Since 2016, Sea2See has been trying to encourage thinking about the environment by improving sustainability in the optical industry.
François van den Abeele founded Sea2See with a passion for the ocean and in recognition of the need for ecological friendly materials, with a conservation-minded use of resources that would reduce pollutants.
Discarded marine plastic, such as fishing nets, ropes and bottles, is salvaged and taken to one of 150 containers at 27 Spanish ports before being upcycled into a reusable raw material.
This material is then moulded and coloured into Sea2See eyewear, which is distributed in the UK by Henry Beaumont Eyewear, such as the Optician Award winning Positano 02 model, pictured below.
Speaking to Optician from Spain, van den Abeele says: ‘I was very happy when we won because it started as a crazy idea of mine and people laughed at me. I bet on trying to change things in the optical environment where there’s not much innovation in terms of sustainable materials.
‘It proves our products are accepted. Having products made 100% with a raw material that we collect and recycle, competing with other brands on the same level and winning it, has just made me very happy.’
He explains that the Italian-made, round shaped Positano 02 is a two-tone, hand painted amber and grey colour, with flexible hinges, weighing only 11 grams and is on the same level of quality as a non-recycled frame.
Van den Abeele cites Stella McCartney’s fashion company as an example of where recycled materials can match and compete in terms of quality of products made by other brands.
‘The idea was to have something light and thin, elegant and sophisticated that played with a combination of natural and modern colours.
‘I think it stands out for what it represents and for the values it has. I call it an eco-disruptor in this industry where virgin plastic is the main raw material. It stands out because it’s a statement and is more than a frame,’ he says.
Each frame sold finances Sea2See’s coastal waste collection programme, which means the company is vertically integrated from waste collection to the final product.
Sea2See's Positano 02
Van den Abeele adds: ‘We’ve been working with a consultancy company in Holland who told us that one frame of ours has 28 times less contamination in carbon footprint than an acetate frame.’
When he founded Sea2See he says there was not much discussion in the eyewear industry about climate change but in the past five years the younger generation has changed things.
‘Today there is a general awareness that we need to do things differently and obviously not just in the optical sector. Consumers are looking for experiences and emotions. We offer this possibility to be part of the cause and, on top of it, to wear that cause in the middle of their face,’ van den Abeele says.
The next steps for Sea2See include increasing its waste collection programmes in Africa, where it currently operates in Ghana and Senegal, and increasing its market presence organically and through collaborations with other brands, including a range of Swiss watches.
He adds that its necessary to have a sustainable, luxury brand in people’s homes and not just on the red carpet in order to inspire change.
‘If you want to change something, you have to go to the masses and reach as many people as possible. That’s what we do because the product is also affordable. That’s how you manage to inspire change and we get that change into the consumers,’ he concludes.
Can your frame win frame of the Year 2021?
This category is open to frames significant to the British market that have made an impact during the past 12 months or are destined to become a future classic. The panel of judges is looking for a frame that has significance to UK optical practices and is capable of broad market appeal. This may be because of its style, value to the wearer or technical excellence. The panel will be assessing the frame’s style, saleability, availability and appeal. The judges will take into consideration the way in which the frame is presented, its appeal to customers and its commercial appeal in practice. Entrants should enter a single frame style and provide the judges with a sample.
To register your interest for the 2021 Optician Awards go to www.opticianawards.co.uk/register-your-interest-fo...
