Sooner or later we will all need glasses! Whether it's reading glasses or one for far away - you can make a greener choice in this too. Because one pair of glasses is not like another. From the material to the production process, everything counts. Spectacle wearer Lauri dived in and compiled a nice list of sustainable eyewear brands. Take a look!
Sustainable eyewear brands from the Netherlands and Europe
Spectacles are indispensable for millions of people. So it is logical that huge numbers of them are produced every year. But therein lies an immediate problem: making spectacles involves all kinds of materials, such as plastic, metal and plastic for the lenses. Many of these materials are difficult to recycle and often come from non-renewable sources. Add to this the fact that glasses rarely get a second life and you get the picture: this widely used tool is more of a burden on the planet than you might think. Read more about the environmental impact of eyewear here. Fortunately, the eyewear world does move in the right direction. From recycled frames to bio-acetate and locally produced models, more and more brands are doing things differently. We have compiled a nice list that will make you happy as an eyewear wearer with a green heart.
ALSO INTERESTING: you can donate old glasses here!
Dick Moby
We kick off with a Dutch brand: Dick Moby. The company, founded by surfers Tim Holland and Robbert Wefers-Bettink, has existed since 2014. Their inspiration came from surfing trips where they encountered large amounts of plastic. That had to change! Dick Moby's eyewear is made in Italy. For their eyewear and eyewear cases, Dick Moby uses recycled or biodegradable materials from Europe, such as recycled metal, recycled plastic or leather or acetate left over from production.
CLENZE & BAUM
Eyewear of the future is made in the centre of Munich. At CLENZE & BAUM in fact, they have specialised in 3D printing! Friends Aurélien and Stefan started in 2017 and have since produced many glasses with the 3D printer. For this, they use PA12 polyamide powder, a plastic. The result: ultra-light and flexible glasses that can also be easily repaired. Ideal!
Vinylize
Fan of music? Then you must be a fan of Vinylize! This brand actually makes glasses from old records, how cool is that? All frames are handmade in Europe and are named after famous artists and bands. So you immediately have a nice story to tell when someone compliments you on your cool glasses. Do your glasses break by accident? Then make use of the repair service!
EOE
The next brand comes from Sweden: EOE Eyewear. Founded by Erik and Emilia Lindmark. At EOE, they combine their love of Swedish nature with design. The materials for the frames come from northern Sweden as much as possible. For example, they use birch from birch trees in Umea, locally recycled steel and horn from reindeer from the area. Don't worry: the reindeer don't notice - they lose their antlers every year. Extra cool: this brand was one of the first in the eyewear industry to develop a recycling process for old frames. And thus inspired many other brands!
Sea2see
The founder of Sea2see was inspired by his travels around the world as well as by our Dutch Boyan Slat and the Ocean Clean-up project. Having to wear glasses himself, François van den Abeele dreamed of developing a product consisting of recycled ocean waste. The result? The eyewear brand Sea2see! Nice to know: this brand's glasses cases are made from recycled cork.
Monkeyglasses
This Danish brand not only has a cute name, but also very cool colourful eyewear. Monkeyglasses wants to be zero waste as much as possible and therefore uses recycled materials for their frames. The spectacle cases are made from recycled paper and the glasses cloths from old plastic bottles. All glasses are developed in Copenhagen, but fortunately they are also available in several places in the Netherlands.
Friendly Frenchy
From Denmark, we move to France: Friendly Frenchy is run by Sandrine and Laurent. The brand makes eyewear from organic materials. And not just any materials, think organic grape seeds or leftover scallops from fishing. Now that is original! Would you like glasses from Friendly Frenchy buy in shops, you will have to travel to Belgium or France.
5Loops
5Loops was founded by twins Andrea and Caroline. They grew up in Lima, travelled the world and saw the impact of pollution on people and animals. Andrea, trained as an ophthalmologist, was keen to use her expertise to do something about it. The result? Eyewear brand 5Loops, where frames are made from bio-acetate. Old glasses are collected for recycling or donated to social projects in Peru.
Theo Love You
We conclude with a Belgian nod: Theo Love You. This brand from Antwerp is known for its outspoken, colourful designs and original shapes, perfect for those who like a (fashion) statement. But Theo also does well in terms of sustainability. The glasses are designed and produced in Europe, with an eye for detail and quality. Moreover, the brand works on reducing its ecological footprint through conscious material choices and limited editions. Glasses from Theo are not just any glasses, they are love at first sight.
Your favourite sustainable eyewear brand?
Whether you go for colourful or timeless frames: all these great brands make sustainable eyewear a lot easier and more fun. And the good thing is: more and more responsible glasses are being added. So feel free to ask your optician about the options. Do you have a pair of glasses by a brand that should be on this list? Let us know about it! We love new eyewear tips!
You might also find this interesting
- Also see: choose your health insurance more sustainably.
- Also see: donate your clothes directly to charity!
- Also see: how sustainable is your pension?
Photo credits: main image: left: Monkeyglasses, centre: Friendly Frenchy, right: Dick Moby.
