Earth Day won't strike many as a marquee health observance for contact lens wear and care education, but that doesn't mean there's nothing doctors of optometry can add to the conversation.
A 2018 Arizona State University study found as many as 1 in 5 contact lens wearers dispose of their lenses down the sink or toilet, contributing an estimated 6-10 metric tons of plastic lenses to U.S. wastewater each year. Furthermore, those lenses break down into microplastics at treatment plants, posing a risk to marine organisms and food supply, researchers claimed.
That's why the AOA's Contact Lens and Cornea Section (CLCS) developed a resource to help doctors educate their patients about proper disposal. Here are three tips:
Inform patients about recycling programs available for contact lenses and packaging, including terracycle.com, or consider turning your practice into a recycling drop-off site.
Most contact lens packages are stamped No. 5 for recycling. Notify patients to remove the foil packaging and ensure the plastic is clean prior to recycling.
It's not only about a healthy environment. Remind patients about healthy contact lens wear and care, including washing and drying hands before application or removal of lenses, only using approved solutions and clean cases, and a healthy replacement schedule.
Educate patients about proper disposal
Click here to access the AOA CLCS Proper Contact Lens Disposal fact sheet and click here to download an infographic for patient education.
To learn more about the CLCS or become a member, click here.
Celebrate Earth Day every day
Learn about more sustainable solutions to adopt in your practice to focus on a green future. Click here.
Read more about doctors of optometry doing their part to make the planet better on page 36 of the April 2016 edition of AOA Focus.
Read the following in the voice of Saturday Night Live’s Debbie Downer: Did you know that millions of metric tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year, and much of it is from packaging? That the temperatures of the seas have risen, the polar ice caps have shrunk, and “extreme weather events” (aka whole neighborhoods being engulfed by six feet of water or going up in literal flames) are more likely due to massive amounts of greenhouse gases produced by humans? Womp, womp.
Now read this in the calming, majestic voice of Morgan Freeman: But there is hope for humans. And much of that hope can be seen in the actions of the people you’ll meet here. They’re proof that righting all of those wrongs is not going to happen as a result of a sweeping initiative. Instead, we need to tackle issues at every level. We might each be one person, but if we commit to making a difference and using our voices, we can all become instruments of change.
The Scientist
Monique Simmonds, Kew Royal Botanical GardensBecause protecting the planet means protecting the plants (including the ones in your favorite shampoo).
We’re regularly urged to eat a plant-based diet for our health and the environment. A plant-heavy beauty routine is a great thing, too — but we need to make sure those botanicals are coming from the right place. Enter: the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, global epicenter of all things plants. This biodiverse Eden, 30 minutes outside of London, is home to the world’s largest collection of wild plant DNA and tissue. Monique Simmonds, its deputy director of science, has made the study of plant chemistry and fungi her life’s work. Her research has been employed by conservationists as well as cosmetics companies, most recently Herbal Essences, which partnered with Kew to verify the ingredients in its Bio:Renew line — ingredients like the hair-smoothing antioxidant histidine.
Simmonds works to ensure that each plant is farmed responsibly. So in this case, she asked: Where do you get your histidine from? “Because histidine only occurs in small amounts in the roots of some plants,” Simmonds says. For the Bio:Renew line, the answer was fermented corn, of which there is no shortage, and which uses by-products from the food industry — something Simmonds is optimistic will happen more often: “Companies that use plant ingredients want to do it right.”
But the real drivers, she says, will be the consumers who hold companies accountable and buy purposefully. How so? Look for brands that talk about where their ingredients come from and be wary of ones that highlight a plant ingredient as being exotically rare (where there’s the potential they could be more easily depleted).
Young beautiful woman
Vasilina Popova
The Adviser
Erin Craig, 3DegreesBecause we need the big guys to get with the program.
It’s one thing to create more sustainable personal-care products. But how to help larger businesses take larger action? That’s Erin Craig’s job. As the vice president of the energy and climate practice for 3Degrees, headquartered in San Francisco, Craig helps companies reduce their carbon emissions. “Almost all the companies we work with, from data centers to fashion retailers, are changing the way they buy electricity to purposefully incorporate more renewable energy,” she says. “Increasing renewable energy is possible and a great place to start.”
83 percent of millennials believe business success should be measured by more than profits.
