11 minute read
Company profile
A new vision of sustainability
An environmentally-conscious journey, which started back in 2019 with lessening single-use plastic waste, has now become a powerful mission for the team at Eyespace. Firmly established on the sustainability radar, the company kicked-off 2022 as proud recipients of Optician Award’s fi rst ever Sustainability accolade and, championing “accessible sustainability” for every member of the optical industry, the company held its inaugural ‘Green Summit’ in January for hundreds of practitioners keen to understand where they too can make long-term diff erences.
Opposite Page:
Opposite Page: Aspinal of London sustainable sunglass Aspinal of London sustainable sunglass Calypso in Col.02 Mocha is hand-crafted
Calypso in Col.02 Mocha is hand-crafted from the fi nest Italian bio-acetate from the fi nest Italian bio-acetate
Right:
Right:Land Rover sustainable design
Redford Land Rover sustainable design in BLK, with temples composed
Redford in BLK, with temples composed of a revolutionary recycled stainless steel of a revolutionary recycled stainless steel
Far Right:
Far Right:As well as being 35 times more effi cient at As well as being 35 times more effi cient at absorbing and storing Co2 than rainforests, absorbing and storing Co2 than rainforests, 50 species of fi sh live in or visit 50 species of fi sh live in or visit UK seagrass meadows UK seagrass meadows
It is estimated the eyewear industry consumes well in excess of one billion frame bags per year globally, each reportedly taking up to 500 years to break-down and releasing harmful micro-plastics and toxins into the environment throughout the process. Upon learning this, Eyespace CEO & Co-founder Jayne Abel formed an eco-centric taskforce for the business, supported by Product Director and Chief Sustainability Offi cer, Emily Andrews; a catalyst for leading the change, the team has promised to do everything in their power to be examples of positive change for the optical industry. Of the company’s sea-change, Jayne, who also Chairs the OSA Sustainability Committee, says, “Sustainable fashion is a term that is increasingly over-used without a true commitment to meaningful change. rough our increasingly intensive research we became aware - and genuinely concerned - of the serious environmental impact modern-day fashion has on the planet. We have a responsibility as business-owners to focus our sustainability commitments on ensuring we protect both the environment and the people involved in every stage of our product life-cycle, from reducing our carbon footprint, to selecting ethicallyproduced materials, improving the environmental impacts of our Head Quarters, and doing all the basics, such as recycling, increasing our use of e-marketing and utilising LED lighting. We are constantly seeking product-focused solutions that will meet all three pillars of our mission (planet, people and product), allowing us to assure practitioners and patients that their eyewear choices are advancing us all towards a greener future.” Since introducing their fi rst sustainable products, with the fully bio-acetate Eco-Conscious collection in early 2020, the Eyespace team have honed their enviro-expertise, bringing a host of new measures into place as they strive to set precedents. Bold, measurable targets to reduce climate impact and consumption of natural resources have seen Eyespace become one of the fi rst frame suppliers in the world to switch to biodegradable frame bags across its entire off ering and the supporting assets for the Eco-Conscious collection remain entirely plastic-free, with exclusive use of biodegradable demo lenses and packaging and merchandising composed of FSC-accredited cards. “Working Vision Now February 2022 27
on reducing our Co2 emissions, pollution and waste, and ensuring all our manufacturers pay fair wages and off er safe working conditions are strong drivers to achieving our targets” says Jayne of their sustainability matrix. “Other initiatives crucial to minimising our footprint include transitioning case designs to incorporate recycled materials, such as rPET and switching to folding designs (which reduce weight and cargo space), removing laminations and non-recyclable fi nishes from our POS, supporting biodiversity, off setting emissions through tree and seagrass planting and moving our marketing communications to digital platforms whenever possible”. Enviro-conscious product materials are, of course, central to Eyespace’s approach to sustainability and understanding the impacts of material choices supports them in selecting the innovations that are being continually rolled out across their portfolio. Last year, Land Rover Eyewear introduced G850 Rnew®, a cuttingedge, GMO-free material derived sustainably from castor seed oil, farmed in arid areas under the fair-trade PRAGATI scheme, plus recycled stainless steel components. Premium cottonbased bio-acetates, which are free of toxic plasticisers and that are completely renewable and biodegradable are utilised in multiple collections, including Eyespace’s ultra-popular fl agship brand, Cocoa Mint. e most recent material introduction, Econyl®, sees waste nylon reclaimed and regenerated from fi shing nets, and carpet and clothing off cuts. is unique and