There continue to be exciting developments in ways to reduce packaging waste from contact lenses. Coopervision, one of our contact lens suppliers, have embarked on a program to be waste neutral in terms of packaging on some of their daily contacts.

Here’s how it works. They have measured the total weight of the contact lens, its individual tray and foil and the box. For every box of lenses sold they have partnered with Plastic Bank, an international organisation who collect plastic waste from waterways and the ocean. Plastic is retrieved in Brazil, Egypt, Philippines and Indonesia by local collectors who are paid per weight collected.

Collector of ocean-bound plastic, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The rationale for starting with dailies, is these lenses generate the most waste.

Closer to home you can bring in your packaging, the tray foil and the lens, and we will recycle these for you - we have a large box!

Finally if you want a simpler recycling method at home, place those plastic lens trays inside a milk bottle and put them out in your domestic recycling.