Sustainability Brochure

Sustainability

Several years ago, we focused our team on transforming Eyespace to become the most sustainable business possible. Prompted by the extreme levels of plastic waste polluting our oceans and the impact of carbon emissions on climate change, every area of the business continues to undergo regular evolution that continually moves us towards a greener, brighter future.

Our award-winning in-house design team is passionate about sustainable innovation and new, premium materials that will excite professionals and patients alike. All Eyespace brands - including our designer collections - now contain environmentally friendly products, with our sustainable SKU-count sitting at over 20% of our 1,000 strong portfolio, and we are on track to hit 80% by 2030.

As a testament to our mission, Eyespace is the proud recipient of the UK’s first ever Opticians Award for sustainability, we have achieved ISO:14001 accreditation and are in the process of becoming a certified B-Corporation. We are passionate and excited to be part of the global pendulum-swing in changing attitudes and we’re exceptionally proud to be flying the flag for sustainability within optics.

Jayne Julie

Jayne & Julie Abel Eyespace Founders

Extensive R&D exercise into new sustainable materials and processes.

Switched to 100% biodegradable frame bags across all collections to reduce land and ocean pollution.

JANUARY

Eco-Conscious Collection launched with ground breaking bio-acetates and biodegradable demo lenses. Derived from sustainable sources, materials are certified biodegradable to ISO 14855 and equivalent. Plastic-free packaging throughout.

NOVEMBER

Land Rover launches first sustainable collection with G850 Rnew® derived from renewable castor seed oil , bio-acetate and recycled stainless steel.

Aspinal of London launches first bio-based acetate collection with detailing in LWG certified sustainable leather.

Both brands introduce biodegradable demo lenses for all sustainable models, across both optical and sunwear collections.

2020

POS/Merchandising produced using sustainable materials including FSC paper with non-toxic inks and plastic-free laminations.

NOVEMBER 2021

Eyespace achieves ISO 14001 accreditation and the UK optical industry’s first major award for sustainability.

MARCH 2022

Young trend brand Basebox introduces Sustainable Slimology; ultra-thin frames made with recycled ocean plastic and biodegradable demo lenses.

APRIL 2022

Aspinal of London unveils the first eyewear collection in ECONYL® - premium regenerated nylon from abandoned fishing nets and fashion fabric surplus. Includes biodegradable demo lenses.

NOVEMBER 2022

Range Rover launches a collection in premium M49® bio-acetate by prestigious Italian supplier Mazzucchelli 1849. Biodegradable demo lenses as standard.

Sunwear hero model includes first biodegradable polarised sun lenses.

MADE WITH OCEAN PLASTIC

APRIL 2022

Flagship house women’s collection, Cocoa Mint launches fashion-forward bio-acetate styles derived from sustainable wood pulp and cotton bolls with biodegradable demo lenses. Swiftly followed by house men’s collection Jensen.

Kid’s brand, Rock Star, launches recycled sea plastic collection with eco-awareness turtle campaign. Each frame made with three seabottles. Biodegradable demo lenses.

FUTURE

Researching the latest eco-friendly technology every year.

Working towards 80% sustainable portfolio and Carbon Neutrality by 2030.

A SEA-CHANGE FOR FRAME FASHION

SEA-BOTTLE FRAMES

SUSTAINABLE SEA-BOTTLE FRAMES FOR CHILDREN

Luxury

Range Rover’s eyewear collection for men achieves the exceptional with the unparalleled style and the finest materials precision engineered into clean considered lines. Eyespace’s award-winning design studio works in partnership with the brand’s vehicle designers to produce sun and optical frames as an integral part of the Range Rover design family.

Both eyewear and car design studios have committed to ambitious sustainability with 2023 frame collections implementing a combination of bespoke components, high-performance Japanese titanium and Mazzucchelli M49 ® bio-acetate.

The advanced M49 ® bio-acetate by Mazzucchelli 1849, exclusively developed in the prestigious Italian company’s laboratories, is derived from cotton and a non-toxic plasticiser of vegetable origin, the resulting bio-based formula has a vastly reduced impact on the planet.

Proving that sustainable eyewear can take the lead in both style and quality, Range Rover’s new sunwear collection includes sleek biodegradable two-base polarised lenses with subtle grey graduation and full UV protection.

