Independent offers eco-friendly spectacles

Norville Opticians is the first in Gloucestershire to stock a range of frames that are made from environmentally-friendly plastic. 

The independent optical group introduced Neubau spectacles in its Eastgate Street practice last weekend (24 June). The frames are made from plastic, of which 65% derives from an oil that is extracted from the seeds of castor oil plants.

The material, which is called natural PX, is light and flexible, Neubau explained. Known more commonly as a health product, castor oil and its derivatives are increasingly used to manufacture soaps, lubricants, hydraulic and brake fluids, paints, pharmaceuticals and perfumes. 

Speaking about the spectacles, Norville Opticians receptionist, Becky Faulkner, who is a fan of the brand, said: “They are incredible. They are so light and comfortable that I have often forgotten that I have them on which is very important when they are probably being worn for longer periods than most items of clothing.”

Neubau was established by Austrian eyewear manufacturer, Silhouette, in 2016 and is marketed through the brand’s See and Do Good initiative, which aims to use organically sourced and renewable raw materials in their spectacles, cases and lens cloths, as well as their advertising materials.