Safilo Group will next year introduce Eastman Tenite Renew in its sunglass and prescription collections, and in doing so will become the first manufacturer and distributor in the eyewear industry to use all Eastman Renew materials in its portfolio.
Eastman, a chemical company based in Tennessee, US, is a global specialty materials provider and pioneer in molecular recycling technologies. This year, Safilo launched Eastman Acetate Renew and Eastman Tritan Renew in its sunglass and optical product range.
Eastman Tenite Renew, to be introduced in January 2023 in Safilo’s licensed brand Levi’s collections, will be progressively rolled out across the Group’s portfolio, both for sunglasses and prescription frames, further asserting the company’s commitment to sustainability and its efforts to bring more recycled materials to the eyewear industry.
Produced via Eastman’s innovative carbon renewal technology, using hard-to-recycle plastic waste in place of fossil fuel, Tenite Renew is composed of minimum 42% bio-based content and minimum 20% recycled content.
Safilo said the resulting material offers the same premium feel and outstanding comfort of acetate with the additional unmatched fit adjustability that optical dispensers need to create personalised eyewear fit.
Mr Vladimiro Baldin, chief licensed brand and global product officer at Safilo Group, said the company’s intention is to expand the use of sustainable materials as much as possible.
“By being the first player in the eyewear industry using all Eastman Renew materials for this application – Acetate Renew, Tritan Renew and Tenite Renew –
Safilo can provide our customer with a variety of differentiated options that meet their high standards for both design and sustainability,” he said.
“We are committed to leading the way in our approach to our products reducing the use of new resources and without compromising the aesthetic and performance of our frames and lenses, thereby continuing to offer the same level of impeccable quality.”
The collaboration with Eastman is part of Safilo’s purpose-led strategy based on three sustainability pillars: planet, product, and people.
Eastman specialty plastics commercial director, Mr Glenn Goldman, said the company was gratified to strengthen and extend its sustainability partnership with Safilo through the adoption of Tenite Renew.
“It’s rewarding to see our materials used to make eyewear more sustainable, and we look forward to continuing to work with Safilo to bring sustainable materials and solutions to additional brands in their portfolio,” he said.
More reading
‘Senza pareti’ – Safilo’s search for sustainable eyewear solutions
Safilo partners with Carolina Herrera in new eyewear collection
Safilo eliminating palladium use in new sustainability deal
