scheme, a global sustainability certification program that takes into account the entire product lifecycle in the eyewear industry.

Ensure durability and timelessness

Lastly, there’s no better way to make eyewear more sustainable than by ensuring the frames are durable, and the design itself is timeless. Long-lasting frames are typically made of flexible, impact-resistant metals like stainless steel and titanium, as well as thicker, lightweight plastics like the nylon-based propionate. Meanwhile, eyewear designs that remain fashionable over time include chic cat-eye shapes and classic oversized styles.

By becoming more mindful of your fashion purchases, which include everyday eyewear, you can significantly contribute to achieving sustainability goals and encouraging brands and businesses to be more ethical and environmentally conscious.