6 Eco-friendly Sunglasses Brands

Stay styling this summer with the perfect pair of eco-friendly sunglasses. This guide features six socially responsible brands crafting sunglasses with sustainable materials. These sunglasses are high quality, worth investing in, a stylish accessory, and perfect for keeping the summer rays out of your eyes. Discover a few discount codes in this sunglasses guide too.

This guide does have affiliate links and The Honest Consumer will receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase. Our commission is at no additional cost to you!

What’s the problem with sunglasses?

Similar to fast fashion, sunglasses are mass produced using cheap materials. They are designed to be thrown away and viewed as disposable. Most sunglasses are plastic based which is not an eco-friendly material.

Certain types of plastics can take 400-600 years to decompose. Not to mention the resources used to make the plastic.

Consider looking for sunglasses made with recycled or biodegradable materials the next time you’re shopping!

Sunski’s Recycled Plastic Sunglasses

Sunski’s eco-friendly sunglasses frames are made from recycled plastic sourced locally and saved from US landfills. Sunski believes in crafting products that are built to last and offers a lifetime warranty on their sunglasses.

Sunski features plastic free packaging and is part of 1% for the Planet. Sunski’s sustainable sunglasses range from $58-$98.

Along with sunglasses Sunski also carries blue light glasses.

Sustainable Sunglasses Made in Michigan

Genusee eyewear is Made in Flint, Michigan from recycled plastic water bottles as a result of the Flint Water Crisis. This sustainable eyewear brand carries blue light glasses, readers, sunglasses, and prescription glasses. Their sunglasses feature uniquely colored frames and start at $120.

1% of Genusee’s net profits are donated to the Community Fund of Greater Flint. Donations are distributed to two funds that address children’s health and education in Flint: Flint Promise & Child Health and Development Fund to further Genusee’s social impact.

Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear: Eco-friendly Sunglasses

Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear reuses excess materials to create new eyewear, making a remarkably more durable, lightweight and comfortable frame.

They have also incorporated other natural materials such as bamboo, Walnut, Beechwood and Zebra Wood into their glasses. Incorporating their Eco-Process™ method to their frames has saved 1000’s of lbs of excess materials from going into our landfills and oceans.

For every pair of glasses Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear sells, they donate a pair of corrective glasses to a person in need. To further their environmental impact Blue Planet Eco-Eyewear plants a tree for each pair of glasses sold.

Use the discount code HONEST for 15% off your sunglasses for summer.

Toms Sunglasses: Bio-Plastic Frames

Toms Eyewear offers quite the selection of summer shades. This certified B Corporation offers bold styles and conservatively designed shades as well. Select sunglasses frames are made from bio-plastics, biodegradable plant-based materials.

Toms sunglasses also come with a Recycled Fabric Pouch. Eyewear ranges from around $68-$130. With the large selection of sunglasses, Toms offers resources to help customers discover the perfect fit with Find Your Face Shape, Similar Styles, & more. 

Warby Parker: Buy One, Give One

While Warby Parker definitely has some work to do on the sustainability side, I do think Warby Parker has some socially responsible aspects & as someone who has some of their glasses I can say they are well made and crafted to last. Warby Parker sunglasses are stylish and personable.

With glasses starting at $95 this is a great option to add some flare to your summer style. Warby Parker is a great option for those who need prescription sunglasses (including myself, haha) with a variety of styles and colors. Warby Parker sunglasses can be found in their stores across America or online.

Through their incredible FREE Home Try-On Program, customers can find their perfect pair of summer shades in the comfort of their own home. 

How Warby Parker Gives Back

According to Warby Parker, 2.5 billion people around the world need glasses but don’t have access to them; of these, 624 million cannot effectively learn or work due to the severity of their visual impairment. 

Through Warby Parker's partnership with VisionSpring, for each pair of glasses sold, a pair is donated to someone in need. VisionSpring is a non-profit that trains low-income men and women to effectively provide eye exams and sell glasses at an affordable price.

Warby Parker and VisionSpring want to empower individuals, giving them the tools necessary for success rather than strictly donating glasses. 

I was incredibly impressed when I went into the Warby Parker store. The customer service was wonderful and they were able to provide me with specific details about their current give back initiatives. 

Refurbished Retro Sunglasses by Retrospecced

Retrospecced is a social enterprise that recycles and refurbishes retro and designer spectacle frames. Retrospecced carries a variety of retro styles and designer names such as Christian Dior, Ray-Ban, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and more.

Not only does Retrospecced work with vintage designer frames, but they also have current designer frames. Retrospecced is happy to accommodate prescriptions. Their team has the ability to put your custom prescription in any pair of their upcycled frames. While based out of the U.K., Retrospecced is an online business and ships worldwide! YAY, we can all have sustainable eyewear!

Retrospecced also accepts your old frames, if you’re unsure what to do with them! Enjoy 5% off sustainable prescription glasses, sunglasses, or frames for fun with Retrospecced with HONEST5.

How Retrospecced Gives Back

Retrospecced donates 20% of their proceeds to Vision Aid Overseas. This non-profit provides vision care for people in need in Africa. 

Dynamikos: Giving Back Through Eye Exams & Environmental Conservation

Dynamikos creates unique style through their bold design and high quality product. Dynamikos has a variety of frames including premium acetate, metal, and a combination of both. Each pair of Dynamikos acetate frames are non-allergenic, 100% biodegradable, 100% recyclable, & 100% petroleum free.

The shades have a CR39 lenses which have a scratch resistant coating and are resistant to gamma radiation, material fatigue, aging and most chemicals. These high end glasses rang from around $185-$300.

Personally, I am SO in love with my Cleopatra Clear Champagne Sunglasses from Dynamikos. These sunglasses are incredibly well-made and durable. I think the oversized look is fun & dramatic, along with being the perfect accessory for any outfit.

How Dynamikos Gives Back

Dynamikos sets aside 20% of net profits to donate to their nonprofit partners. Dynamikos partners with Helen Keller International to provide eye screenings & eyewear for children in need in the Los Angeles area. Dynamikos' founder Dayna participates in this give back initiative hands on by going to the screenings at the schools.

Dayna and the team will go to a school to do eye screenings one day and come back another day to fit the children in need for eyewear. On top of this initiative, Dynamikos also donates a portion of their proceeds to nonprofits focused on environmental conservation such as the Wild Life Conservation Network & SeaLegacy. 

Hopefully this guide has helped you find some sustainable sunglasses for your next trip to the beach.

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