Sustainability is also more valuable for businesses. Craig argues that renewable energy is not as expensive as previously thought: For example, in midland United States, we have widespread solar resources that are cost-effective to deploy across the South and West. And solar generation panels have gotten far more affordable. On a related note, companies are being held accountable for their social responsibility. In fact, according to one recent survey, 83 percent of millennials believe that business success should be measured by more than profits, and by the positive impact companies make on society and the environment.
The Producer
Brianne West, EthiqueBecause we need to be smart about the product and its package.
As a beauty-loving biochemist, Brianne West quickly realized the products in her bathroom were unnecessarily made of water. “Cosmetic chemists call [water] ‘profit-making liquid.’ It’s essentially free,” she says. “Conditioner is probably the worst offender — it’s about 90 percent water compared to 60 percent in shampoo. You’re shipping a plastic or glass bottle that contains mostly water around the world, around the country, which is a large carbon footprint on top of that waste.”
So West created Ethique, a company that concentrates shampoos and lotions (among other things) into a solid bar that is placed in minimal recycled-cardboard packaging that’s also compostable. Of course, as a business owner, West is acutely aware that the point of a business is to turn a profit. “What I want to demonstrate is that it is possible to be profitable and sustainable in one company.” (New Zealand–based Ethique is in the black and saw its biggest growth in the past two years.) But how to justify the flight these bars have to take to get to America? West argues it’s still a better deal than something you might pick up at the local grocery. “Because you get more uses out of a shampoo bar, which is lighter, the cost per use for a carbon-footprint basis is still significantly lower — even if you ship it from New Zealand — than if you buy something from a supermarket.”
The Advocate
Sonya Lunder, Sierra ClubBecause you should never underestimate online activists and grassroots campaigns.
There is power in numbers. And the Sierra Club, with its 3.5 million members and supporters, galvanizes them through campaigns and organized lobbying for sustainability and environmental change. As Sonya Lunder, senior toxics adviser for the organization’s Gender, Equity & Environment program, explains, “Generally, we’re thinking about changing the laws at the state, national, and even the local level.” But that doesn’t mean every change has to go through Congress.
89,333 people and counting have signed the Sierra club’s online petition to support the Green new deal.
“With online activism, suddenly that loop is closing and an individual person can communicate directly with a company and say, ‘We’re watching you,’ ” says Lunder. “With Twitter and online organizing, so many more people can participate and petition and put them on action. People can alter purchasing practices in their school district or in their city. Actions can pressure a retailer to change the way something is packaged or to change the products they sell.” See suggestions on sierraclub.org, which has a petition to eliminate plastic bags at Safeway and Albertsons as well as instructions on how to call your senator and ask them to support the Green New Deal (more on that next).
The Politicians
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Edward Markey
Because online activists or not, we have to get the government on board.
Eleven years. That’s how long the world has to limit global warming, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. If that sounds medieval in its horror, then meet the crusaders: In February, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Edward Markey presented a Green New Deal resolution to help support change. Their plan prioritizes net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions and securing clean air and water by decarbonizing electricity, transportation, and industry; restoring natural ecosystems; and upgrading buildings and electricity grids for a more sustainable future.
As with any proposal, it needs support to get anywhere — and that’s where you come in. Calling your representatives and being specific about the issue or bill in question, making your voice heard, and voting for people who advocate for issues you believe in are the best ways to enact meaningful change.
The Visionary
Rhandi Goodman, TerraCycleBecause everything can be recycled.
You can’t commit to loving the climate without three crucial words: mixed-material objects. We’re talking about things like lotion pumps made of both plastic and metal coils. Collecting and sorting these materials costs more than the items themselves. So TerraCycle takes objects that cannot be categorized into a standard sorting bin (toothbrushes) or even things normally tossed in the garbage (cigarette butts, candy wrappers) and makes it happen. “When we think about recycling,” says Rhandi Goodman, the global vice president of Zero Waste at TerraCycle in Trenton, New Jersey, “most people just think of what they collect curbside. In reality, everything can be recycled; it’s just a matter of being able to sort and separate. At TerraCycle, we have a team of scientists to develop the recycling process for these items.”
