How contact lens prescription brings sustainability into focus

Visiting one of the local schools that partners with Plastic Bank to educate younger generations about the importance of recycling. (Jenna Van Thof from CooperVision joins the author in this photo.) Image courtesy of CooperVision.

Making more sustainable choices in my practice and lifestyle is an ongoing process. My sister is an environmental scientist, so for years, I have kept a close eye on sustainability trends—not only in the news but also in the products I use in the eye care industry and in what I prescribe and recommend for my patients. My goal is to stay current on which companies value sustainability and shift to using their products as often as possible, both at work and at home.

My commitment to living and working sustainably recently opened the door to a life-altering experience: a Plastic Bank immersion trip to Bali, Indonesia, sponsored by CooperVision. On the other side of the world, I saw and learned more about this partnership, its impact on the environment, and the difference it is making for the organization’s collectors and their families. The social enterprise is committed to helping humanity win the battle against plastic pollution and poverty. Its operations target countries in regions of the world where plastic pollution and poverty rates are at an all-time high, like Indonesia but also in the Philippines, Brazil, and Egypt.

Sorting plastic into different categories at the Plastic Bank collection facility. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

Sorting through the plastic/trash collected in the mangroves. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

Collectors in these communities work to gather discarded plastic waste. Collectors can exchange collected plastic for currency that the collectors and their families can use for groceries, health insurance, school supplies, and more.

Paddleboarding through the mangroves to collect ocean plastics. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

Since its introduction in 2021, I have appreciated the contact lens manufacturer’s net plastic neutral initiative. Through the program, the company funds the organization’s collection and recycling of ocean-bound plastic equal to the weight of the plastic in the lenses, blisters, and packaging for MyDay, clariti 1 day, MiSight 1 day, and Biofinity contact lenses. The impact of the effort is big, as the equivalent of more than 350 million plastic bottles has already been kept out of oceans. However, after meeting some collectors, I realized the impact is much larger than that of cleaner oceans.

Victory dance after plastic collection in the community with local Plastic Bank collector. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

While in Bali, I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the collectors to learn more about their critical role in the net plastic neutrality process, and what it means to their lives. The collectors I spent time with were some of the kindest and most hardworking people I have ever met. One starts at 4 AM and continues collecting throughout the day—finally wrapping up at 9 PM—and does it all with a constant smile. After sorting and weighing his collected plastic, he received his payment and took it to the market to get his weekly groceries.

Before this immersion experience, contact lens recycling and sustainability were already a part of my discussion with patients. However, after observing and learning about Plastic Bank firsthand, I will be able to tell them more about the added impact that choosing sustainable contact lenses will have on others. They are not only choosing a lens that is helping the planet by removing plastic from the environment but also providing jobs and even health care to people in developing countries.

Sustainability and plastic have a complex relationship. On one hand, plastic is incredibly versatile, durable, and inexpensive, making it invaluable for various applications in modern society. However, its durability is also a curse for the environment.

Plastic pollution is a significant global issue, with plastics clogging oceans, harming wildlife, and entering the food chain. Increasing public awareness about the environmental consequences of plastic consumption is crucial for driving sustainable choices. Consumers can support sustainability by opting for reusable alternatives, reducing single-use plastic usage, and supporting companies committed to eco-friendly practices. Plastic is essential to the innovation of contact lenses, which enable us to give our patients the ability to see clearly. So, although we cannot remove plastic from contact lenses, we can at least prescribe lenses from a company doing its part in net plastic neutrality and sustainable manufacturing and operations.

Greeted by the most welcoming students on our school visit. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

We had the best afternoon getting to know the kids and learning from them. Image courtesy of CooperVision.

The unbelievable amount of plastic that the organization’s collectors remove from their communities daily highlights the need for education on recycling and sustainability. Collectors can work in the same areas daily due to the amount of single-use plastics consumed in their communities. Due to the lack of potable water in Bali, plastic bottles will not be eradicated from their lives. Still, the collectors make a huge difference by removing the plastic to be repurposed instead of leaving it strewn about in the environment. The organization’s program also provides invaluable education in schools for Balinese children about the importance of recycling and repurposing plastics in their communities to lead to a brighter future.

In addition, the contact lens manufacturer has worked with the organization to add a vision care program, which is another excellent resource provided for the collectors in Indonesia who otherwise would not be able to access or afford vision care. Through the program, collectors can receive a basic vision screening at the Plastic Bank collection facility and be sent out for further evaluation at the clinic if warranted. Then, those who require vision correction receive a voucher for complimentary glasses. Vision is essential for the collectors’ work, especially for the safety of those who get around via motorized scooter.

If I could share 1 thing from this experience with my fellow optometrists, it is that the initiative is as much about sustainability as it is about humanity. The jobs and opportunities provided to locals by this partnership extend far beyond what I could even witness in the few days I spent in Bali. It was inspiring to see and to understand the impact we are making through our practices back home.