NEW YORK—Consumer preferences are constantly changing, but there’s one preference that has been steadily rising in popularity over the years: sustainability. According to a new report from Capgemini Research, nearly 80 percent of consumers want to be able to make a difference in saving the planet for future generations, 77 percent are concerned about the humane and fair treatment of worker, 72 percent are personally concerned about their environmental footprint and 66 percent choose to purchase products or services based on their “environmental friendliness.” The eyewear and eyecare industries are no exception to this rule.

In the March 2021 issue cover story, Sustainability Rising: A Changed World Adjusts Priorities as Optical Ups Its Awareness of the Environment, Vision Monday delves into the rise in environmental awareness across the board in the optical world, from sustainable frame design to eco-friendly contact lenses, as well as looking into how eyewear’s biggest companies and small, independent practices do their part to help preserve the planet. The story covers sustainable eyewear designs, sustainable products and processes in the optical lab, sustainability efforts from Bausch + Lomb, Essilor, Hoya, Cooper Vision and Eastman, and interviews with independent ECPs who’ve made sustainability a backbone of their practice.

The full cover story is available online on Vision Monday, or in PDF form here.