Sustainability in Sight: Green Frames, Lenses, and Best Practices
Wednesday, April 16 2025 | 13 h 02 min | News
By Shan Khan
The optical industry is evolving, with sustainability at the forefront of innovation. From biodegradable frames and lenses to closed-loop recycling programs, eyewear manufacturers are taking bold steps to reduce environmental impact without compromising on quality or style.
Join us as we spotlight the brands shaping the future of eco-friendly eyewear—because every frame, lens, contact lens, and material choice matters.
A Breakthrough in Eco-Friendly Materials
Silhouette is redefining sustainable eyewear with SPX Green+, a bio-circular material crafted from organic waste sourced from agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture. By eliminating fossil fuels, SPX Green+ significantly reduces environmental impact while maintaining premium aesthetics and durability.
Used in the Clear Sky collection, this innovative material is produced using 100% renewable energy, cutting carbon emissions by 60% compared to traditional fossil-based materials. The entire production process is CO₂ neutral, reinforcing Silhouette’s commitment to sustainability.
Fashion Meets Environmental Responsibility
Michael Schmied, Silhouette’s CMO and grandson of its founders, recognizes the industry’s shift toward sustainable fashion. “Consumers now prioritize eco-conscious products. Clear Sky is our solution to climate change—one frame at a time.”
Arizona Muse, Global Sustainability Advocate and model, is the face of Silhouette’s “The World We Want to See” campaign. She applauds Silhouette’s commitment to reducing fossil fuel dependence and crafting eyewear that aligns with modern environmental values.
Inspired by Mediterranean ecosystems, the Clear Sky collection blends nature-inspired design with cutting-edge sustainability. By pioneering bio-circular materials, Silhouette proves that luxury and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand, setting a new industry benchmark.
The Clear Sky collection and other Silhouette eyewear are distributed in Canada by Canadian Optical Supply.
Sustainable by Design
Immagine 98 Eyewear, supplied in Canada by Mood Eyewear, blends premium Italian craftsmanship with a deep commitment to sustainability. Based in the Italian Dolomite mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the brand is dedicated to eco-friendly practices that align with Italy’s strict environmental regulations for eyewear manufacturers.
Since April 2019, Italian law has required manufacturers to use environmentally responsible materials, ensuring frames are both durable and sustainable. Immagine 98 has long embraced this ethos, crafting eyewear designed to outlast fast fashion trends, reducing waste, and minimizing environmental impact.
Built to Last, Ethically Made
The company goes beyond sustainability in materials. Unlike many brands, replacement parts remain available long after warranties expire, allowing for repairs instead of replacements. This extends product life and reduces landfill waste, making each pair a long-term investment in both style and sustainability.
Fair trade principles are also at the heart of Immagine 98. Skilled artisans are compensated fairly, ensuring meticulous craftsmanship and award-winning designs that balance fashion and function.
With a focus on ongoing research and innovation, Immagine 98 continues to refine its processes, ensuring minimal environmental impact while delivering high-quality, stylish frames.
Immagine 98 offers consumers a chance to support sustainable luxury—where timeless design meets responsible production.
Marchon Eyewear: A Commitment to Sustainable Innovation
Marchon Eyewear is advancing sustainability through its Eyes on Tomorrow® initiative, incorporating eco-friendly materials and circular production processes to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimize environmental impact.
Acetate Renew™: A Circular Approach
Marchon was the first eyewear company to adopt Eastman Acetate Renew™, made from 28% certified recycled content and 42% bio-based content. This innovation cuts greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel usage, while acetate frame production waste—typically 80% discarded—is now recycled back into new material, creating a closed-loop system.
Alternative Materials for a Greener Future
Marchon incorporates upcycled plastic from recycled water bottles, transforming waste into durable eyewear frames. Plant-based resin, derived from castor-bean oil, is used in lightweight frames containing 45-60% bio-based materials. Additionally, its Responsible Acetate (over 60% bio-based) and bio-based lenses (made with 44% renewable biomass content) provide cleaner, sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics.
