our sustainability heritage
What is CooperVision’s approach to sustainability?
At CooperVision, we are taking action to make a positive impact on the environment and expand our commitment to sustainability because it is the right thing to do—for our employees, our customers, our business, and our planet—with a focus on water, energy, recycling, and people. Our approach is evolutionary, continually evaluating, innovating and improving to make an impact today and in the future.
At our manufacturing sites around the world, we have developed best-in-class processes resulting in our facilities earning prestigious sustainability certifications, including LEED® Certification in Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Spain, and BREEAM Certification in the UK. On average, more than 95% of the materials in our production process are recycled. We are also proud to report that as part of an organizational effort to use renewable resources wherever possible, all of our operations in New York State and Mountpark UK are powered by renewable energy.
Can you tell us more about the sustainable processes used to make clariti® 1 day?
CooperVision's 100,000-square-foot facility in Alajuela, Costa Rica is dedicated to the manufacturing of clariti 1 day, and has been awarded the prestigious LEED Silver certification for its environmentally conscious design and operation, which includes:
- A high-efficiency lighting system using natural light
- A vegetable oil-powered main transformer
- Rainwater collection tanks that divert natural rainfall for use in lavatories and climate control systems
- More than 95% of materials used in the production process – including 100% of the plastic generated – is recycled
- More than 95% of the plant’s electricity comes from renewable sources
Similarly, we have instituted more sustainable practices at our clariti 1 day production facility near Budapest, Hungary. These include recycling materials such as molds used in the production process, reuse of cardboard containers prior to recycling and encouraging our employees to use public transportation (more than 70 percent do so in Hungary and Costa Rica).
What types of sustainability efforts is CooperVision taking beyond its manufacturing and distribution sites?
Across our facilities, as part of empowering our people, employees contribute their time to community improvement efforts (e.g., international coastal clean-up programs and partnerships with schools that teach the importance of recycling and conservation). In some cases, we have inspired eye care professionals to rethink their own environmental footprints and take action. Our teams also take a digital-first approach to communication with customers, reducing resources that would otherwise be used for printing, storage and transportation of physical materials. No matter the country or site, we are continuously evaluating additional ways to make a positive impact on the environment.
What is the proper way to dispose of contact lenses?
CooperVision advises that wearers not place contact lenses into drainage systems, and recommend they follow the guidance of their local sanitation authorities for disposal.
our next step
clariti 1 day is the first net plastic neutral contact lens. What does that mean?
Net plastic neutral means the state which is achieved when the net plastic associated with a company, brand, or product is reduced to zero for a defined period. Net plastic implies a calculation and an offset – we’ve determined the components in clariti 1 day that are plastic and how much that plastic weighs and have partnered with Plastic Bank® to purchase “credits” equal to the weight of plastic in clariti 1 day orders sold and distributed in the US. This action makes clariti 1 day the first net plastic neutral contact lens in the US.
How is net plastic neutrality calculated?
To determine the weight of clariti 1 day plastic, CooperVision examined all the plastic that leaves our manufacturing and operations facilities destined for final use by the wearer, based on U.S. sales and distribution. We’ve diligently reviewed the plastic content of clariti 1 day, including the blister, the lens itself, secondary packaging plastic laminates, and additional auxiliary plastics, including laminates in the blister foil, plastic in adhesive and the plastics included in the ink printed on the boxes.
What products are included in CooperVision’s net plastic neutrality commitment?
The full clariti 1 day family in the US, including associated customer brands:
- clariti 1 day sphere
- clariti 1 day toric
- clariti 1 day multifocal
How will CooperVision report on its progress?
We expect to regularly provide public updates and look forward to sharing more information as the impact of the initiative grows over time.
Will your sustainability efforts stop at plastic neutrality?
Plastic neutrality is not an endpoint; it is the next step in CooperVision’s journey in continuing to make a difference for the planet. We will continue to seek advice and input from colleagues, scientists, and researchers as we work to make a positive impact across CooperVision’s portfolio, strengthening our stance on the importance of sustainability.
our partnership
Who is Plastic Bank?
Plastic Bank is a social enterprise building ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities that reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain. Collectors receive a premium for the materials they collect, which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance.
Plastic Bank employs IBM's Blockchain technology at the core of its platform for a safe and transparent supply chain. After collection, waste plastic is weighed, sorted, chipped, melted into pellets and sold on as "raw material feedstock" to be repurposed into everything from bottles for cleaning products to clothing.
What’s the difference between ocean-bound plastic and landfill plastic?
Ocean-bound plastic is post-consumer plastic collected within 30 miles of an ocean or a waterway leading to an ocean, in countries with high volumes of uncollected plastic waste. Landfill plastic is post-consumer plastic deposited in a waste storage site or facility, with low likelihood of making its way to the world’s oceans.
What can be made from the plastics collected and converted by Plastic Bank®?
After collection, waste plastic is weighed, sorted, chipped, melted into pellets and sold as "raw material feedstock" to be repurposed into everything from bottles for cleaning products to clothing.
definitions
Plastic - A synthetic material made from linking monomers through a chemical reaction to create a polymer chain that can be molded or extruded at high heat into various solid forms that retain their defined shapes.
Net Plastic Neutrality - The state which is achieved when the net plastic associated with a company, brand, or product is reduced to zero for a defined period.
Ocean-Bound Plastic - Ocean-bound plastic is post-consumer plastic collected within 30 miles of an ocean or a waterway leading to an ocean, in countries with high volumes of uncollected plastic waste, which has been discarded or would otherwise be discarded into the environment.
Contact Lens Waste - An opened contact lens component where the lens and/or blister and/or carton package renders the product no longer sterile.
Social plastic - Plastic Bank® defines Social Plastic® as ethically recovered material that transfers its value to communities in need. It is recovered plastic feedstock that collectors are paid a premium for.
Credit - A credit represents the collection and conversion of one kilogram of plastic that may reach or be destined for waterways. CooperVision purchases credits equal to the weight of plastic in clariti® 1 day orders in a specified time period. clariti® 1 day plastic is determined by the weight of plastic in the blister, the lens, and the secondary package, including laminates, adhesives, and auxiliary inputs (e.g., ink).
Feedstock - Feedstock is raw material that can be used to make or produce other products.