11 Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Sunglasses Giving You Clear Vision & A Clear Conscience
Summer…long, bright days—and the perfect weather to shed some light on why you should be wearing sustainable sunglasses.
Mainstream eyewear is littered (literally) with virgin plastic, breakable designs, and unethical practices that make us squint more than the sun.
It’s time to trade those rose-colored conventional sunglasses in for green-tinted ones with eco-friendly sunglasses made from recycled materials and more, so we can shield our eyes and planet from more than just UVA rays.
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The Best Eco-Friendly Sunglasses For a Brighter Future Of Eyewear
Pela knows a thing or two about using sustainable materials (for sunglasses and phone cases alike). Our personal Pela sunglasses review is just as glowing as the sun they’re protecting our eyes from.
For sunglasses made from recycled plastic, Sunski carbon-neutral frames and lens replacement service ensures some of the lowest impact eyewear around.
For proof that BPA-free sunglasses are just as durable as their plastic counterparts, Proof uses unique recycled materials to craft an impressive variety of men’s and women’s sustainable sunglasses.
To look closer at how we spotted these biodegradable or recycled material sunglasses, turn your gaze to the end of the brand list, but we must caution: do not look directly into the sustainability.
The Full List Of Eco-Friendly Sunglasses Brands
- Sunski | Visit Store
- Pela | Visit Store
- Proof Eyewear | Visit Store
- Woodzee | Visit Store
- Warby Parker | Visit Store
- Szade | Visit Store
- Peep Eyewear | Visit Store
- Swell Vision | Visit Store
- SOLO Eyewear | Visit Store
- Just Human | Visit Store
- Ecotech Eyeglasses | Visit Store
1. Sunski
Sunski’s Recycled Plastic Sustainable Sunglasses USA
Price Range: $48–$98
Sunski’s sustainable sunnies (try saying that three times fast) are made of SuperLight recycled plastic frames.
The plastic used to produce the USA-made fair trade sunglasses frames is locally sourced from US landfills.
If metal is more your jam, try the Baia sustainable sunglasses for men and women. You can even choose your favorite color of the medium-coverage round lenses.
They’re so confident in the durability of the frames that they come with a lifetime warranty and the UVA/UVB blocking polarized lenses pass the FDA basic impact test
Still, Sunski recognizes that sometimes stuff happens to lenses, so they offer a lens replacement service.
All affordable ethical sunglasses are shipped glue and plastic-free, in folded paperboard origami boxes.
About Sunski
Like many other sustainable sunglasses manufacturers, Sunski is a member of 1% for the Planet.
Unlike others, however, they go above and beyond the 1% call and donate 12% of profits to various environmental initiatives (without charging their customers an arm and a leg).
They also purchase carbon offsets for their operating procedures to earn a Carbon Neutral certification.
2. Pela
Pela’s Recycled Ocean Plastic Sunglasses
Price Range: $65–$80
Most people know Pela for their eco-friendly phone cases, but they also make some of the best eco-friendly sunglasses.
Their selection of “Eyewear for People Who Care” consists of sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastic, old phone cases, or metal—like the Santorini Rounds we were given the opportunity to try.
We went with the groovy see-through champagne lenses but found them no less capable of blocking out harsh rays than darker lenses. The frames are thin, but certainly not flimsy, and the tight hinges keep them securely on our head.
No matter your frame of choice, the polycarbonate CAT 3 UV400 lenses provide full UVA/UVB protection and can be swapped with blue light lenses.
Each pair of sunglasses produces 33% fewer carbon emissions, uses 34% less water, and produces 84% less waste compared to traditional acrylic sunglasses.
As with their phone cases, theirs can be recycled at end-of-life through the Pela 360 program.
About Pela
Certified B Corp Pela made a name for itself by creating the “world’s first compostable phone case”.
Little did the world know flax straw phone cases were only the beginning.
Most products are manufactured locally in Canada while select ones, eyewear included, are ethically made in South China.
After calculating and offsetting their emissions, they became Climate Neutral certified.
Pela is also a member of 1% for the Planet, through which they have donated over half a million dollars to organizations like Save the Waves and other large and grassroots initiatives alike.