Eliminating Harmful Substances
Marchon has eliminated PVC from all frames, removing a material known to harm both human health and the environment. Nickel-free treatments have also been introduced across several collections, reducing allergen exposure.
By integrating sustainable materials and responsible production practices, Marchon Eyewear proves that fashion and sustainability can go hand in hand, setting a new benchmark for environmentally conscious eyewear.
OTP Sun Spring/Summer 2025: Sustainable Style for the Modern Consumer
WestGroupe introduces the OTP Sun Spring/Summer 2025 Collection, merging eco-conscious materials with bold, fashion-forward designs. Committed to sustainability, OTP incorporates biodegradable lenses, eco-friendly acetate, and recyclable components, offering stylish eyewear with reduced environmental impact.
A Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of OTP’s design philosophy. The brand prioritizes biodegradable acetate, made from natural sources, as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. The collection also features biodegradable lenses, providing the same optical clarity and durability as traditional lenses while naturally breaking down over time to reduce long-term waste. Recyclable nose pads and sustainably crafted cases further reinforce OTP’s dedication to responsible production.
Balancing style and sustainability, OTP frames incorporate retro influences, bold structures, and contemporary finishes, demonstrating that eco-conscious design can coexist with modern aesthetics. The collection showcases a variety of shapes, from aviators to vintage-inspired rectangles, with a focus on durability and responsible production practices.
A Greener Future in Eyewear
With its affordable, sustainable designs, OTP continues to redefine eco-friendly eyewear. By incorporating recycled and biodegradable materials, OTP ensures that each frame contributes to a more sustainable future.
Bausch + Lomb’s Commitment to Sustainability
Bausch + Lomb is making a significant impact on sustainability in the eye care industry through its innovative recycling programs. The ONE by ONE and Biotrue® Eye Care Recycling initiatives have already diverted over 84 million units of contact lenses, eye care, and lens care materials from landfills.
Recycling in Canada: A Circular Solution
In Canada, the Every Contact Counts Recycling Program, in partnership with TerraCycle, has successfully diverted over 4.5 million contact lenses and blister packs—equivalent to 43,500 pounds of plastic. Consumers can drop off used materials at participating eye care professionals’ offices, ensuring that waste is repurposed instead of discarded.
Beyond Recycling: Environmental Action
Bausch + Lomb goes further with its annual litter lift, a company-wide initiative where employees and community members clean up waste in local environments. Additionally, TerraCycle’s dedicated recycling facility ensures that collected materials are sorted, cleaned, and processed into new products, contributing to a circular economy.
These efforts have earned media attention across Canada, with publications like the Guelph Mercury Tribune and Waterloo Region Record highlighting how optometrists are embracing these sustainability programs. By combining recycling solutions with community-driven environmental efforts, Bausch + Lomb is setting a new standard for eco-conscious practices in eye care.
Reducing Environmental Impact Through Innovation
CooperVision is committed to minimizing its environmental impact through comprehensive sustainability initiatives, focusing on water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and community engagement.
At its Alajuela, Costa Rica facility, CooperVision has implemented advanced water-saving technologies, including rainwater collection systems that supply water for restrooms and climate control, significantly reducing reliance on municipal sources. The plant also prioritizes energy efficiency, utilizing high-efficiency lighting systems that maximize natural light usage. Notably, more than 95% of the facility’s electricity is sourced from renewable energy, substantially decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Waste Reduction and Community Engagement
CooperVision has achieved impressive recycling rates, with over 95% of materials used in production being recycled. Nearly 100% of the plastic generated during manufacturing is reclaimed, underscoring the company’s commitment to waste reduction and a circular economy. Beyond operational practices, CooperVision empowers its employees to participate in environmental stewardship, fostering a culture of sustainability within the company and the communities it serves.
Through these initiatives, CooperVision demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainability, integrating responsible practices into every facet of its operations to benefit both people and the planet.
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