7 Eco Friendly Outdoor Sunglasses and Goggles
For the outdoor adventurer, sunglasses are incredibly important as UV rays can be severely damaging to the eye. We all know what the sun does to our skin; now imagine how much more sensitive your eyes are. UV rays can cause cancer, cataracts, eye growths, and, yes, eye sunburn. Ouch
That’s why it’s important to keep them covered with sustainable and eco friendly outdoor sunglasses.
Specifically, we want something sustainable because we explorers are often pretty tough on glasses (if only we could count the number we lost or broken on the trail or cliffs). Sustainable outdoor sunglasses are those that are made either durably, with recyclable or biodegradable materials, or both!
Think of them as a combination of sustainable outdoor clothing and eco friendly gear!
Whether your shopping for yourself or for some eco friendly gifts for outdoor adventurers, these list of sustainable sunglasses has something for everyone.
*This post contains affiliate links.
Navigation for Eco Friendly Outdoor Sunglasses and Goggles
COSTA
Image credit Costa del Mar (Image of the ANTILLE™ frames)
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Recycled ocean plastic sunglasses and plant-based sunglasses
Budget: $$-$$$
Eco friendly materials: Untangled Collection made from recovered and recycled fishing nets discarded in the ocean (so far they’ve recycled 2.2 million pounds); Other frames made from 100% non-GMO castor plant-based BioResin; 580 glass lenses (which means they’ve prevented 4 tons of polycarbonate lenses from entering the world).
Ethical practices: Source nets for the Untangled Collection via a fully traceable net collection program in South America with their partner Bureo.
Impact management: Ship everything with free Carbon Neutral shipping; Cleaned 90 tons of trash from 85 beaches around the US; Bureo has collected 3.4 million pounds of nets; Kick Plastic initiative aims to combat single-use plastic on a wider scale; Check out their Protect Report for more on their sustainability initiatives and progress.
Other: Have donated $125K donated via their #OneCoast mission to rebuild coastal communities impacted by natural disasters and COVID-19; Ocearch shark research program tags sharks to improve their quality of life in the ocean.
Our sustainable sunglasses pick: ANTILLE Polarized Sunglasses | Costa Del Mar paired with a C-Line Adjustable Sunglasses Retainer
We were personally gifted the ANTILLE™ frames from this collection to try, and can happily say they are easily the best sunglasses we have ever owned.
The frames are super durable (a good thing, because Chris is especially hard on sunglasses) and fit oh-so-comfortably around the head. We always struggle with sunglasses that are too big for our faces and fall off (especially when rock climbing). Not these! Costa’s frame fit guide helped us select the perfect frame.
Between that, the vented nose pads, Hydrolite® rubber grips to keep them on, and polarized dark lenses that are perfect for very bright conditions (even on water), truly these are the best sustainable outdoor sunglasses. We wear them for climbing, making them excellent gifts for rock climbers.
Plus, these sunglasses aren’t just eco friendly from a durability standpoint, either. They’re made of 97% recycled fishing nets!
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5
Find them here: Backcountry / Steep & Cheap / Amazon
SUNSKI SUNGLASSES
Image credit Sunski
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Recycled plastic sunglasses
Budget: $-$$
Eco friendly materials: Recycled plastic diverted from U.S. landfills combined with break resistant polycarbonate lenses that have passed FDA basic impact test
Ethical practices: Domestically sourced materials
Impact management: Offer lens replacement service to encourage repair over replacing; Trying to become carbon neutral; Shipping materials include plastic-free folded paper boxes;
Other: Member of 1% For The Planet but actually donate 12% of profits to charity
Our sustainable sunglasses pick: Treeline Polarized Sunglasses
Overall sustainability rating: 4/5
Find them here: Sunski
ZEAL OPTICS
“Use less, give back, explore more.”