RR3022R C1 – Japanese Titanium and Mazzucchelli M49® Bio-Acetate with biodegradable demo lenses

RR3007 C2 – Japanese Titanium and Mazzucchelli Acetate with biodegradable demo lenses

Eyespace introduced G850 Rnew® into the Land Rover collection, a cutting-edge renewable material derived sustainably from castor seed oil farmed in arid areas of South Asia under the pioneering PRAGATI agricultural scheme.

The ultimate expressions of capability, power and design performance are transferred from the Land Rover vehicles into this best-selling collection of frames, designed exclusively for men.

With an understated masculine colour palette and the latest evolutions of luxury sustainable materials, Land Rover Eyewear proves it is capable of great things. The addition of bioacetate, G850 Rnew® and highgrade recycled stainless steel enhances the collection’s purpose for the wearer.

G850 Rnew® is a premium injected material derived from castor seed oil farmed in arid areas of South Asia under the pioneering PRAGATI initiative. Setting new benchmarks in environmental, societal and ethical standards, the government programme also educates farmers on sustainable agricultural practices.

British luxury brand coveted by the fashion elite, celebrities, royal admirers and opinion formers across the globe, Aspinal’s beautifully chic products incorporate some of the finest sustainable materials available today.

Aspinal of London offers a comprehensive library of opulent, consciously developed frame designs. Beautiful in every flawless detail, the collection is an embodiment of modern British luxury.

Reflecting on the pandemic lockdowns, Aspinal’s Creative Director, Mariya Dykalo, says: “We have witnessed nature’s reset, from wildlife flourishing across all parts of the globe to seas and rivers clearing, to the disappearance of air pollution visible from outer space. We are more aware than ever of the effects our way of life is having on our planet, and the positive steps we can take to make a difference.”

The design studios at Eyespace and Aspinal are aligned in their objectives, working harmoniously with a carefully selected portfolio of sustainable manufacturing partners.

Sunwear and optical models are identified as sustainable via a subtly inlaid bee motif at the tips. This represents the Bee Aspinal campaign which has redefined the luxury brand’s sustainability strategy around the four P’s: Planet, Partnership, People and Product. A bee sanctuary of fifteen hives kept at Aspinal HQ in West Sussex has become representative of the company’s commitment to the planet.

Bee Aspinal

REGENERATING FOR THE FUTURE

A new sustainable optical collection of frames made in Italy from ECONYL® - nylon regenerated from reclaimed fishing nets and fashion fabric offcuts - was exclusively previewed in London in April 2022, generating unprecedented demand. It joins a wider sustainable collection featuring premium bio-acetates and responsibly sourced leather detailing.

Jayne Abel, Eyespace Founder comments:

“This collection is just one of the ways we are actively disrupting and improving every stage of product development. We know our industry can play a key role in building a sustainable future through science and innovation. We believe innovative materials like ECONYL® are the future, transforming industrial surplus into incredible designs and raising the profile of possibilities of a more circular fashion system.”

ASP

ASP L535 COL.

– Bio-Based Acetate and Sustainable Leather, ASP M536 COL. 02 – Bio-Based Acetate with biodegradable demo lenses

The Blue MOVEMENT

The next wave of sustainability

There is a universal truth that applies to every single living being - binding us together as one - that we all depend upon our planet’s environment for survival. You might initially think the blue movement is the latest colour trend, but it is in fact a growing sustainable crusade, driven by highly engaged businesses focused on using ocean-safe materials and removing packaging waste, with the aim to conserve marine-life, reduce water wastage and limit the damage modern life inflicts on our oceans.

There are an estimated five trillion pieces of plastic floating in our oceans today and according to WWF, one refuse-truck’s worth of plastic waste enters the oceans every 60 seconds. An expression first pioneered by the beauty industry, the blue movement came into the public domain through the banning of toxic plastic microbeads utilised within beauty products, by governments across the globe almost a decade ago. The green movement, which emerged back in the 1960s focusing on improving environmental impacts, had incalculable positive impacts on people’s attitudes toward our planet and public awareness of the detrimental effects modern lifestyles have on the environment. As the lungs of our planet, our oceans provide essential ecosystem services we cannot live without, but plastic pollution - the most visible sign of the environmental crisis we’re facing under water – is overwhelming the oceans with the toxic effects of waste, plastic and chemicals.

