Opinion Article, ÓpticaPro Magazine, September 2025
António Alves
Managing Director, Opticalia Portugal
In recent years, sustainability has shifted from being an option to becoming a shared responsibility across all sectors—and the optical industry is no exception. As consumers grow increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their consumption habits, so too does the demand for more responsible and transparent solutions. But what does it actually mean to be sustainable in optics? And what challenges do we face as a sector?
The production of optical products involves complex industrial processes that use materials such as acetate, metal, and plastics, while also requiring energy and natural resources at various stages of the value chain. One of the main challenges lies in material waste and the difficulty of recycling components—particularly because different materials are often combined in a single product, making separation and reuse difficult. Another obstacle is found in packaging and accessories, such as cases and cleaning cloths, which are often made from conventional plastics and excessively packaged. In retail, distribution logistics, store energy consumption, and even product turnover raise important environmental concerns.
Even so, there are possible—and urgent—paths to address these challenges. In our company, we have been integrating more sustainable practices, starting with the shift from plastic bags to paper bags at the point of sale; introducing cases made from recyclable materials; and launching capsule collections produced with eco-friendly raw materials such as bamboo or recycled plastics. Since 2022, we have taken a more structured step by initiating a collaboration with Plastic Bank—an international organization that removes plastic waste from the oceans. Through this partnership, we have managed to neutralize the environmental impact of each daily contact lens sold by removing from nature the equivalent amount of plastic they generate. This action allows us to compensate for one of the highest-consumption products in the sector, while supporting vulnerable communities engaged in collection and recycling.
These initiatives are important steps, but we know that the path to a truly sustainable optics sector demands more: it requires rethinking product life cycles, focusing on durability, reducing packaging, improving the energy efficiency of stores, and working with suppliers aligned with the same values. This is the great challenge! Circular design—in which products are conceived from the outset to be reused or recycled at the end of their life cycle—is one of the most promising trends. Alongside this, customer awareness is crucial: informing, encouraging care for products, creating collection systems, and giving old glasses a second life are examples of impactful measures we strive to implement with the help of institutions that accept these products for distribution to underprivileged populations or countries where access to optical products is still limited.
The transition to a greener optics sector is challenging, but possible. And as a Portuguese company, we have both the responsibility—and the opportunity—to lead by example, showing that it is possible to combine quality, aesthetics, and environmental awareness in a single lens.