Step one: providing packaging recycling for companies (some of them beauty brands) that use mixed materials. Two: showing them how to use sustainable materials in their products. Three: achieving zero waste through a new program called Loop that refills existing durable packaging. For instance, TerraCycle worked with Bausch + Lomb to implement a recycling program for its contact lenses and blister packs. Admittedly, this process is expensive. But companies who have joined TerraCycle (40,000 and growing) have worked not just to make their own products recyclable but also to fund their categories. “Our national free recycling program is funded by major brands and allows consumers to collect and send their waste to TerraCycle for recycling at no cost to the consumer,” says Goodman.
Our environmental crises might conjure the seventh circle of hell, but a group of trailblazers may just help lead us (and, yes, our beauty routines) to eco-redemption.
The Visionary
Rhandi Goodman, TerraCycleBecause everything can be recycled.
You can’t commit to loving the climate without three crucial words: mixed-material objects. We’re talking about things like lotion pumps made of both plastic and metal coils. Collecting and sorting these materials costs more than the items themselves. So TerraCycle takes objects that cannot be categorized into a standard sorting bin (toothbrushes) or even things normally tossed in the garbage (cigarette butts, candy wrappers) and makes it happen. “When we think about recycling,” says Rhandi Goodman, the global vice president of Zero Waste at TerraCycle in Trenton, New Jersey, “most people just think of what they collect curbside. In reality, everything can be recycled; it’s just a matter of being able to sort and separate. At TerraCycle, we have a team of scientists to develop the recycling process for these items.”
Step one: providing packaging recycling for companies (some of them beauty brands) that use mixed materials. Two: showing them how to use sustainable materials in their products. Three: achieving zero waste through a new program called Loop that refills existing durable packaging. For instance, TerraCycle worked with Bausch + Lomb to implement a recycling program for its contact lenses and blister packs. Admittedly, this process is expensive. But companies who have joined TerraCycle (40,000 and growing) have worked not just to make their own products recyclable but also to fund their categories. “Our national free recycling program is funded by major brands and allows consumers to collect and send their waste to TerraCycle for recycling at no cost to the consumer,” says Goodman.
When you're throwing them out daily, these little pieces of plastic and foil can add up. Bausch + Lomb makes it easy to recycle this packaging, including ones from other brands, through their recycling program ONE by ONE. Collect enough to fill a small box and you can mail them in or drop them off at a nearby participating doctor's office.
Cell Phones & Laptops
TerraCycle sponsors a E-Waste Recycling Program that accepts old cell phones, laptops, netbooks, iPads, and inkjet cartridges (from HP and Canon printers only). If you're interested in saving a little cash, check if your device's manufacturer has a trade-in program (like Apple's GiveBack) that offers a gift card or credit towards a new device. You can also sell old electronics directly to sites like BuyBackWorld.com.
You're probably missing out on ways to help the earth.
It's tough to always know what things to recycle and what items to toss into the trash. But according to Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, you'd be surprised to learn that a lot of items that end up in a landfill are actually made of recyclable materials. "People are always interested in knowing how to recycle at home. First step: Look in your own community and see if there are local schools, hospitals, or shelters that will take your old stuff. For example, a pet shelter could make use of your beat-up towels," Hoover says. But when it comes to recyclable products that you can't easily donate, check out our round-up of innovative recycling programs as well as online directories that help you find drop-off locations. Going green has never been this easy.
MARCO VERCH PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND SPEAKER, FLICKR (CROPPED) // CC BY
As convenient as monthly and daily-use contact lenses can be for those who aren't blessed with 20/20 vision, they can also be harmfulto the environment and contribute to microplastic pollution when they’re flushed down the drain.
The good news is that the blister packs your contact lenses come in can be recycled in a way that requires very little time and effort. If you're a contact lens wearer and want to do your part to reduce plastic waste, there’s a simple solution: Just place the empty blister packs inside a plastic bottle and drop it into the plastic recycling bin once it’s full. (Just make sure you're discarding the foil covering the blister pack first.)
Of course, it’s always better to use as few plastic bottles as possible, so only do this if you were already using those bottles anyway. If your household is fairly anti-plastic, there’s another option. Contact lens manufacturer Bausch + Lomb offers its own recycling program, called One by One. The company collaborated with TerraCycle to reduce waste by recycling all parts of the product, including the used blister pack, top foil, and contact lenses themselves. The company accepts all brands of contact lens products and estimates that it has recycled more than 25,000 pounds of packaging to date.
