Helping the Ocean with Eyewear – Sea2See

Launching our fantastic new range of frames and sunglasses! Not only are they stylish and affordable, but they’re also made from 100% marine plastic!

More than 800 thousand tons of fishing nets are abandoned in the sea annually, the equivalent of 90,000 double decker buses. They create islands of waste, entangling and killing hundreds of thousands of sea life. This kills over 360,000 seals, sea lions, and large whales, and over 1 million marine birds every year. Non-biodegradable nets can rest on the sea bed for up to 600 years. 8 billion kilos of plastic end up in the sea every year – that’s more than a kilo per person!

By 2050 it’s said that our oceans will contain more plastic than fish. It’s time to do something about it! Together we can make a difference, which is why we are proud to announce that we’re launching our new range of glasses; Sea2See! Sea2See has placed more than 100 containers in 30 ports in Spain, where fisherman can deposit plastic and discarded nets. The waste collected is then recycled to make a stylish range or affordable and light eyewear that’s 100% recyclable. We at Barnham Opticians not only believe that sustainable eyewear could revolutionise the eyewear industry, but that we need to work towards saving the ocean now more than ever, so Sea2See is a project that we’re extremely passionate about. While a change may seem small, it can make a big impact, so join us! Get yourself a pair of Sea2See glasses and wear them with pride, because together we are making the ocean a better place.

In order to show our commitment and passion for not only Sea2See, but also environmentalism, we’re collaborating with Sussex Barista to give customers who purchase a Sea2See frame a free Fairtrade and locally sourced coffee courtesy of Sussex Barista coffee shop, Barnham. Not only does Sussex Barista provide ethically sourced coffee, take-away hot drinks are served in fully compostable cups! We’re also donating money to WasteAid – an independent charity that shares waste management skills with communities in low-income countries, creating green jobs, improving public health , and protecting the environment. Due to inability to afford private waste collections, as well as being ignored by their governments, people who live in the poorest communities are disproportionately affected by the negative impacts of waste and are more likely to suffer ill health as a result. WasteAid aims to make a difference by helping clean some of the poorest communities, as well as training community recycling teams. 1 in 3 people globally do not have a waste management service, so not only does WasteAid help improve the health and well-being of people in low-income communities, but also helps protect the environment; reducing the amount of plastic ending up in the oceans.

There may be a lot of work to be done, but we can make the world better, together!