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Sunglasses are a year-round essential, but many of them are made from virgin plastic or animal-derived materials such as horn, so we’ve selected the best options for more sustainable brands that share your values.
Make a more sustainable statement with sunglasses
Whether you’re headed to the beach on a sunny day or taking a walk through the park when it’s overcast, harmful UV rays can damage your eyes if they’re not protected by quality sunglasses (bonus: they make a really stylish accessory). But sunglasses from fast fashion brands are often virgin plastic, while at the other end of the scale, luxury options can be made from buffalo horn—both are unsustainable. The more responsible options are usually made from recycled plastic, bamboo, wood, or bio-acetate (also called cellulose acetate). Be mindful that even though the latter is noted as being biodegradable, that really depends on where and how it is discarded.
A quick note on safety, too, because not all sunglasses shield your eyes equally—in fact, they need to have UV protection to be effective. The FDA advises consumers to only buy sunglasses that have a UV400 rating or are labelled as having “100% UV protection”, so be sure to look out for this when you’re shopping for your next pair, and remember that dark-tinted lenses don’t necessarily equal protective unless they’ve got that UV assurance, too.
Now you’re clued up about the safety and materials of sunglasses, scroll through our pick of the best ones from more sustainable brands rated “Good” or “Great”. There are cat-eye frames, aviators, oversized statements, and more.
