In my last blog post on sustainable vs eco friendly I mentioned how more and more eyewear brands are now putting effort into making eco friendly glasses. I have been following Zeal Optics for quite some time. Even from day one I really liked the fact they put a lot of emphasis on the environment as a company. They have been doing more and more to make a positive impact regarding environmental issues and I love the fact they are always actively doing something.
If you are not aware, Zeal Optics has a focus on designing sunglasses for the great outdoors. If you enjoy spending time in nature and care about the environment then Zeal could be your next choice of eyewear. To start with, Zeal uses plant based materials for their sunglasses to help reduce the environmental impact. The majority of Zeal’s range are now composed of Z-resin which is a material derived from castor beans. The remaining collection is made from See Grass, a material composed of agricultural waste fibres and recycled plastic made in a closed-loop system. These frame materials, paired with plant-based Ellume Polarized lenses, allow Zeal to replace traditional petroleum-based plastics in sunglasses with innovative, eco-acetate materials.
Zeal Optics See Grass lens
Apart from focusing on making their eyewear more planet friendly, Zeal Optics are also carrying this through into their head office, labs, flagship stores and packaging. Zeal only uses Forest Stewardship council certified paper when producing their catalogs and packaging. In the lab, Zeal has developed the first zero-waste process to recycle all excess lens material from manufacturing. They also removed all new single-use plastics in their packaging. Sunglass and goggle bags are made from recycled plastic. In Zeal HQ and flagship store they have chosen to use reclaimed beetle kill wood.
Zeal Optics Shades For Seas
As well as doing what they can within their eyewear range and office space. Zeal is also involved in various projects and partnerships who share the same environmental interest as them. They are a part of 1% for the planet initiative, where they are committed to giving 1% of their gross sales to environmental and sustainability focused groups. Zeal also supports local communities with trail restoration and stream cleanups as well as being a part of Project 5480, a long-standing initiative to plant 5, 480 trees on an annual basis with the national forest foundation.
Back in April (earth month) Zeal also launched a Shades for Seas campaign where every sunglass, goggle or accessory lens purchased in April, Zeal will partner with Plastic Oceans International to clean 1,000sqft of coastline for 1 year.
This list goes on and on. What Zeal Optics do as a company is one of the things I love about them as a brand because it doesn’t just stop with the eyewear. It is everything. Did you know, Zeal shares the same lens lab as Maui Jim and if you ask me, they make the best sun lenses so you can rest assured you are getting top quality lenses. I had a pair of Zeal before, before I accidentally stood on them and broke them (VERY sad times), the quality of them is fantastic and the lenses were also incredible.
They’re definitely worth exploring if you love the great outdoors, care about the environment and love good quality sunglasses. Check them out here.