Case study
Redefining more sustainable eyewear with Makrolon® RE
Discover a groundbreaking transformation in safety equipment as we explore the adoption of Makrolon® RE, a more sustainable material solution for components with high optical quality in uvex planet range protective eyewear. Makrolon® RE not only meets obligatory quality and safety standards but also significantly reduces the carbon footprint of uvex products.
Case study · December 12, 2023
The Material Effect
Covestro connects more sustainable chemistry to worker safety through renewable-attributed polycarbonates. Our material scientists collaborated with the customer's product engineers to provide this material solution that integrates seamlessly into its existing manufacturing systems while reducing carbon footprint. ISCC PLUS certified materials maintain optical clarity and impact resistance with easy scalability for efficient mass-production. Zero compromises required.
Reducing Carbon Footprint in Safety Eyewear
The task at hand was to source a more sustainable polycarbonate material that not only met the demanding criteria for high optical quality, mechanical strength, UV protection, design, and comfort in protective eyewear but also delivered a substantial reduction in the product's environmental footprint. While other components of the eyewear had already transitioned to recycled materials, our mission was to identify an eco-conscious solution without compromising performance, vision and maintain the focus on safety eyewear.
Safety and Sustainability in Focus: Bridging the Gap for more sustainable Eyewear
In the collaboration between UVEX ARBEITSSCHUTZ GMBH (opens in a new tab) and Covestro, the challenge was to harmonize transparency, design versatility, and requirements of safety eyewear materials while contributing to a circular economy. Makrolon® RE, a polycarbonate made with renewable content attributed via mass balancing, was chosen as transparent lens material. Mass balancing ensures an appropriate allocation of renewable raw materials recovered from waste streams. Additionally, Makrolon® RE is ISCC Plus certified. Leveraging the exceptional material properties of polycarbonate, this case study explores how it perfectly suits lightweight and more sustainable uvex eyewear designed to safeguard eyes in demanding work environments.
Sustainability Meets Transparency: Crafting Safety Eyewear with Makrolon® RE
Introducing "uvex pheos nxt planet" - A more sustainable marvel in uvex planet range. The culmination of this collaborative effort is the birth of “uvex pheos nxt planet". This innovative eyewear product, now part of the uvex planet range, retains all the essential properties critical for safety eyewear: unparalleled mechanical strength, top-tier UV400 protection, cutting-edge design, and high optical quality. Remarkably, the transition to mass-balanced polycarbonate, specifically Makrolon® RE, has delivered an outstanding outcome. While elevating sustainability, the uvex pheos nxt planet has significantly reduced its carbon footprint, now measuring just 0.11kg CO2 eq. – a testament to the success of this eco-conscious evolution.
Due to the particularly high mechanical and optical requirements for the lens material of our uvex safety spectacles, the search for a more sustainable material was challenging. Makrolon® RE offers us the outstanding quality properties required to produce safety eyewear with a particularly low CO₂ footprint. This enables us to fulfill our missions of protecting people and protecting planet.
Simon Jaschke
Project Engineer Plastics Technology, uvex Arbeitsschutz GmbH
Key benefits
CO₂ Footprint reduction
Lower CO₂ footprint of product Only 0.11 kg CO₂ eq. of final product
High optical quality
Full transparency and UV400 protection
Protection
Excellent mechanical properties – same as in fossil based products
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