Oct. 26, 2020 — Marchon Eyewear, Inc., announced an industry-first partnership with Eastman, a global specialty materials company.
Beginning in 2021, Marchon will be the first eyewear company to produce and sell frames using Eastman Acetate renew, a cellulose diacetate, made via Eastman’s carbon renewal technology, that contains 60% bio-based and 40% certified recycled content. Marchon’s proprietary and licensed brands will feature the sustainable material, which was featured in the Earth Day-centric April 2020 Green Edition of EB Trendspotting.
"We are very proud to announce our partnership with Eastman," says Nicola Zotta, president and CEO of Marchon Eyewear, Inc. “As the first eyewear manufacturer to collaborate with Eastman, this relationship will be beneficial for us, as it will significantly reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining our commitment to safety and sustainability without compromising the quality of our frames."
Using Acetate Renew results in a lower carbon footprint, less landfill waste, and identical performance to classic acetate. The material is produced via Eastman’s carbon renewal technology, which recycles complex plastic waste, including non-polyester plastics and mixed plastics that cannot be recycled with conventional recycling technologies.
"Eastman is delighted to be hardworking with Marchon and others to launch premium quality sustainable eyewear for the 2021 collections," says Rachel Oakley, segment market manager for eyewear at Eastman. "This hard work across the industry shows an incredible commitment to continue delivering sustainable options without compromising on performance.” Pictured (right) is a closer look at the acetate milling process, provided by Marchon.
"This collaboration with Marchon marks a significant milestone for advancing a circular economy for the eyewear industry," says Scott Ballard, vice president and general manager for Eastman. "With Acetate Renew, Eastman combines its 80-year history of material innovations for eyewear with technologies that help ensure the industry’s sustainability in the 21st century. We are proud to join with Marchon to introduce eyewear made of 100% sustainable material produced using advanced recycling technologies."
Originally published on Oct. 13, 2020. Updated on Oct. 26.