premium material reduces the impacts of global warming associated with nylon production by up to 90% and can be infi nitely recycled without losing quality, making it an excellent and reliable choice for eyewear design. e fi rst Eyespace brand to advance use of Econyl®, Aspinal of London - the luxury British leather accessories brand for which Eyespace holds the eyewear license - already off er a comprehensive library of consciously developed frame designs. For 2022 Econyl® is incorporated alongside premium wood-pulp bio-acetates and sustainably sourced genuine leather accents. e world-renowned accessories brand has beehives in its Sussex headquarters (1 in every 3 bites of the food we eat is directly dependent on bee pollination, yet bee species worldwide are declining at an alarming rate) and Aspinal’s
It is estimated the eyewear industry consumes well in excess of one billion frame bags per year sustainable designs can be easily identifi ed by the globally, each reportedly taking up to 500 years to bee logo which is tastefully inlaid into the tips. break-down and releasing harmful micro-plastics and toxins into the environment throughout the For younger patients, this spring Eyespace process. Upon learning this, Eyespace CEO & expands its sustainable portfolio further Co-founder Jayne Abel formed an eco-centric incorporating a 12-piece trend-led Rock Star taskforce for the business, supported by Product capsule collection utilising reclaimed sea-bottle Director and Chief Sustainability Offi cer, Emily plastic. Every day, 8 million pieces of plastic Andrews; a catalyst for leading the change, the pollute the oceans, so the collection is aimed at team has promised to do everything in their allowing the next generation of frame-wearers power to be examples of positive change for the optical industry. Of the company’s sea-change, Jayne, who also Chairs the OSA Sustainability to make informed and empowered fashion decisions. Committee, says, “Sustainable fashion is a term One of Eyespace’s main ‘planet pledge’ aims is that is increasingly over-used without a true to achieve net zero carbon by 2030, “Eyespace commitment to meaningful change. rough is a consistent supporter in all areas of the fi ght our increasingly intensive research we became aware - and genuinely concerned - of the serious environmental impact modern-day fashion has on the planet. We have a responsibility as business-owners to focus our sustainability commitments on ensuring we protect both the environment and the people involved in every stage of our product life-cycle, from reducing our carbon footprint, to selecting ethicallyproduced materials, improving the environmental impacts of our Head Quarters, and doing all the basics, such as recycling, increasing our use of e-marketing and utilising LED lighting. against climate change and our Eco-Conscious Eyewear collection has supported large-scale replanting eff orts in the Amazon and Australia. In 2021 we became aware that seagrass is 35 times more effi cient at absorbing and storing Co2 than rainforests but is being eradicated at unfathomable rates - essentially a football fi eld’s worth of seagrass every 30 minutes” explains Jayne. Consequently, Eyespace is now aligning with the British charity Project Seagrass, to draw attention to the conservation of seagrass ecosystems. We are constantly seeking product-focused solutions that will meet all three pillars of our mission (planet, people and product), allowing us to assure practitioners and patients that their eyewear choices are advancing us all towards a greener future.” January also saw Eyespace launch its landmark ‘Green Summit’, with optical professionals invited to join Jayne and Emily for a thoughtprovoking live webinar, introducing the concepts driving sustainable development forward within optics today. “Being a committed and responsible Since introducing their fi rst sustainable products, with the fully bio-acetate Eco-Conscious collection in early 2020, the Eyespace team have honed their enviro-expertise, bringing a host organisation is probably our greatest source of pride, motivating us to continually accelerate our eff orts and contribute to the growing global movements protecting our planet and its people” of new measures into place as they strive to set continues Jayne. “To empower our customers to precedents. Bold, measurable targets to reduce make sustainable decisions, Eyespace regularly climate impact and consumption of natural holds personalised virtual training sessions. resources have seen Eyespace become one of We also invested heavily in achieving CET the fi rst frame suppliers in the world to switch accreditation with the General Optical Council to biodegradable frame bags across its entire on Eco Innovation in Frame Technology as off ering and the supporting assets for the we are fi rmly focused on sharing our passion Eco-Conscious collection remain entirely for positive impact and coming together as an plastic-free, with exclusive use of biodegradable industry to truly make a diff erence”. demo lenses and packaging and merchandising composed of FSC-accredited cards. “Working For more information about Eyespace’s
sustainability initiatives and product collections, please contact your Regional Area Manager or call 01527 870550.