Stemming from eco-conscious lifestyle shifts, like eating clean, composting, recycling, and avoiding excess chemicals, the public’s resurgence in concern for the environmental dangers facing our planet extends far beyond the beauty industry, with insurmountable demands for ‘clean’ and environmentally conscious products growing at the fastest rate in history. How an item is manufactured, how it is shipped, used, then eventually thrown away sits at the heart of the blue movement; when ecosystems below water are functioning as nature intended, the oceans play a crucial role in both the fight against global nature loss and in climate change, and the brands engaging with it are finding solutions, big and small, to regenerate, improve and repair our waters.

Passionate in our mission to become the most sustainable eyewear supplier, the latest ‘green’ material innovation sees Eyespace’s eco-portfolio expand once again. Brand-new designs that influence the direct removal of plastic pollution from the sea are now available within the best-selling Rock Star collection. Once collected, the plastic is cleaned and prepared to be up-cycled into a new, reusable raw material. Eyespace’s CEO, co-founder and chair of the OSA Sustainability Committee Jayne Abel, explains “Oceans are resilient and have unbounded capacity to regenerate if we prioritise their protection, so it’s important that we do the utmost. The optical industry is quickly shifting its thinking on the integration of sustainability through the entire chain from manufacture to the patient, but we still have a long journey ahead of us. We are seeing greater consumer demand for sustainable products met with exciting, innovative material choices that are toxic-free and biodegradable; but for sustainable eyewear to become the norm

We

Each frame in the Rock Star collection is designed in two bright colourways to inspire creativity and confidence

everyone needs to make the sustainable choice whenever one is available. As it stands, the oceans are graveyards for plastics and toxic waste, and a shocking estimate states that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish*. With the introduction of sea-bottle frames, we have another opportunity to make substantial changes, passing along a clean, healthy, environmentally-sound planet for future generations.”

Collected from shorelines and oceans, the new sea-bottle frames provide another step forward in a conscientious approach to eyewear manufacturing. Presented in a range of vibrant colours and aptly named after endangered sea animals, the 12-piece Rock Star sea-bottle collection is designed to instinctively appeal to ‘Gen Z’ frame wearers, who are perhaps the most aware and highly engaged in protecting the planet. The premium recycled material selected for the collection incorporates plastic bottles as well as other ocean-plastic waste. Also known as rPET, this material gives postconsumer waste a new life, reduces ocean pollution and supports the survival of marine life and health of under-water ecosystems. Super lightweight and featuring core wires to enhance the frame’s adjustability, each piece is made from the equivalent of three plastic seabottles and has been purposefully crafted to fit perfectly and suit the needs of younger frame wearers.

We live on a blue planet. Healthy seas and oceans are vital for human life, producing over half of the oxygen we breathe and storing 50 times more carbon than our atmosphere. If we are to save our seas, we urgently need to tackle the threats posed by plastic pollution. By choosing to incorporate ocean-plastic frames into your portfolio you are taking great strides towards cleaning up our oceans, supporting marine-life and bringing much-needed awareness to these environmental issues.

*Ellen MacArthur Foundation, University of Oxford, University of Leeds, and Common Seas, 2016

Porpoise

Unapologetically fashionable, the perfected material selections offer doses of bold, on-trend colour. Considered sustainability features include biodegradable demo lenses and plastic-free packaging.

For every Eco-Conscious Collection frame purchased we will donate to Project Seagrass, contributing to planting seagrass ecosystems. Seagrass is 35 times more effective at capturing carbon than tropical rainforests.

A new wave of sustainable clip-on sun models for our ground breaking EcoConscious Collection. Maintaining our commitment to sustainable thinking while ensuring product remains fresh and ahead of the curve.

Composed of premium G850 Rnew ®, with a sustainable farmed castor seed oil base. The grade selected for the Eco-Conscious Collection has been specially designed for injection moulding and is ideally suited for high-end eyewear, completed with sleek magnetic clip-on UV400 sun lenses.

SUSTAINABLE CLIP-ONS

Constructed using revolutionary Greenline Grilamid TR®

Combining sustainable innovation and design sophistication to powerful effect, the latest Jensen Black releases are consciously constructed using revolutionary Greenline Grilamid TR®. The new styles boast ground-breaking eco-credentials, with the total emission of climate-damaging gases reduced by up to 75% during the manufacturing process, and no compromise to the design aesthetic. Implementing the brand’s technologically advanced ethos, the eco-friendly designs also feature a sleek, magnetic clip-on UV400 polarised lens to achieve an effortless sunwear style.

