Looking ahead and saying no to fast fashion frames
Looking ahead and saying no to fast fashion frames
When you think of fast fashion, you’re most likely to imagine racks of clothes in high street retailers that change stock season after season.
You wouldn’t be wrong! Especially after last month’s media launch by luxury reseller Vestiaire Collection, which used AI to dump tons of clothes into iconic stores as it unveiled its new “Think First, Buy Second’ campaign to champion sustainable fashion. https://www.marketing-interactive.com/Vestiaire-Collective-think-first-buy-second-sustainability-movement
However, as you will know, sustainable fashion is not limited to clothes. We like to make customers aware of our commitment to offer quality eyewear and accessories.
Going green
We have recently launched the new BOTANIQ frame range across our practices; a brand that handcrafts sustainable eyewear and champions innovation within the eyewear industry. Many of the frames are bio-acetate, and the range opts to use wood and bamboo textures that are known for their quality and durability. Using recycled materials is paramount to us. We believe no customer must sacrifice style over sustainability. Part of our promise to protect the planet is to consistently review our supply chains and monitor where and how the products we stock are made.This promise ranges from stocking frames like the Lulu Guinness collection, which are designed in the UK, to working mainly with local suppliers to ensure we are decreasing our carbon footprint wherever possible.
Nikon
We are proud suppliers of Nikon spectacle lenses. Nikon have committed to protecting the environment and have made huge efforts to increase sustainability across their manufacturing and services. This has enabled them to reduce the environmental impact of the lenses they produce.
While the lenses are designed in Japan, using the latest cutting edge technology, they are manufactured in the UK. This means that the lenses can be produced more quickly, with less impact on the environment.
The electricity and gas used in the manufacturing process is sourced from 100% renewable sources and 75% of the water used in manufacturing is reused and recycled.
Even Nikon’s cleaning cloths are made from recycled microfibre!
Giving back
Did you know that contact lenses can be recycled? We are proud to be part of the ACUVUE contact lens recycling programme.
Since the scheme was launched in 2019, 8.8 million pairs of contact lenses have been recycled. However, according to research, we know that 57% of contact wearers in the UK are throwing them in the bin, and 20% are flushing them down the toilet. https://jnjvisionemea.showpad.com/share/76CZMV5EyAxu8sOiRkYlj
We are asked if contact lenses are environmentally friendly. With many of them being single-use products which are removed daily and disregarded, you would think they would harm the planet more than a pair of frames.
Manufacturers are, however, working to produce soy-based contact lenses, and with the amount of plastic needed to make a new pair of frames, you could argue that lenses have the upper hand here.
ACUVUE’s recycling scheme is guilt-free and easy to use. Once you have dropped off your used contact lenses and packaging, we send them off for a thorough shredding and washing process. The materials are re-used in the production of other products.
Want to know more about the contact lens recycling scheme or any of our sustainable frames? Contact your local practice today.