Trendy Sustainable Sunglasses for ALL Face Shapes

By the urbivore sisters May 10, 2022 Eco 101, Fashion, Lifestyle, Product Review, Sustainable

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Helloooo summer!!! And more importantly HELLO SUN! If you’re anything like us you may have been feeling a little down and glum by the end of the winter season. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is REAL folks. Though we haven’t been diagnosed with this, whenever spring is in the air after a long winter we jump with joy and bask in the long lost sun. Elated that the cold is behind us and we can stroll in the park with our shades on and our skin soaking in that good old Vitamin D.

This summer you may be in the market for a new pair of sunnies. Like us you may have been handed a pair of cheap plastic sunglasses at a festival or some other summer event. Unfortunately these sunglasses never stand the test of time and to be honest, they typically aren’t much help in protecting your eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.

So, this time around we are saying NO to the fast fashion sunglasses industry and are jumping on board with sustainable, protective, long-lasting sunglasses this summer. Are you with us?!

Thanks to many new and innovative companies, sustainable doesn’t have to mean tacky. Sustainable now means stylish. Yes, sustainability is in.

So let’s dig into why such a small accessory can have such a negative impact on the environment, what sustainable options are, and some really rad companies that have super fashionable shades to wear not only this summer but also many summers to come!

Fast Fashion Alert: Say No to Cheap Sunglasses

Plastic sunglasses seem to have become a big trend with companies giving them away as a “valuable” freebie when it comes to marketing. Have you noticed radio stations, energy drink companies, banks, and many more have been giving them away at summer gatherings lately? This is typically because they are so cheap to make and to incorporate personal branding. In an industry where sunglasses are usually higher priced items, they are seen as a generous gift and good exposure when worn by those who get them.

If you haven’t been to events you may see them as accessories at the convenience store, the shoe store, or your favourite clothing store. Selling for $10-25 and in many different styles…They’re everywhere!

Here are the problems:

Built fast & cheap, break easily, need to be replaced frequently
Plastic frames that cannot be recycled or upcycled and end up in landfills
Lenses are often petroleum-based
Unsustainable manufacturing processes that incorporate a lot of plastic waste & pollution
Not sufficient UV protection, sun can still harm your eyes

Now, let’s get into the solutions 🙂

Sustainable Sunglasses: They Exist & Why We Love Them

Cheap sunglasses ain’t cool no mo’ and companies are noticing! Sustainable sunglasses and glasses companies in general are popping up more and more each year. We are thrilled about all the options that are becoming available not only in materials but also in styles! So, here are some of the choices you now have when shopping for your new fave sustainable sunglasses.

Recycled Materials

This is a really great selection, and probably our go-to because it is incorporating already existing materials. Upcycling is the best because we are able to make use of the waste that has already been created and repurpose it into something new and useful. Unlike other sustainable materials (that are still an amazing option) they do not require new materials/resources. Of course, there is still the point to be made that energy is required to repurpose these materials but at least they are being diverted from landfills.

Bamboo

Woohoo for bamboo! A compostable and unbelievably durable material. Investing in thoughtfully made bamboo sunglasses will surely give you a stylish companion to take to the beach for years to come. Bamboo is also a great material because it does not require harmful fertilizers to grow! Be sure to look for the FSC certification so you know it is sustainably grown and harvested.

Wood

Another great compostable item we are all familiar with. Again, it is important to look for the FSC certification to make sure you are not contributing to harmful deforestation.

Cork

If you don’t know us very well yet, you should know that we’re obsessed with cork. This is obvious since we created this company around our cork yoga mats, ahem, how did you like that sales plug? But seriously, cork is one of those brilliant materials made by mother earth for so many reasons.

Top Sustainable Sunglasses Companies

Panda Sunglasses

Bamboo bonuses: Naturally antibacterial! Bamboo forests produce more oxygen than traditional forests. Shop classic styles you can’t go wrong with.

Material: 100% FSC certified bamboo

Warranty: Lifetime

UV Protection: Polarized

Gives Back: 1% for the planet

Dragon Alliance

Shop trending oversized glasses and fun coloured lenses.

Material: 5 100% recycled plastic bottles per pair of glasses

UV Protection: 100% UV Protection

Just Human

Just Human is our top pick because of their thoughtfulness from start to finish. They have ALL the bases covered and are proud to tell you about it. They also very importantly indicate the type of UV (UVA, UVB, and UVC) protection provided and have the added benefit of blue light reduction. Shop exclusive chic, high fashion styles.

Material: Frames made from reforested softwood trees, lenses are mineral glass created from sand through a zero waste manufacturing process. Case exterior is made of pineapple leaf fibers with an inner liner and microfiber cleaning cloth made using recycled water bottles! Wow!

UV Protection: Filters 100% harmful UVA, UVB and UVC. Also filters up to 99% of harmful blue light.

Eco Eyewear

From metal frames to thicker “plastic” frames, Eco has got it all. Shop unique styles and colours to freshen up your look.

Material: 95% recycled stainless steel, castor seed oil, and/or ocean plastic depending on the frame

UV Protection: UVA & UVB protection, polarized

Gives Back: Trees for the Future, planting a tree with every sale.

Blue Planet Sunglasses

Material: Reuses 60-75% recycled & reprocessed content, bamboo, Walnut, Beechwood, and/or Zebra Wood depending on the frame

UV Protection: 100% UVA & UVB protection

Gives Back: Their Visualize Change Program donates a pair of corrective glasses to someone in need for every pair sold! Also partnered with Trees for the Future, planting a tree for every pair sold 🙂

SeaClean Sunglasses

A great option especially if you are looking for prescription sunglasses. Classic frames you can’t go wrong with.

Material: Recycled plastic water bottles (5 bottles per pair)

Gives Back: $5 per sale donated to The Ocean Cleanup

Waterhaul

We love this company because of the material their sunglasses are made from. Used fishing net has become far too prevalent in our oceans and it is a massive issue for sea life. This is the number one plastic that sea creatures are getting caught in and cannot escape, living for decades with fishing net stuck to them and growing around them as they age, unable to escape. We have a big soft spot for what this company does and how they are giving back.

Material: 100% recycled fishing net