3. Proof
Proof Eyewear’s Recycled Skateboard Sunglasses
Price Range: $84–$120
Proof Eyewear offers an impressive range of sustainable sunglasses for women and men.
They use a variety of biodegradable and/or recycled materials, like recycled skateboard decks, recycled aluminum, sustainable forestry certified wood (including bamboo, lacewood, ebony, and mahogany), and cotton-based acetate.
Each pair of sunglasses is designed for disassembly, so you can recycle or compost with ease.
They’re all handmade and finished with stainless steel hinges, polycarbonate lenses, and come with a compostable sunglasses case made of sustainably sourced wood.
If you take a shine to recycled metal sunglasses, check out the Flyer, whose recycled aluminum frame and cotton acetate front is designed to leave you and planet “stoked not stressed”, as it says on the inside of these frames.
About Proof Eyewear
Proof Eyewear was founded by 3 brothers in Boise, Idaho and, despite their growth, they like to keep things family-like by visiting partners twice a year to ensure ethical standards are up to snuff (especially their acetate supplier in China).
They invite you to read all about their Supplier Responsibility.
Proof Eyewear donates 12% of its profits to various global aid “Do Good Projects”, like providing vision screenings and cataract surgeries to those in need.
They also donate glasses, reusable menstrual pads, and their time, as well as plant five trees through Eden Reforestation Projects for every pair of sunglasses purchased.
4. Woodzee
Woodzee’s Sustainable Wooden Sunglasses
Price Range: $100
Woodzee specializes in bio acetate vegan sunglasses made of wood pulp and cotton fiber paired with nylon polarized lenses and quality stainless steel hardware.
However, we happen to think their most sustainable sunglasses are those made of recycled skateboards—not to mention the most interesting and unique. Just check out the gorgeous marbled texture on the Malibu pair!
All frames are also prescription compatible and come with a recycled paper case.
The Woodzee website also features sunglasses from a number of other brands, some more sustainable than others, so be careful what menu you navigate to.
About Woodzee
This USA sustainable sunglasses brand comes from the woodsy orchard fields of Chico, California, and derives inspiration from their local beautiful redwood forests and Joshua tree deserts.
They offer a recycling program, so customers can return their worn out Woodzees and receive 50% off their next pair.
5. Warby Parker
Warby Parker’s Sustainable Eyewear
Price Range: $95–$195
Warby Parker creates stylish designs for Fortune-500s and fashionistas alike, all the while at an affordable price tag.
Most frames are made using Italian plant cellulose acetate. For thinner frames, they use ultralight easily recyclable titanium, stainless steel, or bronze.
They are then fitted with polycarbonate impact-resistant lenses. Choose between standard or sustainable prescription sunglasses (in single vision, progressive, and reader options).
Because there are oh-so-many cute eco-friendly sunglasses, they offer a “home try-on” where you can try on five styles at home and send back what you don’t want.
While it may help avoid buying something you won’t wear, it does add shipping emissions.
But if you’re looking for an almost fail-safe style, you can’t go wrong with the Maren sustainable cat-eye sunglasses whose sleek design and oxblood gradient is as hot as the sun they’ll protect your eyes from.
About Warby Parker
Warby Parker is New York City-based with global operations. Founders Dave Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal consider product quality and supply chain ethics as a top company priority.
They regularly third-party audit their suppliers and factories.
A few years back, they started calculating their carbon footprint. Now they purchase offsets for all company operations (which includes employee commuting) and track progress in their yearly impact reports.
Their static charitable initiative is the “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program, through which they have donated over four million pairs of glasses in over 50 countries through non-profits like VisionSpring.
6. Szade
Szade’s Sustainable Sunglasses Australia
Price Range: $70–$90
What are eco-friendly sunglasses made of?
In Szade’s case, their sustainable recycled sunglasses are made of, well…recycled sunglasses!
The frames and arms feature post-consumer recycled polycarbonate sourced from landfill-bound sunglasses in China.
The lenses are made of the highest grade of impact-resistant polycarbonate available.
