CooperVision has announced its plastic neutrality initiative has been expanded to cover its full range of contact lenses in Australia and New Zealand.
The extra commitment to sustainability has been made possible through a global partnership with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities.
For every box of contact lenses distributed, CooperVision purchases credits that fund the collection and recycling of ocean-bound plastic into the global supply chain, that is equal to the weight of the plastic used in its contact lenses, the blister, and the outer carton packaging.
So far, the program has recovered the equivalent of almost 140 million bottles reaching the oceans.
With the expansion of the program to cover all CooperVision’s contact lens brands, CooperVision said it is committed to stopping more than 120 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean in collaboration with Plastic Bank in 2023.
Plastic Bank collectors in the coastal communities receive a premium for the materials they collect, which helps them provide basic family necessities including school fees, and health insurance.
“Plastic plays a critical role in the hygienic delivery and sterile protection of our contact lenses, and the commitment to making all of our contact lenses in Australia and New Zealand plastic neutral provides the opportunity to make even more of a positive impact,” said Michelle North, General Manager ANZ at CooperVision.
