A new collaboration between chemical company Sabic and Polyray, a Shanghai-based eyewear lens producer has led to a world-first: the debut of the first lens based on a certified renewably-sourced polycarbonate.
Polyray manufactures lenses for eyewear end applications such as sunglasses, safety glasses and sports goggles. The company is now using a Lexan grade that is part of Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio to produce a select number of its products.
The decision was taken in order to’ keep up with the trend towards more sustainability in the development of plastic lens’, said Jessica Chen, commercial director at Polyray.
Polyray launched its BioPC lens as part of its BIO-LINE portfolio in February. The new lens has generated much interest in the market, said Chen, ‘from a broad range of eyewear brands’.
“It provides identical product specification to a fossil-based PC lens, such as outstanding impact resistance and high optical quality, but with an environmental profile,” she said.
Based on Sabic’s cradle-to-gate peer-reviewed LCA study, use of its Lexan polycarbonate resin can potentially result in carbon footprint reductions of up to 61% and fossil depletion reduction of up to 35%.
In addition to supplying Polyray with circular polycabonate resin, Sabic also introduced the lens manufacturer to the ISCC certification system. Polyray is now the first ISCC PLUS certified lens supplier for the eyewear industry.
ISCC is an independent global organisation that has established a certification system offering solutions to address sustainability requirements for all feedstocks and markets, as well as traceability throughout the supply chain.
“We are happy to partner with Sabic, whose polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock ensures that the customer does not have to compromise on design or application, as the requirements for Polyray’s lens products made of Sabic’s materials remain the same,” Chen ended.