Bausch + Lomb Collects More Than 84 Million Units of Contact Lenses, Lens Care and Eye Care Materials Through Innovative Recycling Programs
Tuesday, April 23 2024 | 13 h 40 min | News
Bausch + Lomb announced its ONE by ONE and Biotrue® Eye Care Recycling programs have collected 84,343,540 units, or 510,116 pounds, of used contact lenses, eye care and lens care materials in the U.S., which is greater than the weight of the Statue of Liberty.1
“Eye care professionals, patients and consumers have helped us collect hundreds of millions of these used materials through our recycling programs over the years, making a positive impact in the world. In conjunction with our other sustainable business practices, we continue to do all we can to help reduce waste and promote environmental responsibility throughout our organization.”
Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Bausch + Lomb
In the U.S., an estimated six to ten metric tons of contact lens packaging waste ends up in wastewater each year. Eye health packaging materials collected through the Bausch + Lomb recycling programs are used to create various post-consumer products like picnic tables and benches.
“The Bausch + Lomb recycling programs are an important part of our practice’s efforts to reduce waste and practice sustainability. It’s gratifying to know that the materials we collect in partnership with our patients are repurposed rather than ending up in a landfill or ocean.”
Jennifer Tsai, OD, LINE OF SIGHT, New York
Recycling Programs
The ONE by ONE Recycling program has collected nearly 84 million used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since the program’s launch in November 2016.
The Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program, which launched in April 2021, has collected nearly 825,000 eye drop single dose units, lens cases, lens solution caps, as well as all Biotrue-branded eye drop bottles2.
In addition to the U.S., Bausch + Lomb has a similar contact lens recycling program in Canada called Every Contact Counts.
Visit www.bausch.com/impact for more information.
Click HERE for the full press release.
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References
1. All About Lady Liberty: The Statue of Liberty. Accessed on April 12, 2024. https://www.royalcoachman.com/blog/all-about-lady-liberty-the-statue-of-liberty/#:~:text=Total%20weight%20of%20the%20Statue,tons%20(or%20450%2C000%20pounds).
2. Contact lens solution bottles are recyclable through standard recycling.
