18 Stylish & Sustainable Sunglasses Brands in the UK
This post is about the best sustainable & stylish sunglasses brands in the UK!
Stylish & Sustainable Sunglasses Brands in the UK
Do you love sustainable fashion and looking for stylish eyewear for an affordable price?
Look no further than these 18 sustainable sunglasses brands!
Whether you are a conscious consumer or just looking for a pair of stylish shades this post is for you!
What are sustainable sunglasses?
Sustainable sunglasses are eyewear products designed and manufactured with a focus on environmental and social responsibility. They are made using eco-friendly materials, such as recycled plastic, bamboo, and wood.
Sustainable sunglasses brands aim to reduce the environmental impact of their products. They do this by:
- Using recycled and biodegradable materials
- Reducing waste and pollution
- Supporting ethical and fair labour practices.
They also strive to create durable, long-lasting products that can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their life cycle.
Sustainable eyewear also offers a range of benefits for the wearer as they are often lightweight, comfortable, and provide excellent UV protection for your eyes.
Many sustainable sunglasses brands also offer polarised lenses, which reduce glare and improve colour contrast, making them ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and water sports.
Why is choosing a sustainable pair of sunglasses is important?
When choosing sunglasses, most people focus on style, fit, and UV protection for those sunny days. However, it is equally important to consider the environment when choosing a pair of glasses as you can reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Here are a few reasons why sustainable sunglasses are important:
1. Reduce Waste
Eco sunglasses are made from natural materials that are biodegradable or recyclable. This means that when you are done with your sunglasses, they will not contribute to pollution. Instead, they can be put into a recycling program or decompose naturally.
2. Support Ethical Practices
Many sustainable sunglasses brands are committed to ethical and fair trade practices. They ensure products are made in safe working conditions and workers are paid a fair wage.
3. Protect the Environment
The production of conventional sunglasses can have a significant impact on the environment. It can lead to deforestation, pollution, and depletion of natural resources. On the other hand, sustainable sunglasses are made from responsibly sourced materials and do not harm the environment.
4. High Quality
They are often made with high-quality materials that are durable and long-lasting. This means that you won’t have to replace your sunglasses as often, reducing the amount of waste you produce. Additionally, many sustainable sunglasses brands offer warranties or repair services, so you can keep your sunglasses for even longer.
5. Unique Styles
Responsible brands often offer unique and stylish designs not available from mainstream brands.
6. Set a Good Example
Set an example for others to follow you can show that looking stylish and protecting your eyes is possible while being environmentally conscious. This will inspire others to make more sustainable choices in their own lives.
Factors to consider when buying sustainable sunglasses
When it comes to buying sustainable sunglasses, there are a few factors that you should consider to ensure that you are making an ethical and environmentally responsible choice.
Here are some important factors to keep in mind:
Materials
One of the most important factors to consider when buying sustainable sunglasses is the materials used to make them. Look for sunglasses made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials such as recycled plastic, bamboo, or wood. These renewable materials have a lower environmental impact than traditional plastics and metals.
Manufacturing Process
Another important factor to consider when buying sustainable sunglasses is the manufacturing process. You can look for brands that use ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices, such as reducing waste and using renewable energy sources. Additionally, some brands may use upcycled or repurposed materials, which can further reduce their environmental impact.
Certifications
It’s important to look for brands demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. Look for certifications such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which ensures that the wood used in sunglasses is sustainably sourced, or the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which ensures that materials used are recycled and meet certain environmental and social criteria.
18 Sustainable Sunglasses Brands in the UK
Monc London
Monc creates sustainable sunglasses- handmade in Italy using eco-friendly materials like bio-based acetate (a plant-based cellulose-based material sourced from wood pulp and cotton).
Their designs are timeless, different and inspired by a classic eyewear style. Their eco-friendly packaging is made from recycled coffee cups which can all be fully recycled which is so cool!
Check them out if you are looking for a high-end, sustainable eyewear brand.
Bird
Bird produces stylish and sustainable sunglasses from bio-acetate, recycled metals, and upcycled materials.
They are the highest-scoring B Corp in the eyewear sector and their recycling scheme is creating a circular economy.
