sustainability at acuvue: considering climate, tackling waste, protecting our natural world

A WORLD WORTH SEEING

SUSTAINABLE CONTACT LENSES

SUSTAINABILITY AT ACUVUE®

ACUVUE® is committed to sustainable solutions that help you see the world and ensure it’s a place worth seeing. That means ensuring all our ACUVUE® contact lenses are made with 100% renewable electricity and that they are all fully recyclable through the ACUVUE® Contact Lens Recycling Programme – which has seen over 11 million contact lenses, blister packs and foils recycled since 2019†

Find out more about some of the ways we’re creating a more sustainable future below.

OUR SUSTAINABLE VISION WITH OUR CONTACT LENSES

couple running on beach, example of clean environment

We know that we have a role to play in helping people around the world see better, connect better and live better.

But we also know that delivering our mission shouldn’t come at the expense of the environment. Because to have healthy people, we need a healthy planet.

That’s why we’re constantly innovating to find sustainable solutions focused in three key areas: tackling climate change, reducing waste and protecting our natural world.

OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS

women gazing, windmills, using clean energy, reducing carbon footprint

Considering Climate

We’re reducing our carbon footprint and increasing our use of renewable energy. Since 2022, all ACUVUE® contact lenses are now made with 100% renewable electricity.

Considering Climate
Considering Climate
woman hiking in clean environment

Protecting The Natural World

We’re working hard to limit our use of natural resources and find ways to protect the environment. All our paper packaging for ACUVUE® contact lenses come from responsibly managed forests helping combat deforestation.

Protecting The Natural World
Protecting The Natural World
recycling contact lens packaging, acuvue contacts reduce waste with sustainable packaging

Tackling Waste

We’re tackling our environmental impact by reducing waste, using less resources and helping you recycle more. Since 2019, the ACUVUE® Contact Lens Recycling Programme has seen over 11 million contact lenses, blister packs and foils recycled†.

Find out more about contact lens recycling
Find out more about contact lens recycling

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Can I recycle my ACUVUE® contact lenses?

    • You can recycle the outer boxes, instruction guides, reusable containers and solution bottles in your recycling bin. However, your local recycling facility will be unable to accept blister packs, foils and contact lenses due to their nature and small size.

      But, thanks to ACUVUE®, and our partner Opticians, there is a solution!

      The ACUVUE® Contact Lens Recycle Programme in partnership with TerraCycle®, has collected over 11 million pairs of contact lenses, blister packs and foil covers since launching in 20191.

      Simply collect your contact lens waste at home and drop off at your nearest participating Optician’s practice – it’s that easy. Click here to find your nearest drop off location.

  • Why are contact lenses and the packaging they come in made from plastic?

    • Sterile plastic packaging means that your contact lenses remain well-hydrated, in shape, unblemished, and germ-free. After all, they’re relied upon to correct vision in two of your most precious assets: your eyes.

      Contact lenses are a medical device that sit on the surface of your eye. As well as needing to be transparent (so you can see) they also need to be stable, compatible with your eye and retain their shape during storage and use.

      No naturally available material currently provides all of these properties. As a result, contact lenses are made from a combination of different components which together form a plastic that ensures the lens keeps its shape, provides accurate and comfortable fit and retains moisture for comfort during wear.

  • What is ACUVUE® doing to tackle sustainability?

    • ACUVUE® is committed to leading the conversation and driving meaningful action on sustainability. We are determined to continue tackling key issues that affect us all, from recycling and reducing our carbon footprint, to optimising our packaging.

      As of 2022, 100% of electricity for Johnson & Johnson Vision’s manufacturing sites across North American and Europe comes from renewable sources – three years ahead of target. As a result, all ACUVUE® brand contact lenses are now made with 100% renewable electricity2.

      Moreover, in our manufacturing process, 89% of raw materials are recycled on location at our Vision Care manufacturing sites3 while we’ve achieved both certification and recertification of ISO50001 standard for our energy management systems4 – including policies, targets, improvements and use of data.

      Meanwhile all our contact lens packaging (box and leaflet) comes from responsibly managed forests5.

† JJV Data on File 2023. ACUVUE® Contact Lens Recycling Scheme monthly statistics as supplied by recycling partner TerraCycle®

1. JJV Data on File 2023. Sustainability Statistics for ACUVUE® Contact Lens Manufacturing
2. Visit: https://www.jnj.com/environmental-sustainability/climate-and-energy-action. Visit: https://www.jjvision.com/press-release/johnson-johnson-vision-reinforces...
3. JJV data on File 2022. Annual waste data from Limerick + Jacksonville Data Substantiation for ACUVUE Manufacturing Recycled Materials
4. JJ Campus Ireland ISO50001 Re-Certification. JJ Campus Ireland ISO50001 Certification
5. CO2 savings are based on engineering estimates completed at the time the projects were approved. Equivalency calculation was completed using US EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. JJV Data on File 2022. Data Substantiation for Paper Packaging Certification Claim