Are you observing a major change in the eyewear fashion industry after introducing eco-friendly eyeglasses? They have taken center stage as they revolve around the concept of sustainability. When all the industries are working dedicatedly in favor of the environment, eyeglasses brands are also not lagging.
Today in this blog post, we will learn about how recycled glasses are playing a major role in merging innovation and sustainability in fashion.
A sustainable vision: what are recycled eyeglasses?
Let’s start by understanding these glasses from the very basics.
In simple terms, you can understand recycled eyewear as frames made of reclaimed materials. By ‘reclaimed materials’, we mean environmentally friendly raw materials. Today you can observe many brands using various eco-friendly materials like wood or recycled vinyl records to make sustainable eyewear easily available in the market.
This sustainable approach to introducing recycled eyeglasses has two main agendas:
- Reducing landfill waste, and
- Decreasing the environmental footprint of eyewear production
The manufacturing process: turning waste into wearable art
The long journey of recycled glasses starts with collecting the raw materials. Do you remember where you threw your old vinyl records after the digital age hit the era? They are in the landfills. But do not worry as many eco-conscious eyewear brands have taken a bigger step towards converting those recycled vinyl products into fashionable eyewear.
Let’s understand the process below step by step:
- Material collection
At very first, the brands start by collecting plastic and metals either through collaborations or directly from waste management systems.
- Processing and refining
After collecting the waste materials (that are eco-friendly), the next step is to let them undergo the process of vinyl recycling.
- Frame design
During the third step of the manufacturing process, frames are designed through innovative techniques without compromising on functionality.
- Assembly and polishing
In the end, the brands conclude the process by shaping recycled vinyl products into frames. Then, they also give details to them and polish them for a premium finish.
After all this processing, what you get is a pair of unique eco-friendly eyeglasses.
The environmental impact of recycled eyeglasses
As we discussed above recycled eyeglasses play a very significant role in reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption, its environmental impacts are truly positive:
- Reducing waste
As the process of making glasses made from recycled materials involves the use of waste materials, landfills are free. As a result, plastic pollution also gets reduced in nature.
- Lower Carbon emissions
When existing materials undergo the process of vinyl recycling, the carbon emissions are less because less energy is consumed. Ultimately, there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions and a positive impact on the environment.
- Preservation of resources
As the eco-conscious eyewear brands are using recycled materials, they are preserving non-renewable virgin resources on a larger scale. Due to this, there has been an increase in the conservation of natural habitats and a reduction in deforestation.
Why do consumers love eyeglasses made from recycled material?
In the modern era, you can observe many fashion freaks getting inclined toward sustainable eyewear in their purchasing decisions. Have you ever wondered why? Let’s explore:
Unique designs
Every pair of vinyl glasses that you purchase for yourself will convey a different story for you. In brief, every pair is unique and itself. And this is exactly why its exclusivity has attracted fashion-forward individuals a lot.
Durability
The recycling process of making sustainable glasses makes sure that high-quality products are produced. And hence, people love these glasses because of their durability and functionality as compared to traditional spectacles.
Eco-conscious lifestyle
Once you purchase a pair of recycled eyeglasses for yourself, it will make a tangible impact on environmental preservation, for sure.
So are you ready to live an eco-conscious lifestyle by making sustainable eyewear fashion purchasing decisions?
Challenges in selling recycled eyeglasses
Despite a lot of benefits, some challenges also come across when brands are working very hard to promote the concept of eyeglasses made from recycled material:
High production costs
The process we discussed above might seem very simple to you in the beginning. However, this is not the case. From collecting the right waste materials to refining them and then finally making them look like a premium product, a lot of production costs go away. And that’s why, you might observe higher retail prices of sustainable glasses in the market.
Limited awareness
As the concept of traditional glasses has not gone completely, most people are not aware of the concept of sustainability. That’s why, there still needs to be some space for letting others be aware.
Supply chain complexity
It is a bit complicated and challenging for brands to source consistent, high-quality recycled vinyl records regularly and make sustainable eyewear available in the market on a large scale.
Conclusion
Recycled eyewear is completely a game changer that has merged innovation and sustainability in the eyewear fashion industry. And their future seems to be very bright as more people are getting inclined towards sustainable purchasing decisions.
So what are you thinking? Be ready to choose a sustainable pair for yourself and make a difference for the environment.
