Sustainability
Sustainability at the Heart of Our Eyewear Choices
Located in Chesham, just a stone’s throw from the rolling, wooded hills of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our practice values both vision care and environmental stewardship. We’re surrounded by landscapes rich in ancient beech woodlands, chalk streams, and wildlife—places lovingly protected by local conservation groups and community initiatives. In this spirit, we’re proud to partner with eyewear brands and programmes that share our commitment to sustainability, craftsmanship, and global well-being.
Silhouette
Silhouette manufactures its eyewear in Austria with deep regard for environmental impact, achieving carbon-neutral production since 2022 thanks to solar power and 100% green electricity. Their use of bio-circular materials like naturalPX and SPX Green+ cuts emissions by up to 60%, while certifications such as EMAS, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 affirm their commitment to strict environmental and quality standards.
Blackfin
Blackfin’s eyewear embodies Italian craftsmanship and sustainability: creating frames in-house from Japanese titanium, with all metal scraps recycled into new alloys. Their Black Shelter headquarters is climate-conscious too: a Klima Haus Work & Life-certified building powered by solar panels, biomass heating, and local hydropower demonstrating how premium design and environmental mindfulness can unite.
Zeal Optics
At Zeal Optics, their mission goes beyond making eyewear- it’s about inspiring adventure and protecting the planet. “Use Less, Give Back, Explore More” is the simple set of beliefs that guide their work. Their frames are crafted from plant-based materials such as Z-Resin, a material derived from castor beans. Zeal is also proudly carbon neutral, offsetting 100% of its footprint, and contributes to environmental non-profits through 1% for the Planet. With every pair, Zeal proves that premium performance eyewear can tread lightly on the earth while encouraging us all to explore the outdoors responsibly.
TerraCycle Contact Lens Recycling
Disposable contact lenses and their blister packs often end up in household waste, where they can contribute to microplastic pollution. To tackle this, we participate in the TerraCycle contact lens recycling scheme. Patients can return their used lenses and packaging to the practice, and we ensure they’re sent for specialised recycling into new materials such as outdoor furniture, playground surfaces, and industrial products giving waste a second life.
TerraCycle Contact Lens Recycling
Disposable contact lenses and their blister packs often end up in household waste, where they can contribute to microplastic pollution. To tackle this, we participate in the TerraCycle contact lens recycling scheme. Patients can return their used lenses and packaging to the practice, and we ensure they’re sent for specialised recycling into new materials such as outdoor furniture, playground surfaces, and industrial products giving waste a second life.
Recycling Old Glasses for Charity
We also collect unwanted or old pairs of glasses at our practice. Instead of sitting forgotten in drawers or ending up as waste, these spectacles are sent on to charities who redistribute them to communities in need around the world. It’s a small act that not only reduces waste but also transforms someone else’s quality of life through improved vision.
EssilorLuxottica
EssilorLuxottica’s ‘Eyes on the Planet’ programme brings sustainability into every facet of its operations; from aiming for carbon neutrality by 2025, to embedding eco-design and circularity in both lenses and frames. They’ve introduced bio-based and recycled materials, expanded in-store recycling services, and champion global initiatives to make vision care accessible in underserved communities worldwide.
ZEISS Eyewear
Through its ‘Green, Safe & Responsible’ initiative ZEISS Eyewear has dramatically reduced water, energy, and waste in its lens production, with all main sites powered by renewable energy and a goal of carbon neutrality by 2025. Their innovative materials include bio-based sun lenses (with up to 50% lower CO₂ emissions), and new packaging designs that save hundreds of tonnes of plastic and paper each year.
By choosing these brands and programmes, our practice not only delivers outstanding eyewear and eye care to our patients—but also supports initiatives that protect the environment, reduce waste, and improve lives. It’s our way of making sure that, while we safeguard your vision, we also help preserve the natural beauty of the Chilterns and beyond for future generations to enjoy.
Glasklar Refillable Lens Cleaner
To help reduce single-use plastic, we proudly offer Glasklar refillable lens cleaner bottles. Instead of discarding empty spray bottles, patients can bring their bottle back into the practice to be topped up with our eco-friendly cleaning solution. This simple refill system dramatically reduces packaging waste and keeps plastics out of landfill, an everyday sustainable choice that also keeps glasses crystal clear.