To all Shades and Earth lovers...
Are you a shades- or fashion lover with an even bigger love for our planet? That means you're probably ready to take the next step. Sustainable, eco-friendly fashion has become a big thing in the last couple of years. Including sustainable eyewear. And luckily the peak is not nearly in sight.
Which is a true blessing because the need to improve our consumer ways continues to grow as well. To put it differently: the need has always been there and growing. But what has finally changed is our mindset and the fact that we have become more conscious about our impact.
'The One' true sustainable solution?
So, it there such a thing as "The One, true sustainable solution? Many brands and companies claim that they have the ultimate sustainable shades solution. They often focus on one specific thing and do that really well. For instance, they use recycled material. Or they focus on working with local materials, to limit transport and thus CO2 emissions. All really good initiatives in themselves.
Now that different companies have found different ways to be more sustainable, it becomes interesting to see in what ways your sunglasses can be sustainable. From sustainable new materials, to existing but recycled. And from conscious ways of production to transporting and packaging them.
Sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives
Here are the Top 10 ways how your sunglasses can be sustainable. With a top 10 of eco-friendly shades brands leading the way.
The Top 10 ways how your shades can be sustainable:
100% natural materials
Wood and Bamboo sunglasses
BEINGBAR Sun Eyewear
From: Amsterdam, NL
Eco-friendly because: hand made sunglasses from fast growing, sustainable bamboo. And packaged and shipped 100% plastic-free. BEINGBAR gear is made with core principles as starting point. When you choose these shades, you promote a plastic-free industy.
Website:
If you're interested in BEINGBAR
Grown Eyewear Sunglasses
From: Australia
Eco-friendly because: Made from sustainable, renewable materials and supporting the WIRES organization, who provide 'The Gift of Life' to 1 orphaned or injured Australian animal. Especially topical with the terrible Australian bushfires at the start of this year.
Website: https://growneyewear.com.au/
Another cool bamboo and wood-based sunglasses company is Grown Eyewear. Their products are made from organic and renewable materials. And they're free from toxic elements. Each pair looks different because of the material choice, with its one-of-a-kind grain pattern. The products have a very natural design. Inspired by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the planet. Grown eyewear supports WIRES, an Australian wildlife rescue organization.
Sticks & Sparrow Eyewear
Part of: Eyetribe
From: Australia
Eco-friendly because: Made from sustainable
Website: https://www.sticksandsparrow.com.au/
Nice looking sunglasses models made from reclaimed wood and cork. Sticks & Sparrow started in 2011 as a subdivision of Eyetribe, from Australia. They company prides itself by utilizing sustainable materials, minimize wastage and provide new applications for nature's underutilised renewable resources. Sticks & Sparrow eyewear has a strong connection to nature with a distinctly Australian tone.
Swell Vision Eyewear
Eco-friendly because:
Website: https://www.swellvision.com/
Recycled materials
Repurposed materials, like skateboard decks and vinyl records
Solo Eyewear
From: California, USA
Eco-friendly because:
Website: https://www.soloeyewear.com/
Solo Eyewear makes 'Great Sunglasses for a Greater Cause'. The SOLO Eyewear line consists of eco-friendly sunglasses in which every pair purchased helps to fund eye care for people in need. Since the company was founded in 2011, SOLO has restored vision to nearly 10,000 people in need across thirty-two countries. SOLO sunglasses are all made with repurposed bamboo frames. note that they also have a range of handcrafted acetate frames.
Woodzee Eyewear
From: California, USA
Eco-friendly because:
Website:
Woodzee Eyewear
Vinylize Eyewear
From:
Eco-friendly because:
Website:
The company does not market themselves specificially as sustainable. However, finding a new purpose for old unused products allows them a spot in this Top 10. You could argue that Vinylize should be mentioned in the third category (Eco-based materials). Why? Because the old vinyl is first transformed into cellulose acetate. As you will read later in this article, this is an eco-based material.
Eco- based materials
Yes, this looks like the first point, but it's not. These are materials that are natural-based but not 100% natural.
100% natural materials or not?
Now, there are two reasons why some people are critical about calling acetate "sustainable". The first is that often a chemical component is added to harden and/or color the material. The second problem is that in the original production of the cotton-based cellulose is not very sustainable. They often use enormous amounts of not-so-sustainable pesticides.
Acetate vs Eco-Acetate and Ecotate™
There is a variant that is unofficially called eco-acetate, or our very own Ecotate™. So in case you're interested in this style, make sure you ask for clarity about where the material is coming from.
Here are three examples of sustainable companies, with eco-based
MODO - Eco Eyewear
From:
Eco-friendly because:
Website:
Eco-eyewear is a range of MODO, USA. The company was founded 30 years ago. In 2009 they intruduced their sustainable range of products. Eco is about expressing yourself and feeling good in your own skin. But more importantly, they make beautiful sustainable eyewear. Both sunglasses and optical. Their biobased frames are partly made from a material made from castor seeds. Note that they also have a partially recycled range, that is made from 95% recycled material.
Proof Eyewear
From:
Eco-friendly because:
Website:
Proof makes different types of sustainable eyewear. They make products from sustainably-sourced wood, cotton-based acetate, recycled aluminum, and repurposed skateboard decks. So just like with Eco-Eyewear and Solo, they desrve to be in at least one other category in this article. Proof stands firm on three principles: heritage, sustainability, and giving back. They partner with Nature Conservancy in Idaho.
Freshforpandas
From:
Eco-friendly because:
Website:
A London based online store selling