Eyewear credentials

Eyewear companies and suppliers highlighted how they were leading on sustainability during a panel discussion at Optician’s Eyes on Sustainability conference at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh on November 5-6. They discussed developing a company ethos, sourcing sustainable frame materials and investing in corporate social responsibility projects.

Rachel Oakley, global eyewear market manager at Eastman, pictured right, spoke about the material supplier’s sustainability strategy. This included a commitment to mitigate climate change, mainstream circularity and caring for people and society.

She highlighted findings from a consumer survey commissioned by Eastman in June 2022 of 4,800 people from the US, UK, France and Germany. Oakley said that sustainable materials mattered because customers want them with 64% of UK consumers who said they were important but only 39% said they were easy to find.