Andy Wolf to switch to recycled acetate

Andy Wolf eyewear will be switching its acetate collection to a new sustainable acetate from 2022 as part of the Acetate Renew programme from acetate producer, Mazzucchelli, and specialty materials provider, Eastman.

Andy Wolf said it has become the first independent eyewear brand from German-speaking Europe to receive the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification’s ISCC Plus certification. The organisation offers certification for raw material and product sustainability and traceability throughout the supply chain.

Having received the certification, Andy Wolf now qualifies for the new Acetate Renew programme from Mazzucchelli and Eastman. 

The certification is a requirement to join the programme to guarantee the origin of raw materials used, ensure traceability through the supply chain and prevent ‘greenwashing’ – a term coined for companies misleading consumers about the sustainability of products or supply chains.

Andy Wolf plans to gradually switch to using Acetate Renew from 2022, with a goal of producing 23% of the entire acetate collection from sustainable materials by the end of 2022, and 75% of all acetate frames made from Acetate Renew by the end of 2025.

Acetate Renew is a cellulose diacetate made from 60% bio-based and 40% certified raw material and set to offer the same performance as conventional acetate.

Announcing its plans, Andy Wolf pointed out that cellulose acetate, a polymer of natural origin derived from renewable sources such as specific tree species from responsible forestry and cotton linters, is environmentally friendly, biodegradable and recyclable. Traditional plasticisers are typically added in the process.

However, through the Acetate Renew project, Eastman has developed a way to obtain raw material for the production of acetate sheets through the recycling of plastic waste, such as cosmetic packaging, carpets, sportswear with high-plastic content, and acetate scraps.

Recycling the plastic waste, a powder is produced which is used as the raw material for the production of new cellulose acetate. In comparison to the traditional acetate manufacturing process, the companies suggest the Acetate Renew project sees a reduction in greenhouse gases, while plastic waste is diverted from landfills back into the production cycle.