In honor of Earth Month in April, Eyecare Business highlights sustainability efforts across the industry—from company initiatives and milestones to product launches and new materials. See how the optical industry continues to innovate toward a greener future.

The McAllister SS25 collection features gender-neutral optical styles crafted from sustainable materials such as plant-based resin and recycled stainless steel—a first for the Altair Eyewear brand.

In 2024, EssilorLuxottica advanced its Eyes on the Planet program by reducing CO2 emissions, expanding the use of responsible materials, introducing recycled demo lenses, installing 10 photovoltaic systems, and launching projects like repurposing industrial land for renewable energy.

Eco Eyewear from Modo releases its Retrospect Collection, blending the lightness of bio-based injection with the classic appeal of acetate frames—plus clip-on attachments that turn optical frames into sunwear. Eco Eyewear has planted 3.8 million trees through its “One Frame, One Tree” program.

Regenesis reveals a line of eyewear created with innovative materials—Carbonite, Oceantate, and Aerolite—made with a patent-pending technology called EcoFusion, which blends ocean-bound plastic with atmospheric CO2 from discarded coconut shells.

The Boss SS25 collection from Safilo features sun and optical frames crafted with Acetate Renew, a material derived from 27% recycled content and 43% bio-based content. The sustainable frames are paired with lenses made of 50% recycled materials.

Sea2see, which uses 100% recycled marine plastic in its eyewear production, partners with photographer Weston Fuller for its 2025 campaign highlighting ocean pollution by contrasting everyday activities with polluted beaches and waters.

Silhouette launches a new sustainable material, SPX Green+, derived from organic waste. Introduced with the Clear Sky Collection, the material replaces fossil fuel and reduces carbon emissions by 60% while offering the same properties as the company’s previous iteration, SPX+, Silhouette shares.

Tech Print Industries (TPI) introduces artificial intelligence-designed, 3D-printed eyewear collections, combining advanced tech with sustainability. TPI’s on-demand production is designed to minimize waste, using eco-friendly materials to create durable, customizable frames without excess inventory.

The One True Pair SS25 sun collection from WestGroupe features biodegradable lenses and eco-friendly acetate, blending sustainability with diverse styles. The collection includes unisex and gender-inclusive designs, offering modern takes on classic shapes.