Plastic prevention scheme expands

CooperVision said it has prevented the equivalent of almost 28 million plastic bottles from polluting the ocean a year after its plastic neutral contact lens scheme launched.

Through the initiative, 171 coastal communities have been exchanging plastic for clean water, groceries, cooking oil, school tuition and health insurance.

A partnership between CooperVision and social enterprise Plastic Bank has seen subsidiaries of the contact lens company in Europe, North and South America and Asia participate, with more joining this year.

CooperVision expected to prevent the equivalent of 90 million plastic bottles from reaching oceans in 2022, which was three time the amount collected in 2021.