The Association of British Dispensing Opticians' Antonia Chitty, Head of Communications and IT, offers perspective on sustainable eyewear and eye care procurement.
Have you ever given any thought to the plastics contained in your contact lenses or glasses? Is there a selection of eco-friendly eyeglasses on display at your neighbourhood eye doctor when you go there? The public is paying attention to sustainability, and opticians are adjusting as well.
Owners of optical clinics in the UK and elsewhere are thinking about going greener. Sustainable procurement, or making sure that all practise supplies are as sustainable as possible, is one of the essential components of this. Continue reading to find out more about eco-friendly eyewear and eye care.
Vice President of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians is Kevin Gutsell (ABDO). He co-leads Optical Centre Supplies Ltd. and participates in the Association's working committee on sustainability (Centrostyle). Many of the concerns around sustainability are ones we haven't really had to deal with, he claims. Where do we begin, is the question. And I think it all starts with the people; enlist their support in establishing the procedures so they may have faith in the results. Kevin is a part of ABDO's Thinking Green campaign, which uses social media and trade press to inform opticians and optometrists about the free tools the organisation has created to assist them in becoming more environmentally friendly.
Additionally, he took part in the annual SEE Summit for the optical industry hosted by ABDO. This event, which brings together professional organisations, businesses and suppliers, and individual practitioners, focuses on the social, environmental, and economic (often known as "people, planet, and profit") aspects of establishing sustainable businesses. The SEE Summit, according to Kevin, "showed that most suppliers have a policy in how they source goods, how they package, how they transport, and are striving to become greener in their own right."
Testing vendors on eco-friendly eyewear and care
Simon Berry, an optometrist, created a questionnaire that he uses with all of his vendors. It addresses if the supplier has an internal environmental policy, any environmental certifications, or any other credentials. It inquires about the materials' tracability and the morality and ethics of the manufacturing process. The questionnaire also examines the product's materials' origins, their recyclable status, and the manufacturer's efforts to lessen the environmental impact of the product's packaging.
By using a questionnaire like this, businesses may aid patients with their inquiries. The benefit of beginning to share sustainability research with patients, according to Simon, is that they may not have previously considered the problems facing our sector. Long-term, the biggest difference will be caused by that modest shift in perspective.
Packaging for sustainable eyewear
Waste minimization is equally important to lowering our carbon footprint. We can all notice waste in the packaging industry, but suppliers and managers of optical practises are urged to consider ways to reduce packaging before hastily tossing it in the recycling bin. The waste hierarchy diagram shows how the first step is to refuse more packaging. As a result, an increasing number of business owners are speaking with their suppliers and urging them to consider how they package the goods they provide. In response, suppliers are moving away from single-use plastics and drastically eliminating any leftover materials.
Reusing old eyewear and lenses
There is a rising consumer demand for recycled lenses and frames. People want to see their neighbourhood doctor returning the things they gave them. Recycline - sight frames and lenses is one business that now provides recycling bins for optical practises.
• Refactory (formerly Reworked): eyeglasses and lenses.
• Opticlean: fictitious lenses.
• Contact lenses from Terracycle.
To find out what each company does with the plastics and, occasionally, metals that they reclaim, you can browse their websites.
Standards for eco-friendly eyewear and eye care
According to Tim Baker of BIB Ophthalmic Instruments, "Sustainability is something all business should be aware of and, more significantly, working upon." "BIB Ophthalmic Instruments is concerned with sustainability and actively involved in it.
Although some aspects of sustainability are mentioned in our ISO-9001 standards, there are now more comprehensive, relevant requirements that can be met. Frequently, the manufacturer rather than the UK distributor or wholesaler meets these standards. The Optical Suppliers Association (OSA) Sustainability Committee was established to assist members in enhancing sustainability in their business practises and to help them attain a recognised accreditation that would also be supported by evidence and maintained. "This begins with the designation of a sustainability officer or representative," adds Tim. Requesting the company's sustainability or environmental policy statement, as well as any accreditations (including those of manufacturers they represent), is then possible.
A warning for optical offices
Take note of Kevin Gutsell's advice for optical practises: "You might not be here when the temperature rises. If you're my age, you've probably seen plastic replace glass bottles and the subsequent realisation that glass could actually be preferable. Even if we can't predict the future, we must act responsibly in order to protect the environment and the future generations of our family. Make the change right away rather than regretting it afterwards.
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