ECO Eyewear is an environmentally conscious collection of glasses and sunglasses produced by MODO – a brand that has been raising the sustainability bar in the eyewear and fashion accessories industry.
ECO produces eyewear using recycled metals, and plant-based plastic alternative – their packaging is also made from recycled fibers, and the company plants a tree for every frame sold. So far, ECO has planted over 2 million trees! To get to know the brand a little better, I reached out to MODO’s CEO, Alessandro Lanaro. In the interview below, we dive a bit deeper into MODO’s history and Alessandro’s vision for a more environmentally conscious future. Alessandro started the company in New York in 1990 – since then he has expanded MODO internationally, with offices in Stockholm and Milan. Beyond striving for sustainability, MODO’s philosophy focuses on clear forms and clever design which have been inspired by the cities the brand calls home.
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This post was written in collaboration with ECO Eyewear by MODO. All frames were gifted.
An Interview with MODO’s CEO, Alessandro Lanaro
Q – What inspired MODO to take a stand for sustainability, and where did the ECO story begin?
“MODO has Purpose as one of its pillars. With MODO we have helped over 1 million children in India with their eyecare needs. Looking into a collection made in a sustainable manner was the next goal, and ECO was born. We are proud to be leading the industry in creating sustainable eyewear.”
Q – A large portion of the ECO collection is produced using a special biobased material derived from Castor seed oil. Was this material something that was developed by ECO? What’s the story behind this interesting and innovative plant-based plastic alternative?
“We were offered the material by a French Chemical company. We immediately tested and found the right balance to produce eyewear without compromising quality. We are still working with them to continuously improve our sustainable component.”
Q – ECO is also working more sustainably by leveraging the use of recycled materials. Some of your frames are produced using 95% recycled stainless steel. What was the process like in finding a supplier who consistently meet these post-consumer margins, and how involved is ECO in the re-processing of these metals?
“Finding the proper source for our material was challenging, but we are very proud to be the only company to be certified by UL Environment, the most credible certification company for environmental claims. We are involved in repurposing excess plastic materials that result from the creating of a plastic eyewear front.”
Q – Through your One Frame – One Tree pledge, ECO plants a tree for every set of frames sold. So far, more than 2 million trees have been painted! However, this is quite an involved environmental undertaking that obviously doesn’t happen automatically. How does ECO coordinate the planting of all these trees, and what inspired the brand to make this commendable commitment?
“We have been working with a great NGO, Trees for the Future, and have a very close relationship with their organization as one of the leading sponsors. Our work goes far beyond the planting of trees. We sponsor the education of farmers that are planting the trees. Through our programs we have taken out of poverty many thousand of individuals. One Frame – One Tree was our concept of combining sustainability in our products with a social responsibility action. Planting trees was a very natural choice.”
Q – Does MODO plan on taking further action for re-forestation in the wake of the fires that have been ravaging the amazon rain forest?
“We want to continue with even stronger commitment to planting trees. Our customers are supporting our cause even more enthusiastically and their efforts will result in more trees being planted.”
Q – What else is ECO doing to reduce the brand’s carbon-footprint and total environmental impact? Is ECO weaving this ethos for environmentalism into other product aspects such as packaging?
“We are about to launch the first non-plastic eyewear bag, which has been the standard single use plastic protection for transporting frames. This new material will be made with an alternative to plastics and will hopefully become the standard – not only in ECO but on all products we produce. Hopefully the industry will follow our example. Obviously all other packaging is made from recycled materials, including the case.”
Q – Do you see ECO as a role-model within the industry – inspiring other brands to adapt a more sustainable mindset?
“Definitely. We already see companies taking inspiration from what we have started. We are happy to lead the industry in making our products both sustainable and socially responsible. I believe that we are creating four winners: ECO wins by having the customers’ vote with strong sales, our retailers win by showing their commitment to companies that care, our customers win by helping the environment without sacrificing style, quality or price, and finally the environment clearly wins! It’s a win-win-win-win situation!”
Q – What are your thought for the future, and how do you see ECO developing in the years to come?
“We will continue our efforts and place even more attention to innovations that will allow us to create products that are more sustainable and that support the improvement of our planet with a social responsibility aspect always aligned. We have great projects in the making and lots of testing in process. Stay tuned…”
This post was written in collaboration with ECO Eyewear by MODO. All frames were gifted.
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