And at under $100, they’re one of the most affordable sustainable sunglasses as Szade strives to be “a brand for everyone”.
Shop by color or occasion, including coast, party, festival, staples, classic, and rave (pastel “hyper-speedie” silhouette bass amethyst, anyone?) —which says a lot about the general funky vibe of these non-binary sustainable shades.
About Szade
It all begins at Szade’s design studio in Melbourne, Australia.
Not only is it located in a repurposed chocolate factory, but it runs partially on solar energy. The rest is powered by their local Cityswitch energy efficiency program.
This studio also recycles or composts (in an on-site worm farm) 90% of its waste and reuses or minimizes materials as much as possible.
Beyond that, China is where they both source the recycled sunglasses and manufacture them anew in a GRS-certified facility to keep supply chain carbon emissions minimal.
All eco-friendly recycled sunglasses come shipped in plastic free, recycled materials.
7. Peep Eyewear
Peep Eyewear’s Sustainable Sunglasses UK
Price Range: £66–£426
The most eco-friendly sunglasses are those already in existence—just like the upcycled vintage sunglasses from Peep Eyewear.
They feature newly replaced UVA/UVB protective lenses and fully refurbished frames, complete with cleaning cloths made of 100% recycled PET plastic bottles.
They select standout designs and provide a one-of-a-kind product that diverts landfill waste by giving a second life to unwanted sunglasses.
Not looking to buy new sunglasses?
Peep is still worth one for their reglazing (for changed prescriptions) and refurbishing service.
Through their Peep Polish restoration service, they’ll remove scratches and wear marks from any brand of sunglasses or prescription glasses.
About Peep Eyewear
Peep is a family run business that’s “big on detail, small on mundane”.
Their studio in Quorn, England is built entirely from salvaged windows, doors, and thrift furniture. It’s powered by a renewable energy supplier (though they’re hoping to go self-sufficient solar soon).
Their boxes and shipping filler are made of FSC-certified recycled paperboard and recycled paper tape, and they partner with Trees for Cities to plant a tree for every pair of sunglasses sold.
8. Swell Vision
Swell Vision’s Sustainable Bamboo Sunglasses
Price Range: $50–$90
Swell Vision is a big fan of bamboo so much so that they specialize in eco-friendly bamboo sunglasses.
They also use it for their environmentally friendly sunglasses cases.
While some frames are 100% sustainably-sourced bamboo, some styles—like the Amerigo 2.0 sustainable sport sunglasses—use acetate accents at the temples.
The lenses are taking a step toward sustainability too, made of TAC (triacetate cellulose) with a CR39 polarized resin finished.
They’re not compostable, but they are getting closer to more sustainable polarized sunglasses.
About Swell Vision
Talk about setting your sights high. Swell Vision was founded by a student… in high school no less.
Founder Mitchell Saum is a true visionary—and not just because he makes sunglasses. Eco-friendly apparel and watches are also in his repertoire.
They’re based in South Carolina but give globally through their partner, Green School, where they help underprivileged Balinese children attend school tuition-free. Every pair of sunglasses sold funds two weeks of schooling.
The Green School is a pretty swell concept. It’s a non-profit specifically designed to create leaders in the green movement, and the curriculum is largely sustainability-driven.
9. SOLO Eyewear
SOLO Eyewear’s Environmentally Friendly Sunglasses
Price Range: $
SOLO Eyewear’s affordable sustainable sunglasses fall into three main materials: repurposed bamboo, Italian cellulose acetate, and repurposed wood.
The latter collection of eco sunglasses utilizes sustainably reclaimed woods like cork, zebrawood, walnut, and blackwood.
And if you’re like the earthy Indonesia frames, a little real stone to boot.
Pair these with some new-to-you clothing from one of the best thrift stores in San Diego and you’ll be repping Cali-Chic style pronto.
A couple of the designs feature a stainless steel frame component, too.
All lenses are prescription friendly and polarized with 100% UV protection.
They’re all handmade down to the wooden cases, which they source from female artists in Panajachel, Guatemala.
