Advertisement

PentaVision

Eyecare Business

Article

A Greener Frame of Mind

Sustainability is gaining traction across the optical industry, with growing emphasis on eco-conscious materials, production methods, and practice-level initiatives. Here, a look into how brands and providers are integrating greener approaches—from recycled and bio-based frames to reduced-waste operations—while balancing performance, style, and patient expectations.

By: Stephanie K. De Long
Eyecare Business April 21, 2026

What the US optical industry lacks in globally recognized sustainability standards, it’s starting to make up for in increasingly innovative products and practices. From recycled frame materials to environmentally friendly office procedures, optical is catching up with other consumer-driven categories when it comes to environmental issues. 

There’s no question that some patients and customers will buy into green products and programs more than others. According to research reported by the Harvard Business Review, Millennial and Gen Z consumers are 27% more likely to support brands that “prioritize social and environmental responsibility” than their older counterparts.

The Environmentally Conscious Consumer

What do those “green” customers have in common when it comes to optical? According to a 2024 Focus inSights Frame Trends report from The Vision Council, “Environmentally conscious shoppers prioritize optician recommendations, technology, current fashion trends, and brand/designer labels more than those who do not consider sustainability an important factor.”

Steps Toward Sustainability

Does your office reflect your interest in green eyewear? Here’s how The Harvard Office of Sustainability suggests you can create a more environmentally sound office:

  1. Choose BPI-certified compostable food service products (those made without forever chemicals).

  2. Avoid antimicrobial hand soaps, products treated for water resistance or stain repellents, and furniture with chemical flame retardants.

  3. Buy reusable and bulk items, not disposable or single-use ones.

  4. Choose evergreen, reusable items for giveaways.

  5. Replace personal printers with shared equipment.

  6. Place compost, recycling, and trash bins in convenient locations.

  7. Power down computers and other electronics before closing.

  8. Install LED bulbs and motion-sensor lights in common areas.

  9. Donate unwanted office supplies.

  10. Choose “100% recycled” or “tree-free” paper products.

Share these ideas with staff and give them the opportunity to become sustainability ambassadors in your town.

In optical, success is always a balancing act. As Michael Frayler, founder of Austin Ryan Optika, says, increasingly, “It’s about the experience” and, as part of that, “not just the product per se but what it represents.”

That is definitely the case when it comes to environmental concerns and better managing resources in terms of both products and practices. VSP’s website, for example, showcases a variety of sustainable eyewear options that use “upcycled materials, plant-based resins, and biodegradable materials…to replace traditional plastics.” Another example? Each frame in the Joe by Joseph Abboud Renewed Collection is made from 5 recycled water bottles.

Although sustainable eyewear is garnering more attention now, that interest is not entirely new. In 2023, for example, EssilorLuxottica launched Costa’s Untangled Collection, made with 97% NetPlus, a material made from recycled fishing nets.

Greenish or Really Green?

The term “green” is both overused and misused, says Ruth Domber, an independent eyewear consultant and former owner of 1010 Optics in New York City. “It’s a buzzword, but being truly green is almost impossible because you have to use other agents to finish the eyewear,” she explains.

That being said, 3 “green” companies and artisans that come to mind, adds Domber, are Parisian optician Lucas de Stael, who uses leather; the mostly wood sculptural eyewear by Brooklyn-based artisan Adam Mugavero; and Germany’s Hoffmann Natural Eyewear made from the horn of Indian water buffalo.

“However,” adds Domber, “to finish the creations, it’s necessary to use other agents like dyes and/or polishing agents that are not purely organic, though the original materials are.”

When it comes to the big picture, sustainability in optical isn’t just about organic materials, processes, or even the end-product. Companies also participate in sustainability in other ways. The House of Modo’s Eco Eyewear, for example, has a “One Frame, One Tree” program in partnership with Trees for the Future. It recently announced it has planted over 4 million trees through that program.

Framing the Future

Sustainability is definitely a global eyewear issue. Case in point? Frame the Future (FTF), a new Zurich-based nonprofit, has published a downloadable white paper offering “a systems-level baseline of sustainability in eyewear.” Available here, it also addresses sustainability-related challenges and opportunities in eyewear. 

Our northern neighbor, Canada, is way ahead of the US in terms of sustainability in eyewear and eye care. “Consumers are increasingly conscious about the amount of waste they generate, including the use of plastics associated with contact lenses, frames, and spectacle lenses,” explains Dr. Lyndon Jones, director of the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) there.

To help, CORE has created SustainableEyecare.com, a website dedicated to educating ECPs and patients about the environmental impact of eyewear and contact lenses. A great resource for staff and owners, it includes a global directory of recycling programs plus tips and even infographics for in-office display.