Bio-based Materials for Performance
Optics & Eyewear
SUSTAINABILITY & PREMIUM PERFORMANCE FOR EYEWEAR
Arkema is the leader of high performance and biobased materials for optical applications, coming from castor oil.
Bio-based
Castor oil has a favorable environmental profile. The castor crop is inherently drought resistant, requiring very little irrigation or fertilization and do not compete with food. In our Sustainable Solutions page you can learn all about our Advanced Bio-Circular Materials.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ABC MATERIALS
Pragati Sustainable Castor Initiative
The Pragati initiative was launched in 2016 by 4 member organizations: Arkema, BASF, Jayant Agro-Organics, and Solidaridad, an international civil society organization. The goals of Pragati are to enhance castor productivity in India, where the majority of the world's supply originates. In order to address the main bottlenecks towards sustainability of castor production, a Sustainable Castor Code - the SUCCESS® code - has been developed by the members, which ensures future security of castor supply and safety of farmers.
High Performance Materials for Optical applications
Rilsan® Clear Rnew® solutions for bio-based transparency
Arkema is the first manufacturer to provide high performance, bio-based transparent polyamides. Rilsan® Clear Rnew® materials are ideally suited for optical solutions with high performance properties, offering lightweight, high transparency, flexibility for comfort and chemical resistance.
- Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G850: flagship material of our range, this grade contains 45% bio-based carbon. It is especially designed for injection molding applications and ideally suited for high end eyewear frames.
- Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G820: this grade contains 62% bio-based carbon and provides outstanding chemical resistance. Offering a high flowability, this material can be injected even for challenging designs and is excellent in overmolding, even over itself.
Rilsan® BMNO: the lowest carbon footprint for injection molded frames
When a compromise on transparency can be met and a higher content of bio-based carbon is required Rilsan® Polyamide 11 is a 100% bio-based option. This high performance material works well in overmolding with Rilsan® Clear Rnew® and Pebax Rnew® materials offering complete freedom for designing frames and allowing easier recycling.
- Rilsan® BMNO polyamide 11 is a grade produced from a renewable source with an extremely high percentage of renewable carbon: 98% according to ASTM D6866. It has one of the lowest carbon footprints with regards to optical materials.
Bio-based Pebax® Rnew® Elastomers
Arkema is the leader of high performance and bio-based elastomers, containing 30% to 97% biobased carbons coming from castor oil (based on ASTM D6866).
The Pebax® Rnew® thermoplastic elastomers offer a wide range of flexibility, lightweight and has a high impact resistance.
Moreover, it offers a good overmolding with Rilsan® Clear Rnew®, offering complete freedom for designing frames and allowing for easier recycling.
Rilsan® Polyamide 11 Fine Powders for 3D Printing : 100% bio-based
Long-chain Polyamides are the reference materials in powder bed fusion processes like laser sintering (LS). This technology is used for manufacturing small series of personalized and uniquely designed frames.
Arkema offers Polyamide 11 fine powders, providing flexibility, rigidity, and impact resistance that other 3D printing plastics cannot obtain while being 100% bio-based.
Recycling in the optical Market
Arkema wants to work with its optical customers on each side of the supply chain – those who want to recycle their polymers, and those who wish to purchase partially recycled grades.
For injection molded frames we can collaborate directly with your injection molder for post-industrial materials or support your company and its customers in the post-consumer area. Eco-design is of great importance here! The Virtucycle® Program sourcing team is available to evaluate the potential of your material for recycling at Agiplast Recycling Center.
Advanced Bio-Circular Materials for Eyewear Solutions Brochure
See what our customers are saying
IZIPIZI, the more sustainable Child Sunglasses
Aiming to be here for you at every stage of life, right from the start: IZIPIZI is producing their CHILD models with bio-based material.
Ultra-flexible, bisphenol-A free, hypo-allergenic and sustainable, IZIPIZI frames are perfect for babies’ daily adventures, from 0 to 5 years-old.
IZIPIZI is also switching their material for adult glasses to Rislan® Clear Rnew® G850, making their product offer even more respectful of the planet.
RUDY PROJECT
Rudy Project combines its distinctive edgy design, advanced lens technology, and superior comfort in a frame built with Rilsan® Clear Rnew® high performance sustainable and bio-based polyamide. Rilsan® Clear Rnew® was chosen for its lightness, chemical and fatigue resistance, flexibility, and extreme toughness and durability.
VUARNET sport collection
"Vuarnet invested a lot of time in selecting the material for their future eco-responsible sport frames, and with the help of the Tara Océan Foundation, they finally chose a revolutionary material from the [castor] plant: Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G820 produced in Normandy by Arkema. It's a water-efficient plant that grows using sustainable agricultural practices. Vuarnet mentioned that “This material retains essential technical properties such as lightness, flexibility, shape memory and resistance over time. Using bio-strengthened nylon reduces our dependence on oil. All Vuarnet’s sport range is developed with bio-nylon."
JULBO
JULBO didn’t wait for it to be fashionable to make its products more sustainable. "That’s why we use Rilsan® Polyamide 11 with bio-based content for several years."
JULBO has been using this advanced material on over 75% of sunglasses range because of its environmental qualities and technical benefits to ensure lightness, flexibility and durability.
BOLLÉ EYEWEAR
Part of Bollé's REACT FOR GOOD sustainability approach, the Eco Blanca ski googles are a great example of eco-designed product among a wide range of winter sports equipment using our high-performance bio-based materials. In this example with Rilsan® Clear Rnew® G850 produced from renewable castor oil, they offer a more sustainable alternative to fossil-based polymers.