If you’re looking for sustainable eyeglasses, there are more options today than the conventional plastic frames you’ll find at most eyewear retailers. From recycled acetate and bio-based materials to recycled metals and responsibly sourced wood, eyewear brands are finding creative ways to make prescription glasses and sunglasses with a lighter environmental footprint.
Of course, sustainability in eyewear goes beyond the frame material. We also look for brands prioritizing durability, responsible manufacturing, repairability, thoughtful packaging, and recycling or take-back programs. After all, a well-made pair of glasses you can wear for years (or simply update with new prescription lenses) is always going to be preferable to constantly replacing your frames.
Below, we’re sharing some of our favorite sustainable and ethical eyeglasses brands, along with what to look for when choosing your next pair of frames.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands – and us!
What Are Sustainable Eyeglasses?
Sustainable eyeglasses are designed with their environmental and social impact in mind; from the materials used to make the frames to how they are manufactured, packaged, and eventually disposed of. While no pair of glasses is completely impact-free, more sustainable options tend to prioritize lower-impact or recycled materials, responsible production, durability, and transparency.
And just like with clothing, the most sustainable pair of glasses is often the one you already own. Keeping your frames longer, repairing them when possible, or simply replacing the lenses can be a great way to reduce waste.
What Makes Eyeglasses More Sustainable?
There’s more to sustainable eyewear than simply choosing a frame labeled “eco-friendly.” We like to look at the entire life of the product, including:
- Lower-impact materials: Recycled metals, recycled acetate, bio-acetate, responsibly sourced wood, and other materials that reduce reliance on virgin fossil-based plastics.
- Durability: Well-made frames that can withstand everyday wear and last for years.
- Responsible manufacturing: Brands that are transparent about where and how their eyewear is made.
- Repairability: Frames that can be adjusted, repaired, or fitted with new lenses rather than completely replaced.
- Recycling & take-back programs: Some eyewear brands collect old frames for recycling, reuse, or donation.
- Thoughtful packaging: Minimal, recycled, recyclable, or plastic-free packaging is another plus.
- Transparency: We always appreciate brands that clearly explain their materials, manufacturing partners, and sustainability initiatives rather than relying on vague “green” claims.
You certainly don’t need a pair that checks every box. Instead, think of these as helpful things to look for when you’re ready for new glasses.
Our Top Picks for Sustainable Eyeglasses:
1. Zenni
Best for: Affordable sustainable eyewear options
Price: $26-40
Zenni is a great place to start if you’re looking for more affordable prescription glasses and sunglasses. While we wouldn’t consider Zenni a fully sustainable eyewear brand, we appreciate that they’ve introduced frames made with alternative and recycled materials, giving shoppers some lower-impact options at a much more accessible price point.
They’re also a good reminder that sustainable shopping doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of dollars on a pair of glasses. If Zenni fits your budget, look for their frames made with recycled or bio-based materials, choose a style you genuinely love, and take care of it for as long as possible.
2. Proof Eyewear
Best for: Wood & recycled-material frames
Price: $98-150
Proof Eyewear has been creating more thoughtfully made eyewear since 2010, with frames crafted from materials like sustainably sourced wood, recycled aluminum, and recycled plastic.
We especially love their wooden frames if you’re looking for something a little different from traditional acetate. Proof also has a Do Good Program, which supports social and environmental initiatives around the world. Their styles feel timeless and wearable rather than overly trend-driven… always a plus when we’re looking for something we’ll hopefully keep for years.
3. LOOK OPTIC
Best for: Stylish readers & everyday glasses
Price: $68-86
If you need readers or blue-light glasses that actually feel chic, LOOK OPTIC is one to know. Their frames have a clean, modern aesthetic with plenty of classic shapes that won’t feel dated next season.
We also appreciate the brand’s focus on creating lightweight, durable eyewear designed for everyday use. LOOK OPTIC is a particularly nice option for anyone who wants glasses that feel more like an accessory you’ll enjoy wearing rather than something you have to wear.
4. Good Citizens
Best for: Recycled-plastic sunglasses
Price: $85
Good Citizens is a great one to know if you’re looking for sunglasses that give existing plastic a second life. The Australian eyewear brand makes its frames from 100% recycled plastic, turning discarded material into stylish, durable sunglasses rather than relying on virgin plastic for its frames.