MADE WITH OCEAN PLASTIC

A SEA-CHANGE FOR FRAME FASHION

Basebox presents its fashion-forward Slimology concept in ground-breaking sustainable materials. Consciously developed with recycled sea-bottle plastic eyefronts, recycled stainless steel temples and bio-acetate tips, brought to life in an energetic colour palette. Maintaining the stand-out features of the Slimology capsule collection, all frames are extremely slim and lightweight with streamlined temples and tips offering unprecedented comfort and style.

A carefully curated sustainable offering of cotton-based and woodbased bio-acetate designs heighten the Cocoa Mint allure.

Eyespace’s flagship brand is a commercial leader in the UK, famed for its contemporary fashion-forward style infused with chic sophistication showcasing the best of British design.

Intelligent use of colour is a brand hallmark with considered tonal pairings across premium acetate laminations, titanium metals and designer detailing.

In 2022, the Cocoa Mint optical and sunwear collections set new standards in sustainable eyewear with a curated offering of premium bio-acetate.

Derived from a sustainable source, all materials are certified biodegradable to ISO 14855 or equivalent certifications.

CM9131 C2 – Bio-Based Acetate with biodegradable demo lenses

CM9131 C1 –Bio-Based Acetate with biodegradable demo lenses

CONSCIOUSLY EVOLVING

FRAME BAGS

A milestone in our sustainability journey was the business decision to transition to biodegradable frame bags. This was driven by a desire to address the ways that our industry’s by-products are harming our oceans through unnecessary plastic packaging, 32% of which ends up in seas and riverways. The optical industry uses 1-2 billion frame bags per year, so this is a monumental problem and one that manufacturers need to tackle immediately.

The frame bags that we have chosen to use biodegrade in under five years in landfill conditions, as opposed to 200-500 years for standard plastic. They are manufactured from an LDPE (low density polyethylene) polymer with a biodegradable additive and are tested to ISO 15985:14. They have a similar life span to a standard polybag and will only biodegrade into biomass, water and natural gases when they enter landfill conditions. These are used across all collections and have been compulsory for all Eyespace product since early 2020. We also specify that this material is used on all temple sleeves.

DEMO LENSES

Another of our material innovations is the introduction of biodegradable demo lenses. These are manufactured from a biodegradable AC polymer and as per our biodegradable frame bags are tested to ISO 15985:2014. We are already using biodegradable demo lenses on all Eyespace sustainable models; including those in Range Rover, Aspinal, Land Rover, Cocoa Mint, Basebox, Rock Star, Louis Marcel and Eco-Conscious Collection and as part of our commitment to lower our environmental impact we are phasing into models manufactured in traditional materials as well. One of the huge advantages of both of these materials is that they can be disposed of with normal waste and have been designed to break down in landfill quickly with less damage to the environment.

We continue to campaign for all manufacturers to make these changes and advocating the use of more environmentally friendly plastics has become a cornerstone of our environmental policy. Although some investment is required, we believe that this is one of the easiest ways that eyewear suppliers can make a positive impact on our planet’s biodiversity.

LEADERSHIP

Backed by the introduction of a sustainability charter, we have bold, measurable SEE (sustainable, ethical and environmental) principles and targets for 2030 that are focused on reducing our impact on the climate and our consumption of natural resources. Our CEO, Jayne Abel, is working tirelessly to generate even greater awareness throughout the industry for sustainable practice via the OSA Sustainability Committee, and other leading industry bodies. The OSA will also be launching a Green Charter in December 2022 and we would encourage every supplier in the industry to sign-up to, as small individual changes make a significant collective difference.

CERTIFICATION

Our products hold certifications for all sustainable materials, including evidence of biodegradability (BS EN ISO 14855-1:2012 and ISO 15985:2014) and declarations for any specific claims. We are also one of a small number of British optical suppliers have invested in ISO14001 certification on top of ISO9001, which outlines and propels our environmental management systems. Our manufacturers are required to contractually agree to a strict code of conduct and are subjected to internal and external audits. The majority of our suppliers are compliant with ISO9001 and/or comply with ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO13485 and ISO27001.

PRAGATI INITIATIVE

Our specialist supplier of G850 Rnew® within the Land Rover collection is a member of the pioneering PRAGATI initiative in South Asia. This initiative ensures members take responsibility for the health, environment, safety and societal issues of themselves and their employees as well as promoting ethical and environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

A bio-based raw material derived from castor seed oil is non GMO, BPA free; the seeds are farmed in arid areas so do not contribute to deforestation. The final material offers outstanding performance; flexible, resistant to impact and environmental stress cracking, and 20% lighter than traditional resins.