“Once received, the contact lenses and blister packs are separated and cleaned,” Bausch + Lomb explains on its website. “The metal layers of the blister packs are recycled separately, while the contact lenses and plastic blister pack components are melted into plastic that can be remolded to make recycled products.”
The reason why so many plastic blister packs end up in landfills is because the pieces are too small to be sorted properly at recycling plants. It’s the same problem that affects plastic bottle caps, which is why it’s recommended to leave the caps on, as long as your recycling program allows it.
Optometry offices across the country are participating in Bausch + Lomb's recycling program, and you can visit the company’s website to find out if there are any drop-off points near you. If it's more convenient, you can also place the items in a cardboard box and mail them in, using a free shipping label that’s available online.
Richelle H. Concio Mar 08, 2019 08:08 AM EST
According to recent findings, textile waste takes up a big chunk of the garbage hauled to landfills. In 2015, over 10 million tons of these garbage were textile items. This includes carpets, footwear, discarded clothing, sheets, and towels. Unfortunately, only 14.2% of the clothing and shoes have been recycled during the said year. The textile items that were not recycled would sit in the landfills for over 200 years.
Fast Company, an American business magazine, brought up this issue for public awareness. In their report, New York alone is responsible for 200 million pounds of clothing being thrown in the trash every year. With this issue at hand, the New York City Department of Sanitation, together with other foundations, organizations, and several fashion companies initiated a drive in the city. New Yorkers were called out to dispose of their old clothing by using any of the 1,000 designated drop-off points in the city. Some retailers would even give out $20 vouchers in exchange for old unwearable pants.
TerraCycle accepts old clothing that was mailed in. Boxes for shipping out discarded clothing are available on their website. The company has also partnered up with Bausch in this venture, accepting old contact lenses which will be melted into plastic and in turn, made into other products.
Another method of disposing of old clothing is by donating the usable ones to different charity or thrift stores. These stores often accept clothes that they can still sell. However, if the clothes are no longer sellable, the clothes are either thrown out or sent out for recycling.
The sad reality remains that old clothing cannot be recycled back into the same clothing. However, it could be down-cycled into other products such as rags, handicrafts, or insulation. Down-cycling is the process of using old items to make a new product. For textile, this is the choice to take when the items are no longer usable as it is.
All these efforts work toward cutting back on the garbage that humankind has been producing through the years. As textile waste bears a heavyweight when it comes to tallying garbage materials, it is crucial to lowering the number of textile items being sent to landfills. Textile fibers may release methane and carbon dioxide gas as it sits in the landfills for hundreds of years. While this is true for natural fibers, synthetic fibers will not decompose and release toxic substances instead. With this in mind, the proper disposal of unwanted old clothing is one way to help save the environment.
Supporters of Optometry Giving Sight raised enough funds for the 2018 World Sight Day Challenge to provide eye exams and glasses to more than 190,000 people in need of eye care.
More than 160 companies and 360 optometry practices around the world participated in raising more than $970,000, according to a press release from Optometry Giving Sight.
“Every World Sight Day Challenge, we’re blown away by the generosity and loyalty of our supporters. We’re thankful for each one: from the large companies generously donating to the small practices passionately fundraising,” Leigh Cleave, global director of development of Optometry Giving Sight, said in the release.
Through bake sales, auctions, guessing competitions, talent shows, running events and walkathons, companies and providers got patients, employees and customers involved. According to the organization’s report, CooperVision, a longstanding Optometry Giving Sight supporter, had a record-breaking year, raising more than $260,000 through its employee fundraising campaign.
“Our record-breaking 2018 World Sight Day Challenge donation represents approximately 52,000 eye exams for people around the world who could otherwise be at risk of a range of vision challenges,” CooperVision President Dan McBride,said in the release.
Vision Source, another long-standing partner of Optometry Giving Sight, celebrated its 12th year of participation in the World Sight Day Challenge. According to the organization’s press release, Vision Source donated more than $220,000 as part of its annual commitment.
“I never cease to be amazed by the selfless generosity of the Vision Source family; we are proud to partner with Optometry Giving Sight as Vision Source’s international charity of choice,” Vision Source CEO Jim Greenwood said in the release.
Additionally, Bausch + Lomb Australia pledged a donation of $1 for every kilogram of contact lens waste sent to TerraCycle, a program with the aim to keep contact lenses and blister packs out of landfills, turning plastic components into recycled materials.
