CooperVision Expands Canada’s First Plastic Neutral Initiative

Friday, April 22 2022 | 15 h 01 min | News

CooperVision has announced that its full portfolio of silicone hydrogel 1-day contact lenses is now net plastic neutral through credits we purchase from Plastic Bank in Canada, 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 lens in Canada. 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 Canada, CooperVision contributes to the collection, processing, and reuse of general plastic waste that is equal to the weight of the plastic contained in the lenses and packaging.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, 95% of Canadian contact lens wearers say being plastic neutral has a positive impact on their interest in trying a daily disposable lens. Similarly, 89% of Canadian contact lens wearers agree that having a sustainable, daily disposable contact lens would make them feel better about using daily disposable contact lenses.

“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 Brian Filan, Director of Marketing, Canada, CooperVision.

 Click HERE for the full press release.