Image credit Zeal Optics
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Eco friendly sunglasses and sustainable snow goggles (with plain, prescription, and transition lens options)
Budget: $$
Eco friendly materials: Full-spectrum UV and HEV (high energy blue light) blocking lenses made of plant-based Ellume Polarized; Frames made of cotton eco-acetate, repurposed stainless steel, Swedish-crafted Z-Resin (castor bean oil), and sustainable wood accents; Most goggle frames are still made of plastic-based polyurethane
Ethical practices: No information regarding manufacturing available so their transparency could do with some improvement
Impact management: Offer an eyewear repair service
Other: 1% for the Planet member to support Protect Our Winters and the dZi Foundation; Plant a tree for every pair sold through the National Forest Foundation;
Our sustainable sunglasses pick: Zeal Riviera Polarized Sunglasses
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5
Find them here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw / Steep & Cheap
OUTDOOR MASTER
Image credit Outdoor Master
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Eco friendly ski goggles (though not ALL their goggles are eco friendly)
Budget: $$
Eco friendly materials: Anti-fog GreenLens made of TAC cotton extracts blended with Polycarbonate (the lens attaches via a universal magnetic feature so you can keep the frame if the lens gets damaged and needs replacing); Bamboo fiber strap w/ natural rubber sticky strips to void slippage; Plastic frame (to try to make that part last as long as possible)
Ethical practices: Keep goggles affordable to fill the “huge gap between cheap and high-end outdoor products”
Impact management: Nothing of note here yet
Our sustainable goggles pick: The Disappearing Places Eco-friendly Ski Goggles Pro Series
Overall sustainability rating: 3/5 (offer one good product but still have a long way to go with the rest)
Find them here: Outdoor Master (Use code “Amber10” for 25% off)
PROOF
Image credit Proof
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Wood and ECO (short for Environmentally Conscious Optics) acetate outdoor sunglasses for men and women, Prescription sunglasses available
Budget: $$
Eco friendly materials: FSC-certified sustainably-sourced wood (including bamboo, lacewood, ebony, and mahogany), recycled skateboards decks, recycled aluminum, and biodegradable cotton-based acetate; Finished with natural sweat resistant plant-based sealant; Stainless steel hinges; Polycarbonate lenses.
Ethical practices: Visit their global suppliers (like their acetate one in China) twice a year to ensure ethical workplace standards and Supplier Responsibility.
Impact management: Glasses come in a cork folding or sustainably-sourced wood case; Use handcrafting and hand polishing rather than machines; Sunglasses designed for disassembly for easy recycling or composting the appropriate parts
Other: Do charitable acts like providing tsunami relief in Japan, building vision restoring eye clinics in India (where over one-fourth of the world’s blind population resides), reforestation in Haiti, child soldier rehabilitation in Africa, and other fund donations on a project-by-project basis (like the $12,000 they donated to The Nature Conservancy); Now, for every pair purchased they donate $10 to a different charity
Our sustainable sunglasses pick: Tamarack Wood Sunglasses
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5
Find them here: Proof
ZONI WEAR
Image credit Zoni Wear
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Wooden sustainable sunglasses “built for the adventurer”.
Budget: $
Eco friendly materials: Polarized UV400 lenses; Tortoise acetate lens frame; Recycled wood temples (either Grade-A reclaimed zebrawood, bamboo, or ebony wood, or recycled skateboard decks)
Ethical practices: Handmade in the USA; Source reclaimed wood from London’s Driftwood Studio in London
Impact management: All sunglasses come with a wooden case; Selling via Etsy means all shipments are carbon offset by the platform
Other: Donate 5% of each purchase to buyer’s choice of between a host of organizations (American Forests, Ocean Conservancy, Coral Reef Alliance, Sierra Club, and American Rivers); Rated #1 Best Quality Sunglasses on Etsy
Our sustainable sunglasses pick: Wayfarer All-Wooden Sunglasses
Overall sustainability rating: 5/5
Find them here: Etsy
JULBO
“We make sunglasses & goggles for hardcore adventurers.”
Image credit Julbo
Eco friendly outdoor eyewear range: Sunglasses (for all manner of outdoor sports), glacier goggles, and snow goggles (many of which are not eco friendly but a few of which are more so); Prescription sunglasses; Children’s outdoor eyewear because they recognize it’s so important to protect children’s eyes
Budget: $-$$$
Eco friendly materials: Polarized Spectron polycarbonate lenses (in a variety of tints and some with Reactiv transition lens technology), Variety of frame materials that are mostly plastic but some that are stainless steel, which is fully recyclable and super durable; Leather side shields (though we aren’t sure how the leather is sourced or tanned)
Ethical practices: Have been making sunglasses since the late 1800s in France; Based in France but unknown if they manufacture there
Impact management: Offer a lifetime warranty for all sunglasses to the original owner; For accidental damage not covered under the warranty, they’ll still repair their sunglasses for a nominal fee (they only charge for parts, not labor); Sell spare parts for you to do repairs yourself
Our sustainable eyewear pick: Vermont Spectron 4 Glacier Glasses (Amber owns a pair of these and LOVES them- they’ve lasted her for years even after being stepped on)
Overall sustainability rating: 1/5 (Their sunglasses are extremely durable and repair-backed but otherwise they don’t seem to be doing anything extra special to minimize impact)
Find them here: Backcountry / REI / Moosejaw
**This post contains affiliate links to support the continued creation of these van life guides. This just means that if you purchase one of these eco rock climbing ropes from one of the links above, I get a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Read more here or reach out with more questions.