WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – How EssilorLuxottica puts efforts on sustainability.
The theme and focus for this year: to avoid using plastic as much as possible.
Issues such as pollution, climate change, deforestation, and overpopulation have drastically changed the way the world operates. Because of the importance of these topics, the United Nations has created World Environment Day to help people learn about the consequences of every human activity and educate them on how various actions directly impact the environment around us.
The theme and focus of this year is: PLASTIC.
Plastic pollution has reached drastic proportions, affecting not only the environment but also each of us internally because of the microplastics we ingest every day from bottles or cups we use routinely.
World Environment Day 2025 calls on our collective conscience to avoid/not use plastic, so that the extraordinary pollution we are causing ourselves and the planet does not continue.
For this reason, the UN has encouraged individuals, organizations, and governments to adopt practices that respect and are friendly to the environment.
What are some of the disturbing Facts:
- Approximately 11 million tons of plastic end up each year in our aquatic systems and ecosystems.
- Around 1,000 different species of aquatic life are directly affected by these kinds of plastic waste.
- Less than 10% of the plastic produced in a single year (400 million tons per year) is successfully recycled.
- Microplastics, with a diameter of 5 mm, are currently found in food, water, and air, and because of this, an individual consumes around 50,000 plastic particles in one year (not including air, since that number is even higher).
ESSILORLUXOTTICA AND ITS MAIN GOAL
EssilorLuxottica’s primary goal is to help people not only with their vision but, in recent years—thanks to the EYES on PLANET program—one of its objectives has also been environmental respect, precisely because THE PLANET BELONGS TO ALL OF US.
For this reason, it is up to each of us to protect it individually and, collectively, to be stronger in facing challenges, so as to have better health and a cleaner environment.
EYES on PLANET is divided into several subprograms, including:
Eyes on Circularity
Where the main goal is to use materials that are fossil-based, plant-based, or made from recyclable materials.
Additionally, part of the program is to reduce as much as possible the waste generated at each step of the eyewear production chain.
But how do we recognize these materials and what are they?
- Bio-acetate
- What is it? An eco-friendly variant of classic acetate, produced from cotton fibers and plant-based raw materials, without petrochemical derivatives.
- Why is it eco-friendly? It is biodegradable, phthalate-free, and less toxic to the environment.
- Recycled plastic (e.g., from the oceans)
- What is it? Plastic collected from the sea or urban plastic waste, which is recycled and used for frames.
- Why is it eco-friendly? It reduces plastic pollution and gives a second life to waste materials.
- Bamboo
- What is it? A natural material that grows very quickly, without pesticides.
- Why is it eco-friendly? It is renewable, biodegradable, and very durable.
- Sustainable Wood
- What is it? Various types of wood sourced from responsibly managed forests.
- Why is it eco-friendly? It is natural, biodegradable, and does not harm the environment if harvested with FSC certification.
- Recycled Metals
- What are they? Aluminum, steel, or titanium recycled from other devices.
- Why are they eco-friendly? They reduce the need for new extraction from nature.
- Recycled Nylon (ECONYL®)
- What is it? Nylon fiber recycled from fishing nets and industrial waste.
- Use in eyewear: Especially in lenses or plastic details on sports glasses.
At EssilorLuxottica, nothing remains solely in project form; it is translated into products that clients and patients can find at all authorized optical stores.
Brands that use the materials mentioned above include:
- Oakley
- Ray-Ban (Ray-Ban Reverse and Bio-Based Line)
- Emporio Armani
- Armani Exchange
- Arnette
Conclusions
At a time when it is very important to protect the environment we live in—and, consequently, ourselves—it is essential to choose collections that prioritize environmental sustainability. As mentioned, this means buying from specialized and authorized retailers.
For any additional information, feel free to write to us at info@iglasses.al
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