How To Buy Quality Sustainable Sunglasses

The sun is out, and our shades are on! Do you know where to find ethical sunnies, though? Here’s how to buy high quality sustainable sunglasses you’ll have for years!

By Diane Small

The perfect accessory for any summer outfit? Awesome sunnies, of course! But did you know that the quality of your sunglasses matters a ton? And of course, it’s best to always buy sustainable sunglasses. But…how can we even define what those are?

Here, we aim to answer those questions with the help of the experts at SmartBuyGlasses, and show you how to buy quality sustainable sunglasses.

Why You Need Quality Shades

Well made sunglasses are essential to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Just because the lens is dark doesn’t mean your eyes will be protected.

In fact, UV protection is dependent on whether or not certain chemicals have been applied to the lenses during manufacturing. It has nothing to do with the lens shade at all.

To ensure your eyes are protected, always look for sunglasses that are labeled as blocking 99% or 100% of UV rays. Some labels will also say “UV absorption up to 400nm” or UV400, which is equivalent to 100 percent protection.

In addition, a high quality lens will give you good, even visibility. Cheaper sunglasses, on the other hand, can make it hard to see, and may have an uneven lens, which can cause headaches in the short term and even vision issues in the long term.

When buying frames, they should be light enough that they don’t leave a mark on your nose or cheeks. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends inspecting sunglass frames for weight, strength, flexibility and resistance to corrosion and impact.

What Is Polarization?

You might see the term ‘polarized’ on some luxury sunglasses. But what does that even mean? Well, it basically means you’re going to have less glare.

Polarization involves applying a special coating to sunglasses lenses. It blocks out horizontal light waves, which are the main cause of glare. Glare is not just an annoyance—it can impact visibility and even lead to eye strain over time. Polarized lenses allow only vertical light to pass through, thus significantly reducing the blinding glare and enhancing visual clarity.

By reducing glare, polarized sunglasses can improve the sharpness of your vision and enhance colour contrast. They can also reduce eye strain and most polarized sunglasses also offer 100% protection against harmful UVA and UVB rays, too.

What Are Sustainable Sunglasses?

The fact is that quality sustainable sunglass lenses don’t really exist. All good lenses are going to be chemically treated and thus, are not ideal for the environment. In addition, most sunnies are made from plastic. This could be acrylic, zyl or nylon. But today, you can find more sustainable materials for the frames, such as recycled metals, sustainable wood and bamboo, cork or even recycled nylon. Which is better than just buying normal shades, right?

We’d also consider a sunglasses brand to be sustainable if they ‘give something back’. For example, if they plant trees with every purchase, or support a local charity. It’s also great if their cases are made from recycled and/or recyclable materials.

How To Buy Quality Ethical Sunglasses

We consider buying quality sustainable sunglasses to be something of a luxury. The likely won’t come cheap. You’re probably looking at paying anywhere from $100-$600 for a good pair of ethical shades.

Here’s what you should look for:

Packaging

Authentic, quality sustainable sunglasses come with precise branding and attention to detail. Look for misspellings, poor print quality, or other inconsistencies in the packaging design.

Hinges

In addition to using quality materials, such as those mentioned above, when you buy sustainable luxury sunglasses, check for the quality of the hinges. These should be smooth and well-constructed, allowing for seamless opening and closing.

Lenses

High-quality lenses used in sustainable luxury sunglasses are scratch-resistant, offer UV protection, and have a consistent tint throughout. Cheap pairs often have lenses with visible distortions, bubbles, scratches, or uneven tinting.

Price

As mentioned, if you’re going to buy quality sustainable luxury sunglasses, you’re going to have to dole out some cash. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. When it comes to ethical luxury sunglasses, you truly get what you pay for!

The Best Places To Shop Sustainable Luxury Sunglasses

1. Woodzee

We’ve long supported ethical sunglass brand Woodzee. Their sustainable sunglasses are crafted not only from wood, but also bamboo, recycled skateboards, and recycled materials. But that’s not all: they also offer a recycling program! This allows customers to recycle old frames and receive 50 percent off their next order.

2. SOLO Eyewear

Looking for a sustainable sunglass brand with a heart? You’ll love SOLO! The company’s hashtag is #LiveandGive, and they take that seriously! They donate 10% of their profits to providing eye exams, glasses, and cataract surgeries to those in need. If you’re wondering about their eco-friendliness, they’ve got that down, too! SOLO’s frames are made from repurposed bamboo and recycled plastic. They also recycle their packaging and defective products.

3. SmartBuyGlasses Eco Collections

If you’re looking for quality sustainable luxury sunglasses, look no further! SmartBuyGlasses has put a whole collection under one umbrella so they’re easy to find. Here, there’s a wide range of brands on offer. These include well known high end brands such Gucci, Ray Ban, and Tom Ford, for example. The difference is that in their Eco Collections, SmartBuyGlasses only includes the styles from your favourite brands that incorporate recycled materials.

Image below: Aspinal London

4. Eco Eyewear

If you’re going to call your brand Eco Eyewear, you’d better live up to the name! And this brand truly does. their frames are made from a variety of materials, including bio-based castor seed oil, recycled metals and ocean plastic, for example. But what we love most is that they plant a tree for every pair sold. Yay!

5. Proof Sunglasses

Our editor, who lives in Peru, turned us on to this great brand, which is based there (but delivers internationally). Their frames are crafted from planet-friendly and recycled materials, but they give back, too! In fact, each time you buy a pair, you’re donating to help various causes around the world. Most of these assist health and vision issues for those in need.

Image credits: Image 1, SOLO. 2. Tom Ford, 3. River Island 4. Tom Ford. 6. ASOS all others from the brands directly

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Diane Small

Senior Features Writer at Eluxe Magazine

A University of Texas journalism graduate and serious chocolate enthusiast, Diane was a sub-editor at the Houston Chronicle before falling pregnant. Today, she is the proud mom of two kids under the age of three, and freelances for Eluxe in between nappy changes and feedings.