PROJECT SEAGRASS

Project Seagrass is a global environmental charity devoted to the conservation of seagrass ecosystems through research, community and action.

Project Seagrass was created with the approach of turning cutting-edge research into effective conservation action and education schemes, by collaborating with local communities and other stakeholders.

To offset and counteract carbon pollution every Eco-Conscious Collection frame sold helps fund the conservation and planting of British seagrass meadows through the charity ‘Project Seagrass’.

MATERIALS & sustainability

Our award winning design studio has an unwavering commitment to providing the most sustainable solutions for our customers, with unparalleled knowledge of the supply chain from shipping methods to materials and manufacturing processes. Almost 20% of our 1,000 strong product portfolio is sustainable, and we want to ensure that customers are confident with the story behind each collection. Here you’ll find a comprehensive guide to each of the sustainable materials found across our designer brands and signature house collections.

Bio-Based Acetate

Bio-acetate is an eco-friendly version of plastic and can be certified biodegradable. Cellulose is a natural polymer which represents the backbone of the whole plant kingdom, and is obtained from a plant source such as cotton or wood.

Setting it apart from regular acetate, bio-acetate is formulated with natural non-toxic plasticisers. This material offers similar performance characteristics to plastic but does not pose such a long-term toxic and physical hazard for land or sea life.

ECONYL®

A celebrated innovation in fashion apparel and accessories, we are proud to be among the first to introduce ECONYL® to luxury fashion eyewear. Nylon waste, otherwise polluting the Earth, is transformed into ECONYL® regenerated nylon. Luxury ECONYL® frames are sustainably crafted from regenerated fishing nets, fabric offcuts and discarded industrial plastic. Through a radical regeneration and purification process, nylon waste is recycled into its original component materials, meaning that ECONYL® regenerated nylon has the same purity grade and properties as virgin nylon.

FSC Wood, Paper and Card

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non-governmental organisation which has the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification system.

Three official labels of accreditation are applied to specific batches of wood-derived product, and prove to businesses and their customers that the product they are buying protects the world’s forests.

In eyewear, this is most likely to apply to marketing materials such as brochures, displays and packaging.

G850 Rnew®

G850 Rnew ® is a polyamide made from castor seed oil that exceptionally transparent, lighter and more flexible than polycarbonate, and completely BPA and BPS free.

Other properties of this innovative new material include flexibility for outstanding comfort and durability, design freedom, chemical and fatigue resistance.

Greenline Grilamid TR®

Greenline Grilamid TR ® is an extremely lightweight, renewable material composed of bio-based nylon; derived from castor seed oil. The total emission of climate-damaging gases are reduced by up to 75% during the manufacturing process from raw-material to frame.

Greenline Grilamid TR ® is a transparent polymer in granulate form, which combines a variety of excellent properties.

Mazzucchelli M49 ®

A bio-based and biodegradable material, M49 holds all the tactile and aesthetic characteristics of traditional acetate; a warm and silk-like surface offers the wearer a sense of luxury uniquely derived from high quality natural materials. M49 ® is composed of cellulose acetate and a plasticiser of vegetable origin. The resulting formula is mostly composed of materials from renewable sources.

Recycled Marine Plastic

Also known as rPET, the premium recycled material selected for our collections incorporates plastic bottles and other ocean plastic waste. Giving post-consumer waste new life, reducing ocean pollution and supporting the survival of marine eco systems. The ‘r’ in rPET stands for ‘recycled’. from virgin PET plastic, so the material is produced without exhausting natural resources. In the recycling process, plastic is collected, cleaned and remade. An optical frame might comprise of 3-5 recycled plastic bottles.

Recycled Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is very lightweight, making it a great choice where comfort is a priority. As it is also a very ductile material, it allows us to create ultra-thin and intricate frame designs. It is also noncorrosive, highly durable and resistant to breakage.

It is an environmentally friendly choice of material as it can be recycled an indefinite number of times, with no degration. 80% of all stainless steel worldwide is recycled, making it the most recycled material on the planet.

Sustainable Leather

If responsibly and ethically farmed, leather can be called a bi-product of the meat industry. However, during the tanning process, it is essential that the hides are treated with less harmful chemicals that are disposed of responsibly.

We only use ethically sourced raw materials and the leather selected for these models is from LWG certified suppliers, who are focused on minimising the environmental impacts of their manufacturing processes.