Biobased Lenses Sustainable Optical Eyeglass Lens Material

Biobased Lenses Sustainable Optical Eyeglass Lens Material

In‍‌‍‍‌ recent decades, the production of ophthalmic lenses has become heavily dependent on petroleum-based resins, a mode of manufacturing that consumes significant quantities of fossil fuels and also produces a substantial amount of carbon dioxide emissions along the whole value chain. As ESG standards become ever more binding for regulators internationally, and also as the carbon-pricing mechanisms gain strength across most economies, optic lens manufacturers, as well as branded eyewear companies, face the challenge of having to showcase their compliance. It does, however, seem that a major portion of the green products available at the moment either do not have any independent certifications or those that do hardly make an effective disclosure. The issue of "food vs. fuel" has also turned back to corporate social responsibility agendas with many of the bio-lenses being made from corn or sugarcane feedstocks. These are also the kinds of bio-lenses that most commonly suffer from the inability to maintain optical uniformity and coating adhesion, hence, they get delaminated, produce visual distortion, and end up with a high rejection rate. Such a poor performance is a clear example of the gap in the market for environment-friendly products that do not force a change between the benefits for mother earth and the reliability upon the end-user.

A newly introduced product series of lenses from Aojie Optical is made from biodegradable materials which are extracted from castor beans, a type of crop that is non-food and requires only minimal land. This kind of bio-sourcing does not encroach upon the food-related croppable area. All the stages, from obtaining the original material (bio-source) up to the final product creation (finished goods), are strictly free of animal fat or oil usage, thereby making it fully trackable and ethically clean. The lenses, while containing a high ratio of renewable matter, display the same high performance optical qualities as top notch petroleum resins: the average Abbe value is between 45 and 50; light transmittance surpasses that of a standard lens, over 92%; UV protection covers up to 400nm (UV400), a surface layer with protection rating of 6–8H (pencil hardness), the above qualities of which are all independently verified. Combining the results of these different aspects into one package, the present solution enables eyewear brands to free themselves from a cycle of commodities where they were fighting to bring down prices to the lowest possible level and to distinguish themselves by the offerings were hard. These brands could, instead of that, create a higher quality product by a scientifically based and defensible concept of sustainability which would be very appealing to the most selective of customers and even the regulators!

Product Advantages

45% High Bio-Based Content, ASTM Certified

Certified to ASTM D-6866-18 with 45% biobased content — quantifiable, traceable and verifiable sustainability data for brand ESG communication and global market compliance.

Castor-Based, No Food Competition

Castor bean is a non-food industrial crop — its cultivation does not occupy farmland or consume food resources, avoiding "food vs. fuel" ethical concerns. Sourced from China, India and Brazil with a stable, traceable supply chain.

Zero Animal-Derived Oils

No animal-derived oils throughout production. Pure plant-based formulation aligns with vegetarian, animal-friendly and ethical consumption positioning.

Low-Carbon, Reduced Environmental Footprint

Effectively reduces petroleum consumption and CO₂ emissions versus conventional petroleum-based lenses, helping brands lower lifecycle environmental impact and align with global carbon neutrality goals.

Stable Optical Performance, Sustainability Without Compromise

Maintains excellent optical uniformity, transmittance and processing stability at high biobased content. Compatible with tinting, coating and surfacing; suitable for prescription, reading and sunglass lenses.

Customization Services

1.Prescription & Frame Adaptation — Full-range customization for sphere, cylinder, axis, addition (ADD) and prism Pupillary distance (PD), pupil height, frame wrap angle, pantoscopic tilt and vertex distance are independently calculated and optimized for every order

2.Materials and Refractive Index Options — PC, nylon can be used as substrates. The product provides three refractive index specifications: 1.56, 1.60, and 1.67.

3.Coating Combinations — Anti-Reflective (AR), blue light blocking, anti fog, hydrophobic (not getting wet), oleophobic (not getting oil or fat stains) anti static are combined with hard coating (6-8H), mirror coating antibacterial coating. They can be configured per customer requirement.

4.Tinting & Polarization Customization Solid or gradual color tinting in different hues Photochromic transition response and intensity level are set adjustable and polarization version with ≥90% glare reduction are available.

5.Branding & Packaging — LOGO engraved laser on lenses; the contents such as lens pouch, lens case, outer carton and user manual can all be customized with the customer brand VI design.

6.For example, Sample orders (1-5 pieces), Trial orders (50-200 pieces), Bulk order (200+ pc), and also Annual framework orders as well as Rush orders - we support ‍‌‍‍‌all.

Technical Specification

Client & Brand Partners

• Long‑term ODM/OEM supplier for multiple European & American outdoor eyewear brands

• Approved custom‑lens partner for domestic professional optical retail chains

• Lens component supplier for sports protective gear & cycling equipment brands

Quality Control Standard

Business Terms

FAQ

What are biobased lenses? Are there any notable differences from traditional lenses?

The main raw material of biobased lenses comes from renewable plant sources such as castor oil, instead of being derived from fossil resources through the refining of petroleum. By maintaining the same optical performance and the strength of the physical materials, they can also cut down a lot the amount of produced CO2 and the consumption of non-renewable resources - resulting in a more environmentally friendly, sustainable lenses option.

Do biobased lenses weigh less? Are they more comfortable to wear?

The density of the material is only 1.15 g/cm³ which is approx.15% lighter than traditional CR-39 resin. When the glasses are paired with TR90 or biobased frame glasses, the total weight becomes really low - no pressure at the nose even after a long time wearing which is highly suitable for small children, teenagers and glasses wearers throughout the whole day.

Is biobased lens able to handle prescription like myopia/presbyopia/astigmatism?

Yes, our prescription customization includes all kinds of vision correction including, single-vision myopia, presbyopia, progressive and astigmatism-added prescriptions. We also offer refractive indices 1.56/1.60/1.67. Functional coatings e.g. blue-block, polarized, photochromic and antibacterial can be applied ‍‌‍‍‌stackably.