Let's Talk About The Environment and AO Eyewear Original Pilot Sunglasses

The Environment

In today's world a lot of people are concerned about the environment, and so are we.

There is no doubt that we need to do a better job of keeping our environment clean, and one of the best places to start is with all the "throw away" products people seem to love.

As you stroll down the aisle of your favorite drug store or mega store, the racks are full of cheap sunglasses, most of them made largely of plastic.

Because they are cheap, many are lost, dropped, or simply thrown away in favor of a new pair that looks "cool."

So how do the manufacturing and disposal of these sunglasses affect our environment?

Sunglass Frame Materials

Sunglass frames are made from several different materials, and each one has an environmental impact. Let's take a quick look.

Plastic

Plastic frames have a number of drawbacks. They break more easily than metal frames, and age and sun exposure slowly weaken them.

Plastic pollution harms people, animals, and plants through toxic pollutants. Plastic can take hundreds of years or more to break down, so the damage is long-lasting.

Most plastic sunglasses don't stay in use very long. Sunlight degrades them, they break easily, and because they're inexpensive they get lost and replaced without a second thought.

If you have plastic sunglasses to get rid of, take a minute to look up the best way to dispose of or recycle them in your area.

Cellulose Acetate

Some manufacturers use cellulose acetate, a plant-based material made from wood pulp or cotton fibers, which is also hypoallergenic.

Unlike most synthetic plastics, cellulose acetate can break down over time into cellulose and acetic acid, so it's a far friendlier choice for the environment.

Sunglasses like the AO Saratoga sunglasses fit in this category.

Nylon

Nylon is a popular material for sports and performance frames. It holds up well in both heat and cold and is easily molded into wraparound styles and other shapes that are hard to produce.

Compared with other plastic-based materials, making nylon is energy-intensive and releases greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide, which is far more potent than carbon dioxide.

Nylon lenses are popular because they're lightweight and offer good optical performance, so you'll find them on many quality sunglasses. Just be aware of nylon's footprint, and dispose of damaged lenses responsibly.

Metals

Metal frames come in many alloys, including nickel-silver, stainless steel, Monel (a nickel-copper alloy), and titanium.

Titanium is lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant. Nickel-silver, an alloy of nickel, copper, and zinc, is strong, corrosion-resistant, and holds its shape for years.

The biggest environmental cost of metal is up front: mining it and turning raw ore into a finished product both take a toll. But a metal frame that lasts for decades spreads that cost over a very long life.

Think of the Environment When Purchasing Sunglasses

One of the interesting things about being in this business for more than 20 years is that I've spent a lot of time thinking about and learning everything I can about sunglasses.

My first real exposure to quality sunglasses came during my years in the USAF. That's when I bought my first pair of aviators: AO Original Pilots.

I still have them today.

Just imagine, they're more than 60 years old!

A little bent and showing some wear and tear, but still functional. If they had been plastic, they would be sitting in a landfill right now, not breaking down at all.

AO Eyewear Original Pilot Sunglass Frame Materials

This is why I love AO Original Pilot Aviators and am so passionate about them.

The Original Pilot was introduced in 1958 as the FG-58 (Flight Goggle 58), built to strict military specifications for U.S. pilots. It has been issued to American service members ever since, and it's the same design that went to the Moon with the Apollo 11 crew.

The frames are made from a strong nickel-silver alloy, available in silver, matte silver, black, and 23K gold plated finishes. They're still made in the USA by American Optical, a company founded in 1833.

The straight bayonet temples were designed so pilots could slip them on and off while wearing a helmet, and the design has barely changed in more than 65 years. That's the point: a frame built to military specs doesn't need replacing every summer.

Yes, mining and processing metal has an environmental cost. But a pair of sunglasses you buy once and wear for decades has a much smaller footprint than a string of cheap plastic pairs that end up in the trash.

Keep Your Eyes Safe My Friends

Be sure to visit Aviator Sunglasses and look through all the great sunglasses we offer. Some of them are sure to please you.

ps: Please share "Let's Talk About The Environment and AO Eyewear Original Pilot Sunglasses" with your friends on social media.