They also prioritise ethical manufacturing and give back to environmental causes.
Retro Specced
Retro Specced offers vintage sunglasses refurbished and upgraded with modern, sustainable materials.
They repurpose vintage frames to reduce waste and offer unique, eco-friendly eyewear options.
Eco Beach
Eco Beach specialises in sustainable sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastics. They also use other eco-friendly materials such as recycled plastics, and plant-based materials and even produce a wooden frame.
Their sunglasses are designed for outdoor enthusiasts and environmentally conscious individuals.
Solo Eyewear
Solo Eyewear creates stylish sunglasses made with repurposed wood, bamboo, cellulose acetate and recycled plastic, with a portion of each sale going towards providing eye care for people in need.
Their designs are trendy and environmentally friendly.
CHPO
CHPO offers affordable and sustainable sunglasses made from recycled materials and focuses on minimalist designs and ethical manufacturing practices.
They have also partnered with Clean Hub and are working together to battle ocean plastic pollution.
Nomad Eyewear
Nomad Eyewear crafts eco-friendly sunglasses using recycled ocean plastics.
They prioritise sustainability and their Two Trees Planted program has grown over 45,000 trees.
They have also collected over one million plastic bottles from our oceans. Plus they are carbon-negative. Impressive!
Waterhaul
Waterhaul creates sunglasses from recycled ocean plastic and fishing nets collected from coastal communities.
Their mission is to clean up the oceans and transform waste into high-quality eyewear whilst promoting environmental awareness.
Pala Eyewear
Pala produces ethical sunglasses from eco-friendly materials made from plant-based frames and recycled metals.
Pala is a B-Corp that gives back to eye-care programmes across Africa for every pair of sunglasses sold which I love. Please find out more about their story here.
Zoe de Pass
Zoe de Pass sunglasses are handmade from premium acetate with strong, unique lenses.
Their eco-friendly frames are built to last and if looked after well will last a lifetime. They focus on style and sustainability with super bright and fun frames.
SunGod
SunGod creates durable and customisable sunglasses using recycled materials and plant-based resins.
They offer performance-based sunnies prioritising sustainability and our planet.
They also offer a lifetime guarantee on their eyewear which is pretty cool!
Coral Eyewear
Coral designs sustainable sunglasses and only uses recycled or bio-based materials for their frames such as ECONYL, (the material made from rescued waste found at sea and in landfills). 1 pair of glasses=88 plastic bottles collected.
They use recyclable packaging and their carbon neutral delivery offsets environmental shipping costs too which is great!
Peep Eyewear
Peep creates stylish and sustainable sunglasses from vintage and preloved frames from the noughties onwards.
They offer deadstock, lightly worn and beautifully restored glass frames.
I think this is one of my favourite brands as I love it when items are saved from landfills and created into something new!
Gretch & Co
Gretch & Co Kids offers sustainable sunglasses for children, teens and adults made from eco-friendly materials like bamboo and recycled plastics.
Their designs are durable, safe, and stylish for young ones and you can even match with the whole family!
Ay Studios
At James Ay by AY Studios, plant-based sunglasses are designed to last.
The plant-based acetate is from Mazzucchelli in Italy which provides the best quality in the market focusing on minimalist designs and ethical production practices.
Kyloe in the Wild
Kyloe in the Wild crafts polarised sustainable sunglasses inspired by nature and outdoor adventures.
They wanted a pair of sustainable sunglasses that didn’t fall down your face whilst outdoors!
So, they created Kyloe in the Wild using eco-friendly materials and now promote environmental awareness through eyewear designs.
Finlay London
Finlay offers a range of sustainable sunglasses made from eco-friendly materials like bio-Mazzucchelli acetate and world-renowned Zeiss lenses.
Their sunglasses are designed in London, and handmade in Italy.
They focus on timeless designs and ethical manufacturing practices.
Polette
Polette creates sustainable sunglasses with a minimalist design aesthetic and eco-friendly materials.
The brand wanted to kick greenwashing to the curb and now uses recycled materials, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and produce only on-demand to avoid waste.
Their shades really are very chic!
18 Sustainable Sunglasses Brands in the UK
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