About SOLO Eyewear
SOLO Eyewear started as a San Diego State University class project for Jenny Amaraneni and Dana Holliday. Now, these visionary ladies have been featured in Forbes and Time Magazine.
The inspiration behind this sustainable eyewear brand was learning that 80% of blindness is preventable, and 1 billion people lack access to vision care.
SOLO comes in to #LiveandGive by donating 10% of all profits to Aravind Eye Care System and Restoring Vision.
Every design is named after a country to which the proceeds from that sale are donated.
They use an American auditing company to ensure every part of the supply chain maintains workplace health and safety practices.
10. Just Human
Just Human’s Environmentally Friendly Sunglasses
Price Range: $295
Just Human believes sunglasses should last a lifetime, not a season.
To encourage just that, they create classic styles—cat eye, round, square, and eco-friendly aviator sunglasses—with a modern twist.
Rather than designating women’s and men’s sustainable sunglasses, their unisex styles fit “faces not gender”.
Each frame is made from FSC-certified reforested softwood trees and designed with eye health in mind.
The mineral glass lenses ease eye strain and reduce glare and distortion, as well as block UVA, UVB, and blue light. They’re also more scratch and heat-resistant than traditional lenses.
About Just Human
We’re all just human, but collectively, the difference we can make is huge— choosing a simple pair of plastic-free sunglasses can be a start.
Just Human is here to help.
They use zero waste manufacturing for their lenses, which are recyclable and made of sand and mineral glass, meaning lens shavings can be recycled back into new lenses.
Each pair of sustainable wooden sunglasses comes complete with a vegan leather case made from pineapple leaves and a microfiber cleaning cloth made from recycled plastic bottles.
Inspired by Japanese origami, the outer packaging is minimal, made of 100% recycled materials, and finished with eco inks and compostable tree pulp tape.
11. Ecotech Eyeglasses
Ecotech Eyeglasses’ Eco-Friendly Polarized Sunglasses
Price Range: $89–$249
Ecotech Eyeglasses’ Ultra Green Series is, well, ultra green!
Their frames are made using new “Bio Acetates” that utilize vegetable based plasticizers rather than harmful phthalates. And because theirs are “Zero Solder Point” hinge designs, there’s no lead or cadmium in these non-toxic sunglasses, either.
The hardware is made from reclaimed surgical steel and the screwless hinges can easily be changed or replaced if need be.
And if something does go wrong, Ecotech “will stand behind what we build” so everything comes with an extended warranty.
Go with classic shapes like the Circi or don some statement sunnies and be the coolest cat at the pool with the Robin’s bold, chunky frame.
The cool part is that they’re highly customizable. Choose from four stock front colors, along with temple color and style. If those choices aren’t enough, they offer bespoke custom options in different levels, including one where you can “go completely nuts” by working with a maker at the factory level.
They’ll even add your name!
If you want specialty lenses—including polarized, mirror-coated, blue light blocking, clear, progressive, and various types of sustainable prescription sunglasses—just pick what one, along with your lens color and UV index level, and add them to your cart separately.
About Ecotech Eyeglasses
Ecotech Eyeglasses is one of the best independent sunglasses brands under the sun.
To ensure they’re providing women’s and men’s ethical sunglasses, all eyewear is produced in their self-owned facility in China.
However, they’re working on relocating all production to the USA.
Sunglasses are made using the latest technology, like energy-efficient CNC routers and simple designs that require little router use.
They also collaborate with the Helen Keller International Foundation by donating a percent of each sale to provide essential nutrition and healthcare to those living in poverty.
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How We Chose The Best Sustainable Sunglasses
So what framework did we use to figure out what are the most sustainable eyewear?
Well, just like we would use to judge any other summer essential—like ethical sandals and linen clothing—we took a peek at our sustainable fashion criteria.
Materials (Frames):
The first thing to consider when making sunglasses sustainable is the material.
The best eco-friendly sunglasses mean compostable or biodegradable sunglasses
- Bamboo: It’s one of the fastest-growing plants on earth, it makes sunglasses compostable, ultra strong, moisture resistant, lightweight, and they’ll even float.
