In this article we’ll take a close look at some of the best eco-friendly sunglasses provided by sustainable brands around the world. We’ll talk about the sustainable materials they use, the social impact and environmental impact they have, and show-case some of our favorite pairs.
In this article we’ll take a close look at some of the best eco-friendly sunglasses provided by sustainable brands around the world. We’ll talk about the sustainable materials they use, the social impact and environmental impact they have, and show-case some of our favorite pairs.
Who doesn’t love a sexy pair of sunglasses? Not only do they make you look good, but they help shield your peepers from harmful UV rays that can damage them. As an added bonus, they can even help in preventing wrinkles because they reduce the need to squint on bright, sunshiny days.
Unfortunately, most sunglasses are difficult to recycle and are made from wasteful materials like plastic. According to Statista, the United States is home to the largest sunglasses market in the world, accounting for 4.7 billion dollars in sales. To make matters worse, it’s reported that 55 percent of adults in the United States lose or break their sunglasses every year. Broken sunglasses typically end up in landfills. Plastic frames can take anywhere from 10-1000 years to decompose and glass in landfills can take up to a million years to decompose. Yes, you read that right. One million…

Fortunately, there are many emerging makers of sunglasses that are aware of the negative impact traditional specs have on the environment. They’ve made it their mission to help protect the environment by producing environmentally friendly sunglasses made using sustainable practices and materials. Below, we’ll cover 50 different sustainable sunglass brands and some of our favorite eco-friendly sunglasses.
The Best Brand for Eco-Friendly Sunglasses
Here’s our top, overall pick for the best brand that’s making eco-friendly sunglasses. Style, eco-friendliness, variety, and price were all factors we considered when making our pick.
Browse Eco-Friendly Sunglasses by Material Type
Sustainably-made sunglasses come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials. Some of the most common materials used to make eco-friendly sunglasses include:
- Recycled materials, such as ocean plastics, skateboards, and vinyl records
- Cork
- Wood
- Bamboo
- Acetate (bio-degradable plastic)
- Various recycled & eco-friendly materials
You can keep reading to view eco-friendly sunglasses made from all of the different sustainable materials we listed or click on the links above to skip to the section of your choice.
Sustainable Sunglasses Made from Recycled Materials
With so much waste floating around our oceans and filling our landfills, it’s refreshing to see that many companies are recycling materials to create eco-friendly sunglasses. Many of the brands featured below use recycled ocean plastic and some get creative by recycling materials from skateboards, fabric, and vinyl records!
Check them out:
Sunglasses Made from Recycled Plastic