What to Do with Old Sunglasses? A Closer Look at Their Environmental Impact

Do you ponder what to do with your old sunglasses? Maybe the lenses are scratched or the frames have fallen out of style? Well, millions of people around the world simply toss their old frames in the trash, where they usually end up in landfills or incinerators.

Because many sunglasses frames and lenses are made from plastic, they will last for hundreds or thousands of years, polluting the ground as they break down.

But what if we could give you alternatives? Small changes that have a big impact? This blog explores what happens to discarded sunglasses and explains how you can make a difference.

What Happens to Sunglasses After You Toss Them?

If your old or broken sunglasses end up in the trash, they’ll likely find their way to a landfill or an incinerator. Either way, this is bad for the environment. Plastics take thousands of years to break down and release harmful microplastics into the ground. Even if they’re incinerated, they’ll release CO2 and other harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

But can you recycle sunglasses?

You can, but unfortunately, sunglasses recycling is not always simple. Because of mixed materials such as metals, plastics, and coatings, they’re often not accepted at curbside recycling, and even some city-wide recycling sites won’t accept them. However, organizations like TerraCycle or other optical recycling drop-off boxes can help.

The Environmental Toll of Sunglass Waste

Waste from discarded eyewear makes up a huge part of landfills, and it was estimated that 4m pairs of glasses (including sunglasses) were thrown away in the US in 2023 - that’s about 250 metric tons of plastic. What’s more, Common Report found that 75% of cellulose acetate used to make glasses goes to waste.

Globally, over a billion pairs of glasses are sold every year, and many are not reused. In particular, cheap sunglasses from fast fashion brands are considered disposable by lots of people.

Even though eco-friendly sunglasses are increasingly common, truly sustainable sunglasses are still some way off. However, at The Sunglass Fix, we’re committed to helping you breathe new life into your tired shades.

Smarter Alternatives to Throwing Away Sunglasses

There are plenty of options that don’t involve throwing old sunglasses away and contributing to pollution. Let’s take a look.

Replace Your Lenses, Not the Whole Pair

If your frames are in good shape and you still like the style, replacing the lenses is your best option. Replacement sunglasses lenses are affordable, easy to fit yourself, and usually offer the same (or better!) clarity and quality as your old pair. At The Sunglass Fix, we have new lenses for thousands of brands, including Ray Ban, Oakley, Maui Jim, and others.

Not only does this extend the life of your frames, but it also saves you money, keeps plastic out of landfills, and supports the circular fashion economy.

Donate or Rehome Your Sunglasses

Just because you don’t use your old sunglasses anymore, it doesn’t mean somebody else won’t. You can gift your sunglasses to friends or family, or donate them to various charities around the world that will put them to good use.

Organizations like The Lions Club International and New Eyes for the Needy can collect and recycle glasses, including prescription sunglasses, and give them to people who need them around the US and the rest of the world. Otherwise, organizations like Goodwill or local charity shops will accept donations and resell them.

Get Creative with Upcycling

If you’re unsure what to do with broken sunglasses, or perhaps you need some creative inspiration, you can repair, upcycle, or repurpose old frames into several things.

Firstly, repairing old sunglasses is simple. You can change or adjust old screws, replace nose pads or broken arms, and of course, replace the lenses themselves. But if they’re beyond repair, you could use them in several ways.

You could repaint them for use in a fancy dress costume, you can use them as part of an art piece or a sculpture, broken sunglasses arms could be marked with labels for plant pot markers, and even old lenses can look great when used in homemade jewelry or decorations.

Sustainable Sunglasses Ownership: Eco-Friendly Tips

When we’re looking to buy or own eco-friendly sunglasses, there are plenty of things we can do to make a difference.

The phrase “you buy cheap, you buy twice” is true, and we recommend buying higher-quality frames and lenses, which are more likely to last longer, meaning fewer need to be made, and less end up in landfills.

At the same time, choose brands committed to creating sustainable sunglasses. Some, such as Ray Ban, have committed to using more plant-based and recycled materials in their models, while others, like Maui Jim, ensure that their factories recycle 100% of their waste.

Secondly, you can choose ethically made sunglasses from materials like metal or bamboo, or sunglasses made from recycled plastic to help reduce the amount of fossil fuels needed in the first place. Some companies even use reclaimed ocean plastic to make their shades.

Lastly, support the Right to Repair movement in fashion, which encourages brands to make sure their products can be repaired, and things like broken lenses don’t mean you have to throw the whole pair away.

Let’s Change How We Think About Sunglasses

We need to do our part to ensure sunglasses can be sustainable. That means treating them as long-term products rather than throwaway junk, and adopting the mantra of repair, reuse, or recycle.

Every pair saved from the landfill counts, so replacing the lenses on otherwise good frames ensures they last much longer, donating old ones to charity helps somebody else get good use from them, and only buying from sustainable sunglasses brands will put pressure on companies to do the right thing.

When people come together and make small changes, the impact can be significant. We're incredibly proud to be an environmentally sustainable business that’s part of the 1% For The Planet global network. The 1% for the Planet is an alliance of businesses that stand with nature to help fix the environment, and 1% of our annual sales gets donated to environmental causes.

So by purchasing replacement lenses from The Sunglass Fix, you're fixing your sunglasses and fixing the planet all in one.