- Recycled wood
- Sustainably-sourced hardwoods
For recycled material sunglasses, we have primarily recycled plastics and sometimes recycled metal. Though even non-recycled, metal frames are sustainable because they can be recycled in the end.
Then we have bioplastics (cellulose acetate) which is where things get eco-convoluted.
What is cellulose acetate and is it sustainable?
Acetate is a transparent petroleum polymer (similar to rayon fabric). Cellulose acetate mimics plastic, but is made from natural cotton fibers or wood pulp, making it renewable and theoretically biodegradable.
How long that takes is unclear, but reports suggest it’s too long to be certified biodegradable.
It also requires chemicals—acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and sulfuric acid—to turn the plant pulp into the polymer.
All are dangerous and corrosive if not handled and disposed of properly, so a poorly managed manufacturing plant could cause pollution and expose workers to a harmful environment.
Some manufacturers add phthalate-laden plasticizers to it, so it’s important to see how each acetate sunglass brand does it, ideally satisfying all these conditions:
- It’s made with organic cotton or sustainably harvested tree pulp.
- It’s 100% bio-based, so no added plasticizers (Italy’s Mazzucchelli doesn’t add any, FYI).
- It’s made by a reputable manufacturer with workplace safety and proper chemical disposal systems in place. Italian cellulose acetate is widely considered the trusted eco gold standard due to Europe’s strict REACH chemical standards.
- Certifications: Global Recycle Standard (GRS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
Materials (Lenses):
Unfortunately, most environmentally friendly sunglasses are not fully compostable yet because sustainable lens technology doesn’t quite have the same framework.
Most are made of polycarbonate, a type of plastic that is recyclable but requires a specialized facility.
Though some experimental options (namely TAC – or triacetate cellulose) are seeing light, most lenses are made of either polycarbonate or CR39 polarized plastic resin.
So always remove the lenses before disposing of the frame.
The best option is to put the good old “glass” in “sunglasses”, as a few brands are doing.
Glass has gone out of style because it’s more fragile and heavier, but it’s the most sustainable lens material out there, being 100% recyclable and high-quality—especially if you’re looking for high-quality eco-friendly prescription sunglasses.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Even with something as small as sunglasses, ethical issues can be pretty glaring—especially since a lot of acetate comes from China.
So we look for brands that are transparent about the processes that make them “ethically-made” sunglasses, with manufacturing certifications to back it up.
- Certifications: B Corporation (B Corp), fair trade
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Lenses and frames are usually not recyclable curbside and require special commercial composting or recycling facilities. Some of the best sustainable sunglasses brands will thus offer recycling services.
We also look for specific carbon emission acknowledgements and plans/efforts to reduce these emissions—renewable energy, smaller supply chains, carbon offset programs, to name a few.
Community & charitable giving:
We may want our sunglasses to dim the sun, but we love the socially responsible shine of brands that give back to good causes, like providing vision care to those in need.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable & Ethical Sunglasses Brands
Protecting our eyes is important, but so is protecting the planet.
Fortunately, with these sustainable sunglasses brands who stand as a bright spot in a shady industry, you don’t have to choose between the two.
But remember, the most affordable eco-friendly sunglasses are those you already own, so see if you can repair (or find) your old ones first.
Or think vintage or used sunglasses, especially if you’re after bespoke frames.
If you can’t find secondhand sunnies, then consider packing a pair of natural or recycled plastic sunglasses in your beach bag alongside your sustainable beach towel and vegan sunscreen.
Don’t forget to brag to all your beach-going buddies about your stylish new shades and pass along this article so they can get a planet-safe pair, too.
Pin these:
One of the really cool brands that you have missed off your list is Pala Eyewear, all their sunglasses are made from Bio Acetate and are eco friendly. But they also help fund eye care in Africa with Vision Aid. https:/:palaeyewear.com
Hey there,
I have a brand called Ballo, we make sunglasses by hand from 100% recycled materials (wood, cork, advertising billboard, hemp, recycled paper and fabric offcuts)… we also plant a tree for every pair we ship (to offset carbon footprint).
Check out http://www.ballo.co.za
Thanks