The University of Montreal was the highest fundraising optometry school, according to Optometry Giving Sight’s release, raising more than $7,000 through events including a silent auction and a 5@10 social night.
The Wyanoke Group, parent company of Slack Inc., publisher of Primary Care Optometry News and Healio, supported the cause by hosting soup and lasagna lunches, a bake sale and a raffle.
Participants in Optometry Giving Sight’s 2018 World Sight Day Challenge form a giant “floater.”
GOLDEN, Colo.—Optometry Giving Sight reported that its 2018 World Sight Day Challenge drew widespread support from over 160 companies and over 360 optometry practices around the world. Their collective efforts raised over $970,000, enough to deliver eye exams and glasses to over 190,000 people in need of eyecare, the organization said. “Every World Sight Day Challenge, we’re blown away by the generosity and loyalty of our supporters. We’re thankful for each one: from the large companies generously donating to the small practices passionately fundraising,” said Optometry Giving Sight’s global director of development, Leigh Cleave.
“It only takes $5 to provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to a child or adult in need, so we meant it when we say ‘every little bit counts.’” The World Sight Day Challenge encourages the optometric community to donate and raise funds toward much-needed sustainable eyecare projects overseas.
Companies, practices, optometry doctors and students joined together to hold bake sales, auctions, guessing competitions, talent shows, running events and walkathons, getting patients, employees and customers involved.
Longstanding Optometry Giving Sight supporter and Global Gold Sponsor CooperVision, had a record-breaking year raising over $260,000 through their remarkable employee fund-raising campaign.Over 40 global CooperVision sites and teams participated with employee contributions up by more than 35 percent year-over-year, supported by a matching commitment from the company. 2018 took CooperVision’s cumulative World Sight Day Challenge donations over the $1 million mark.
This World Sight Day Challenge ad from WestGroupe calls attention to the
importance of vision.
“Our record-breaking 2018 World Sight Day Challenge donation represents approximately 52,000 eye exams for people around the world who could otherwise be at risk of a range of vision challenges,” said CooperVision president, Dan McBride.
Vision Source, another generous and long-standing partner, celebrated their 12th year participating in the World Sight Day Challenge. Over $220,000 was donated by Vision Source members and doctors, vendors, staff, family members and friends as part of their annual commitment to Optometry Giving Sight. “I never cease to be amazed by the selfless generosity of the Vision Source family; we are proud to partners with Optometry Giving Sight as Vision Source’s international charity of choice,” said Vision Source president and chief executive officer, Jim Greenwood.
In Canada, WestGroupe launched social media campaign #WithoutMySight, inspired by their Challenge Champion Hani a former Syrian refugee who is legally blind. The challenging initiative encouraged participants to complete an everyday task blindfolded.
The University of Montreal was the highest fund-raising optometry school raising over $7,000 through several events including a silent auction and a 5@10 social night.
Bausch + Lomb Australia added an extra dose of sustainability to their support, donating $1 for every kilogram of contact lens waste sent to TerraCycle. The recycling program aims to divert contact lenses and blister packs from landfill, turning plastic components into recycled materials.
Supporters of Optometry Giving Sight got their creative juices flowing for the 2018 World Sight Day Challenge to raise enough funds to deliver eye exams and glasses to over 190,000 people in need of eye care.
Over 160 companies and over 360 optometry practices around the world took part in the challenge raising over US$970,000!
“Every World Sight Day Challenge, we’re blown away by the generosity and loyalty of our
supporters. We’re thankful for each one: from the large companies generously donating to the small practices passionately fundraising,” said Optometry Giving Sight’s Global Director of Development, Leigh Cleave.
“It only takes $5 to provide an eye exam and a pair of glasses to a child or adult in need, so we meant it when we say ‘every little bit counts’.”
The World Sight Day Challenge encourages the optometric community to donate and fundraise towards much-needed sustainable eye care projects overseas.
Companies, practices, optometry doctors and students joined together to hold bake sales, auctions, guessing competitions, talent shows, running events and walkathons, getting patients, employees and customers involved.
Longstanding Optometry Giving Sight supporter and Global Gold Sponsor CooperVision, had a record-breaking year raising over $260,000 through their remarkable employee fundraising campaign.
