OPTICAL PRISM | GLIMPSES
WARBY PARKER PARTNERS WITH EASTMAN
Eyewear brand Warby Parker has announced a new partnership with Eastman to pioneer a first-of-its-kind demo lens molecular recycling program .
“ The demo lens to Acetate Renew breakthrough is the first of what we expect to be many examples of Eastman customers leveraging our molecular recycling technologies to divert material from landfill and lower carbon emissions .”
One of the greatest environmental impacts within the eyewear industry is the lack of a recycling solution for demo lenses — the clear plastic lenses used across the industry to maintain frame shape and integrity while in transit , on display , and for try-on . With the 600 million frames produced annually industry-wide , this practice accounts for over 5,000 tonnes of waste per year globally . For years , Warby Parker has researched alternative materials for discarding the plastic alongside downstream solutions , all of which have fallen short due to quality and this type of plastic being incredibly difficult to break down .
KERING ACQUIRES MAUI JIM
Kering Eyewear has signed an agreement to acquire Maui Jim , Inc .
Founded in 1987 , Maui Jim is the world ’ s largest independently owned high-end eyewear brand with a leading position in North America . Recognized for its outstanding technicity and distinctive Hawaiian heritage that embodies the “ Aloha Spirit ”, Maui Jim is an authentic brand that offers a broad spectrum of high-quality sun and optical frames sold in more than 100 countries . Anchored in its culture of innovation .
The acquisition of Maui Jim represents a major milestone in the successful expansion strategy of Kering Eyewear . Only a few months after the acquisition of Lindberg , Kering Eyewear will own a second proprietary brand , reinforce its status on the high-end eyewear segment and broaden its offer to cover the full scope from functional to timeless and fashion luxury products .
Their complementary distribution networks and product offerings will contribute to amplify the growth potential through the expansion of Maui Jim ’ s geographical footprint and the ability to gain new customers , more focused on innovation and functionalities OP
50 OPTICAL PRISM | May 2022