on reducing our Co2 emissions, pollution and waste, and ensuring all our manufacturers pay fair wages and off er safe working conditions are strong drivers to achieving our targets” says Jayne of their sustainability matrix. “Other initiatives crucial to minimising our footprint include transitioning case designs to incorporate recycled materials, such as rPET and switching to folding designs (which reduce weight and cargo space), removing laminations and non-recyclable fi nishes from our POS, supporting biodiversity, off setting emissions through tree and seagrass planting and moving our marketing communications to digital platforms whenever possible”. Enviro-conscious product materials are, of course, central to Eyespace’s approach to sustainability and understanding the impacts of material choices supports them in selecting the innovations that are being continually rolled out across their portfolio. Last year, Land Rover Eyewear introduced G850 Rnew®, a cuttingedge, GMO-free material derived sustainably from castor seed oil, farmed in arid areas under the fair-trade PRAGATI scheme, plus recycled stainless steel components. Premium cottonbased bio-acetates, which are free of toxic plasticisers and that are completely renewable and biodegradable are utilised in multiple collections, including Eyespace’s ultra-popular fl agship brand, Cocoa Mint. e most recent material introduction, Econyl®, sees waste nylon reclaimed and regenerated from fi shing nets, and carpet and clothing off cuts. is unique and premium material reduces the impacts of global warming associated with nylon production by up to 90% and can be infi nitely recycled without losing quality, making it an excellent and reliable choice for eyewear design. e fi rst Eyespace brand to advance use of Econyl®, Aspinal of London - the luxury British leather accessories brand for which Eyespace holds the eyewear license - already off er a comprehensive library of consciously developed frame designs. For 2022 Econyl® is incorporated alongside premium wood-pulp bio-acetates and sustainably sourced genuine leather accents. e world-renowned accessories brand has beehives in its Sussex headquarters (1 in every 3 bites of the food we eat is directly dependent on bee pollination, yet bee species worldwide are declining at an alarming rate) and Aspinal’s sustainable designs can be easily identifi ed by the bee logo which is tastefully inlaid into the tips. For younger patients, this spring Eyespace expands its sustainable portfolio further incorporating a 12-piece trend-led Rock Star capsule collection utilising reclaimed sea-bottle plastic. Every day, 8 million pieces of plastic pollute the oceans, so the collection is aimed at allowing the next generation of frame-wearers to make informed and empowered fashion decisions. One of Eyespace’s main ‘planet pledge’ aims is to achieve net zero carbon by 2030, “Eyespace is a consistent supporter in all areas of the fi ght against climate change and our Eco-Conscious Eyewear collection has supported large-scale replanting eff orts in the Amazon and Australia. In 2021 we became aware that seagrass is 35 times more effi cient at absorbing and storing Co2 than rainforests but is being eradicated at unfathomable rates - essentially a football fi eld’s worth of seagrass every 30 minutes” explains Jayne. Consequently, Eyespace is now aligning with the British charity Project Seagrass, to draw attention to the conservation of seagrass ecosystems. January also saw Eyespace launch its landmark ‘Green Summit’, with optical professionals invited to join Jayne and Emily for a thoughtprovoking live webinar, introducing the concepts driving sustainable development forward within optics today. “Being a committed and responsible organisation is probably our greatest source of pride, motivating us to continually accelerate our eff orts and contribute to the growing global movements protecting our planet and its people” continues Jayne. “To empower our customers to make sustainable decisions, Eyespace regularly holds personalised virtual training sessions. We also invested heavily in achieving CET accreditation with the General Optical Council on Eco Innovation in Frame Technology as we are fi rmly focused on sharing our passion for positive impact and coming together as an industry to truly make a diff erence”.
