The 20/20 Editorial Team

James J. Spina
VP, Editor-in-Chief

Jacqueline Micucci
Executive Editor

Gloria Nicola
Senior Features Editor

Andy Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology

Melissa Arkin
Associate Editor

3/17/2009 Green Eyed
Posted by 20/20&U Blog Admin
Location: Blogs2020&U
 		    
Green is the word these days. Everybody is talking about going green and what we all can do to treat the planet (and ourselves) better. So for the recent issue of SunVision art director Iris Johnson and I thought it would be fun to pair up the sunwear featured in this issue with environmentally friendly products. After all, the sun is one of our most precious natural resources.

That got me thinking about what going green means to our industry. For some it’s about product made from recycled materials, whether plastic or nylon. However, it truly goes way beyond that. It’s about taking big strides, like manufacturing with renewable energy and reducing the amount of waste, not only in the production of frames and lenses but also in packaging and marketing products. It’s about retailers incorporating eco-friendly materials and construction ideas into the design of their stores. Internally, it’s about companies using paper for letter head and business cards certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (an organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests), as well as environmentally friendly soy-based inks to print.

Going green is also about seemingly little strides, like ditching paper cups and giving employees mugs to get their daily dose of caffeine, or providing recycling receptacles so workers don’t just chuck empty soda cans and water bottles in the trash. It’s about companies encouraging employees to use their cars less and offering incentives to carpool. It’s even about providing outdoor picnic tables to promote brown bagging it at lunch.

All of the above is going on within our industry. But we’re sure there’s even more we don’t know about. So please let us know some of the things you as retailers are doing, or what your patients are doing, to be more green.   
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Comments (10)   Add Comment
Re: Green Eyed
By Barry Santini		 3/19/2009
s
I think the frame vendors could start by designing/supplying much slimmer and more compact eyewear cases that people would actually *enjoy* using, rather than making fodder for landfills.

And while we're on the subject of fodder for landfills, is there any way we could convicne the luxury brands to cease and desist the enormous boxing/packaging/authenticity card/shopping bags that they send out with every frame. Talk about an easy way to get goin' to bein' green!

Barry
Re: Green Eyed
By CA402CE4-1A39-4464-B412-0E07DF2281E6		 3/19/2009
s
Terrific point Barry. When we do a shoot for 20/20 sport eyewear we are sometimes shocked by the amount on "non-informative" packaging included with the frames. And I don't know if it will be a "greening" that changes that elaborate packaging and super sized cases of luxury eyewear but I bet the current economy conditions will kick in on some downsizing there. And while we are on the subject of cases. Do they all have to snap shut like T Rex jaws? Whatever happened to the concept of smaret sleeve cases where you can slip the eyewear in and out without losing a finger? -JJS
Re: Green Eyed
By Justin Bazan		 3/23/2009
s
I started a cl blister pack recycling program!

http://justinbazan.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/contact-lens-recycling-program/
Recycling
By cathy Ives 		3/23/2009
s
Not only the packaging- but the sheer amount of frame bags that are thrown away - I did a post on reusing frame bags http://theopticalvisionsite.com/greening-your-office/recycle/24-ways-to-reuse-eyeglassframe-bags/ and contact lens cases http://theopticalvisionsite.com/greening-your-office/recycle/top-11-ways-to-reuse-contact-lens-cases/
Re: Green Eyed in Jhane Barnes
By jason wehlage- product designer, kenmark		 3/23/2009
s
In our Jhane Barnes collection, we have begun using corn-based demo lenses (polyactic acid) in the product rather than the standard petroleum based demo-lenses. Thousands of demo lenses are discarded a day, and if incinerated, the PLA demo lenses break down to carbon and water...many other industries, especially the bottling industry are using the same polyactic acid for their products. In addition we have a new case design which is made from recycled cardboard/ paper and organic cotton. The case folds completely flat reducing the cost to import and ship internationally as well as reduces the size containers/ boxes in which we need to send our customers. Our latest 3 frame releases (Redux 1, Redux 2, and Redux 3) feature recycled acetate temples made from 30% recycled scrap with a recycled wood pulp (commonly used in the recycled paper process) inlay. Check them out at VEE
Re: Green Eyed
By CA402CE4-1A39-4464-B412-0E07DF2281E6		 3/23/2009
s
Thank You Jason and 20/20 would second that motion to check out those Jhane Barnes Redux styles at Expo East. They are terrific frames that have recently been featured in 20/20 and they are a perfect example of the fact that greening can certainly take a proud place when it comes to up-to-the-minute style and trending. It might be a great opportuinity to make the point that this initiative to foster better planet earth attitudes is a perfect meeting ground for ALL players in optical from the vendors and manufacturers and on through to the dispensers and consumers.
Re: Green Eyed
By cathy ives 		3/25/2009
s
Thanks for the update from Justin and Kenmark.
I had Kenmark listed and now just filled in the blanks
http://theopticalvisionsite.com/green-optical-vendors/green-vendors-the-consumer-wants-to-know/ and thanks Justin, will do a post on Park Slope Eye on our site about Greening Your Office!
Important news about going green from Vision Expo East
By Barry Santini		 3/30/2009
s
I was given the "new" Oakley catalogue at VEE...

...on a (branded) 2 GB flash drive!

Now that's green!

Barry
Re: Green Eyed
By Daphne Yiu		 4/20/2009
s
flash drive, zip files and email them to all the retailers instead of the big thick catalogues are the first thing to change for frame vendors.

how about those packaging? I think it was wescan or centennial that used recycled plastic ziplock. I was really impressed by it.
Re: Green Eyed
By Devi Lambertz ABO		 7/8/2009
s
Our office is very automated so as soon as our patient's info is entered in our system all papers are shreaded. Get rid of needless packaging and send out all frames in a nice case with a cleaning cloth. I distribute a line of all green products and use them to keep the office smelling neutral. Its called Shaklee, they've been green for 50 years.

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