Carbon progress at Silhouette

Louis Stone Optical

More than 5,000 entries were recorded for Louis Stone Optical’s recent Black Volk Lens giveaway competition. “The optical societies from most of the universities shared the giveaway to their Instagram stories as they knew that any of their student followers could always do with a new Volk lens. This Instagram giveaway and our 15,800 followers really do emphasise the thriving community we have built over the years,” said Clare Brent, the company’s head of marketing and communications.

Thomas Burkhardt has been promoted to president of Marchon Eyewear. Formerly chief marketing officer and senior vice president of global brands, marketing and design, Thomas will report to Earnie Franklin, chief operating officer of VSP Vison. He succeeds Nicola Zotta, who led Marchon from 2016 until May 2022.

Earnie commented: “From growing brands and organisations globally, to transforming and elevating multibillion-dollar retail sales brands, to expertise in product development, operations, licensing and more, Thomas has the experience and a proven record of leadership over his 25 years of working in the consumer goods, fashion and eyewear industries.”

Thomas responded: “I am honored and energised by the opportunity to lead the next era of Marchon, its world-class eyewear portfolio of brands, and its passionate global organisation. As we look to the future, our team is well poised to help our customers achieve more and deliver on our mission to help people around the world see better, look better and feel better.”

Thomas Burkhardt

Marchon 100% Optical

Future of optics “looking bright”

Visitor registration is now live for 100% Optical 2023, along with entries for the Love Eyewear Awards. The show will return to the ExCeL in London from 25 to 27 February, featuring more than 200 exhibitors. Entries for the Love Eyewear Awards will close on 28 November, with the awards ceremony taking place on Saturday 25 February. There are 12 categories including Sustainable Frame of the Year, Eyewear Retailer of the Year and New Designer 2023.

100% Optical will offer seminars and a schedule of CPD sessions. The Future Practice Hub will feature four rooms dedicated to diagnostics, dispensing and clinical skills, while the Dispensing Workshop will be a space for visitors to experience making and fitting frames. The Studio will have a greater focus on independent eyewear, and the Optical Academy will provide CPD-accredited education for wider practice staff.

Nathan Garnett, 100% Optical show director, said: “The global eyewear market was worth an estimated £106.1bn in 2021 and with this number growing to a predicted £111.4bn for this year, the future of optics is looking bright. We can’t wait to hear all about it and see the latest trends, designs and innovations that our industry has to offer during the 100% showcase in February.” Register at www.100percentoptical.com

Silhouette

Installing large solar panels on the roofs of its eyewear production facilities, along with further carbon reduction projects and off-setting, has resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in Silhouette’s carbon footprint over the last seven years. The company can now claim carbon neutral status for eyewear production with off-setting, having cut emissions to approximately 2,000 tonnes last year alone.

By 2023, Silhouette plans to install solar panels on all suitable roofs at its headquarters in Linz, Austria. Annually, this will prevent the release of 450 tonnes of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of what would require 13,361 trees to absorb, said the company. Part of its long-term plan to cut out remaining emissions focuses on solar energy production in the Global South, a Gold Standard carbon off-setting project

independently verified by TÜV Austria.

Silhouette has purchased Gold Standard certificates for a 6MWh solar energy farm in Kolanupaka, India, and is championing a solar farm supplying 9,899MWh of clean energy each year to the local power grid, producing a cut of 9,535 tons of CO2 equivalent each year. The solar farm also improves air quality and living conditions locally, with a health camp in the works to provide medical treatment in co-operation with Kamineni Hospital for 400 people.

Long-term sustainability outlook