Envision a more sustainable future for fashion — and the world — with the right pair of eco-friendly glasses.
The sustainable eyewear brands in this guide use materials like upcycled plastic, reclaimed skateboards, bamboo, and plant-based biodegradable acetate.
And, you’ll see that many of these brands have a number of other sustainable practices, such as take-back programs, local production, thoughtful packaging, inclusive hiring practices, and donation initiatives.
A far cry from most sunglasses, which are usually made cheaply from virgin petroleum-based plastic and are destined to break after a couple of months!
Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, brands featured meet strict standards for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you’ll love, too.
1. Genusee
Flint, Michigan-based eco-friendly eyewear brand Genusee creates optical and sunglasses from upcycled plastic water bottles, which exist in surplus because of the city’s water crisis. And, the company creates employment opportunities for structurally unemployable, returning citizens, and individuals with disabilities.
Conscious Qualities: Upcycled Materials, Local Production, Buy-Back Program, Equitable Employment Practices
Price: $99+ | Categories: Optical, Reader, and Sunglasses
2. SKRP
SKRP creates unique products out of reclaimed skateboard decks and snowboards! The Canada-based small business sources used skateboards for their eco-friendly sunglasses and handcrafts each pair in Ottawa, Canada. Every one-of-a-kind pair of sunglasses from SKRP comes with UV400 polarized lenses, stainless steel flexible hinges, and a case made from reclaimed materials too.
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed Materials, Locally Made, Small-Batch Production
Price: $95-$115 | Category: Sunglasses
3. Sunski
With eco-friendly sunglasses made out of recycled materials and shipped in plastic-free packaging, Sunski is mindful of their resource use throughout their supply chain.
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Materials, Plastic-Free Packaging, Lifetime Warranty
Price: $48 – $98 | Categories: Sunglasses & Blue Light Glasses, Alpine Sunglasses
4. MONC
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For sleek glasses designed to last a lifetime, take a look at MONC’s optical glasses and sunglasses. Each pair of MONC glasses are made from carefully sourced materials and thoughtfully made by a small team of craftspeople in Italy.
Conscious Qualities: Slow-Made, Ethical Production
Price: $240-316 | Categories: Optical & Sunglasses
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5. Woodze
Woodze has sustainable sunglasses with polarized and non-polarized options made from materials like recycled skateboards, wood, and cellulose acetate. You can also send back your Woodze sunglasses back to the brand to be recycled, too!
Conscious Qualities: Reclaimed Materials, Locally Made, Small-Batch Production
Price: $95-$115 | Category: Sunglasses
6. SeaClean
Glasses USA actually has an impressive eco-friendly eyeglasses collection. The sustainable eyewear collection, called SeaClean, is made from 100% upcycled plastic bottles and is also 100% recyclable. (Also check out Glasses USA’s bamboo eyewear collection.)
Conscious Qualities: Recycled Materials, Donation Initiative
Price: $98+ | Categories: Optical & Sunglasses
7. Panda
Panda makes their sustainable sunglasses frames entirely from FSC-certified bamboo and each pair also comes in a bamboo case! Bamboo not only grows rapidly, but it’s self-regenerating, needs less water, and produces more oxygen than other woods. (Check out more on bamboo here.)
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Materials, Donation Initiative
Price: $120-$125 | Category: Sunglasses
8. Ozeano
Australian eyewear brand Ozeano handcrafts sustainable eyeglasses and sunglasses made from certified biodegradable, plant-based acetate locally in Australia. Each pair comes in an organic cotton pouch and FSC-certified cork carrying case, plus a organic cotton cleaning cloth.
Conscious Qualities: Sustainable Materials, Eco-Friendly Case & Packaging, Take-Back Program, Donation Initiative
Price: $199-$274 | Categories: Optical & Sunglasses
9. Dick Moby
Amsterdam-based sustainable eyewear brand Dick Moby has eyeglasses and sunglasses made from biodegradable plant-based acetate, recycled acetate, or recycled metal, depending on the collection. Each pair of glasses from Dick Moby also comes in a recycled leather case and rPET pouch.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Friendly Materials, Handcrafted to Last
Price: €185-€205 | Categories: Optical & Sunglasses
10. Proof Eyewear
One of the pioneers of eco-friendly glasses, Proof Eyewear handcrafts each pair of their optical and sunglasses from materials like recycled aluminum and sustainably-sourced wood. The brand also gives back through a number of initiatives.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-Friendly Materials, Gives Back
Price: $65-$114 | Category: Optical & Sunglasses
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