Over 40 global CooperVision sites and teams participated with employee contributions up by more than 35 percent year-over-year, supported by a matching commitment from the company. 2018 took CooperVision’s cumulative World Sight Day Challenge donations over the $1 million mark.
“Our record-breaking 2018 World Sight Day Challenge donation represents approximately 52,000 eye exams for people around the world who could otherwise be at risk of a range of vision challenges,” said CooperVision President, Dan McBride.
Vision Source®, another generous and long-standing partner, celebrated their 12th year participating in the World Sight Day Challenge. Over $220,000 was donated by Vision Source members and doctors, vendors, staff, family members and friends as part of their annual commitment to Optometry Giving Sight.
“I never cease to be amazed by the selfless generosity of the Vision Source family; we are proud to partners with Optometry Giving Sight as Vision Source’s international charity of choice,” said Vision Source President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Greenwood.
In Canada, Westgroupe launched social media campaign #WithoutMySight, inspired by their Challenge Champion Hani a former Syrian refugee who is legally blind. The challenging initiative encouraged participants to complete an everyday task blindfolded.
The University of Montreal was the highest fundraising optometry school raising over $7000 through several events including a silent auction and a 5@10 social night.
Bausch + Lomb Australia added an extra dose of sustainability to their support, donating $1 for every kilogram of contact lens waste sent to TerraCycle. The recycling program aims to divert contact lenses and blister packs from landfill, turning plastic components into recycled materials.
Optometry Giving Sight would like to thank everyone who participated in World Sight Day Challenge 2018!
![Slide 4 of 16: TerraCycle sponsors a E-Waste Recycling Program that accepts old cell phones, laptops, netbooks, iPads, and inkjet cartridges (from HP and Canon printers only). If you're interested in saving a little cash, check if your device's manufacturer has a trade-in program (like Apple's GiveBack) that offers a gift card or credit towards a new device. You can also sell old electronics directly to sites like BuyBackWorld.com.]({"default":{"load":"wait","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBW2z4v.img?h=416&w=799&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"wait","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBW2z4v.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"wait","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBW2z4v.img?h=416&w=624&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f"}} "Cell Phones & Laptops - Stephen Outram / EyeEm - Getty Images")
According to recent findings, textile waste takes up a big chunk of the garbage hauled to landfills. In 2015, over 10 million tons of these garbage were textile items. This includes carpets, footwear, discarded clothing, sheets, and towels. Unfortunately, only 14.2% of the clothing and shoes have been recycled during the said year. The textile items that were not recycled would sit in the landfills for over 200 years.
Fast Company, an American business magazine, brought up this issue for public awareness. In their report, New York alone is responsible for 200 million pounds of clothing being thrown in the trash every year. With this issue at hand, the New York City Department of Sanitation, together with other foundations, organizations, and several fashion companies initiated a drive in the city. New Yorkers were called out to dispose of their old clothing by using any of the 1,000 designated drop-off points in the city. Some retailers would even give out $20 vouchers in exchange for old unwearable pants.
TerraCycle accepts old clothing that was mailed in. Boxes for shipping out discarded clothing are available on their website. The company has also partnered up with Bausch in this venture, accepting old contact lenses which will be melted into plastic and in turn, made into other products.
Another method of disposing of old clothing is by donating the usable ones to different charity or thrift stores. These stores often accept clothes that they can still sell. However, if the clothes are no longer sellable, the clothes are either thrown out or sent out for recycling.
The sad reality remains that old clothing cannot be recycled back into the same clothing. However, it could be down-cycled into other products such as rags, handicrafts, or insulation. Down-cycling is the process of using old items to make a new product. For textile, this is the choice to take when the items are no longer usable as it is.
All these efforts work toward cutting back on the garbage that humankind has been producing through the years. As textile waste bears a heavyweight when it comes to tallying garbage materials, it is crucial to lowering the number of textile items being sent to landfills. Textile fibers may release methane and carbon dioxide gas as it sits in the landfills for hundreds of years. While this is true for natural fibers, synthetic fibers will not decompose and release toxic substances instead. With this in mind, the proper disposal of unwanted old clothing is one way to help save the environment.
Participants in Optometry Giving Sight’s 2018 World Sight Day Challenge form a giant “floater.”
This World Sight Day Challenge ad from WestGroupe calls attention to the
importance of vision.