We also appreciate Good Citizens’ focus on circular design and repairability. Their glasses are designed so individual parts can be replaced, helping extend the life of the frames instead of tossing the entire pair when something breaks. It’s a thoughtful approach to eyewear that considers what happens to a product long after you buy it, and the frames are pretty chic, too!
5. Secondhand & Vintage Eyeglasses
Best for: Giving existing frames a second life
Don’t overlook secondhand when shopping for glasses! In fact, this might be our favorite sustainable eyewear option of all. Rather than creating demand for an entirely new frame, you can find a beautiful vintage or pre-loved pair and have new prescription lenses fitted by an optician.
Try local vintage shops, consignment stores, online resale platforms, or even frames tucked away in your own family’s closets. Just make sure the frames are in good condition and check with your optician beforehand to confirm they can accommodate your prescription.
And if you already own frames you love, ask whether you can simply replace the lenses instead of buying an entirely new pair. Sometimes the most sustainable option really is the one already sitting in your drawer.
What Are Eyeglass Frames Made From?
Eyeglass frames can be made from a surprisingly wide variety of materials. Conventional frames commonly use plastics, acetate, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, or combinations of several materials.
Acetate is especially popular because it is lightweight, durable, and available in countless colors and patterns. However, not all acetate is created equally. You’ll also find eyewear made from recycled acetate, bio-based acetate, recycled plastic, recycled metals, wood, and bamboo.
When shopping for sustainable glasses, it’s worth looking beyond a simple “plant-based” or “recycled” label and seeing exactly what the frame contains and how the material was produced.
The Best Materials for Sustainable Eyeglass Frames
There isn’t one perfect material for eyewear, but there are several options we prefer over conventional virgin plastic frames.
- Bio-Acetate: Bio-acetates are designed to reduce reliance on fossil-derived ingredients traditionally used in acetate production. Look for brands that clearly disclose what percentage of the material is bio-based and what additives are used.
- Recycled Acetate: Using acetate scraps and manufacturing waste to create new frames can help keep existing materials in circulation while reducing demand for virgin resources.
- Recycled Plastic: Some brands turn existing plastic waste into eyewear. While recycled plastic is still plastic, making use of material already in circulation can be preferable to producing additional virgin plastic, especially when the frames are designed to last.
- Recycled Metal: Metals such as recycled stainless steel and aluminum can make durable, long-lasting frames while reducing the need for virgin material extraction.
- FSC-Certified Wood: For wooden frames, FSC certification can provide additional assurance that the wood comes from more responsibly managed forests and controlled sources.
- Bamboo: Bamboo grows quickly and can require relatively few inputs, making it an interesting renewable material for eyewear. However, how it is processed, combined with other materials, and finished still matters.
- Secondhand & Vintage Frames: One of our favorite options is also one of the simplest: use what already exists. Vintage and secondhand frames extend the life of existing materials, and many can be fitted with your current prescription lenses.
Is Acetate Sustainable?
Acetate is often marketed as a more sustainable alternative to conventional plastic because its primary polymer is derived from cellulose, typically sourced from wood pulp or cotton. But calling acetate simply “plant-based” can make the material sound a little greener than it actually is.
Traditional cellulose acetate requires additional processing and ingredients, and the environmental impact can vary considerably depending on its feedstocks, manufacturing process, additives, and end-of-life options. In other words, acetate isn’t automatically sustainable just because it begins with plant-derived cellulose.
Fortunately, newer alternatives are trying to improve upon conventional acetate. Materials such as Eastman Acetate Renew incorporate certified recycled content alongside bio-based content, while some eyewear companies are turning to newer bio-acetates formulated to reduce reliance on fossil-derived ingredients.
Recycled acetate is another option we like to see, particularly when brands make use of manufacturing scraps that might otherwise become waste. Ultimately, we look for specifics rather than buzzwords. If a brand calls its acetate sustainable, bio-based, or eco-friendly, it should be able to tell you what it is made from, where its cellulose comes from, whether recycled content is used, and what makes it an improvement over conventional acetate.
What a great post! You mentioned some great brands here.
What an awesome post, Thanks!
Although, I will mention, as a professional conservationalist, I am a bit perplexed as to how LOCHs 500 year old wood is sustainable. It would take 500 more years to reproduce the same wood, and I’m curious to know if any species at the bottom of the great lakes use the wood in someway we do not yet know! Alas, again, no one is perfect.
Cheers to thinking sustainably!