Natural Shade: Our Eco-friendly Sunglasses Picks
Health-conscious consumers demand more than just good looks from sunglass manufacturers. And because these folks tend to care about the planet’s health as well as their own, we’ve seen increased demand lately for eco-friendly sunglasses. Manufactures (mostly small ones) are coming through, offering sunglasses made of everything from industrial hemp and sustainably sourced woods to recycled skateboards.
Showcased here are two brands we carry at Insight Eyecare that are doing their part to meet demand and help the planet. With the introduction of resin sunglasses, Costa Del Mar is dipping its toe into sustainable manufacturing. And of course Zeal is fully submerged in sustainability efforts and has been since the start.
Both brands specialize in durable polarized sunglasses designed for rugged outdoor pursuits.
Rockin’ the resin
Several of Costa’s newer sunglass styles feature a bio-based resin frame construction to reduce the company’s manufacturing process emissions. New for 2016, Costa’s Copra sunglasses, for example, feature frames made with resin from the castor plant. The name of these sunglasses is a tribute to the resourcefulness of islanders who use every part of a coconut tree. Copra is dried coconut meat, which has been pressed for valuable oil as far back as the 1st Century AD. The sunglasses aren’t made from copra (a good thing, given that there’s such a thing as “copra itch”) or any other part of the coconut tree, for that matter. But the resin frames are far better for the planet than petroleum-derived plastics. Noting that the world’s oceans are expected to have more plastic (by weight) than fish by 2050, Costa has launched a Kick Plastic campaign. And though Costa’s efforts focus mostly on disposable package reduction, we hope the introduction of Costa’s line of resin-frame sunglasses indicates they’re exploring sustainable manufacturing methods as well.
One with the Earth
From the start, Zeal’s mission has been to protect eye health while protecting the views in nature that the company’s color-enhancing lenses enable us to see more clearly. Zeal uses plant-based materials in all of its frames and lenses. These materials—derived from castor beans, cotton and wood pulp fibers—replace traditional petroleum-based plastics in Zeal’s manufacturing process, significantly reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced. Moreover, these materials make for a lighter finished weight than competitive frames yet they’re still durable. Zeal sunglasses are built to last so long as you intend to enjoy them; however, should you happen to lose a pair while adventuring outdoors, Zeal’s M49 frame collection will begin to biodegrade if left under water or in soil after 18 months.