Dr. Jennifer Palombi speaks with Alice Hsueh about the new net plastic neutrality initiative started by CooperVision back in 2021. The program partnered with Plastic Bank in 171 unique coastal cities to clean up plastic waste and helps the environment by directly impacting people taking part through its plastic collection in exchange for food, water, and education. The program started in 2021 with Clarity One Day contact lenses and expanded to the CooperVision My Day product line this year.

The net plastic neutrality program collects and reprocesses plastic material into the global market. In the first year, the program collected an equivalent of 22 million plastic water bottles. To put it into perspective, Hseuh explained, if the bottles were stacked on top of each other, “it would be 13 times taller than the Empire State Building.”

After adding the My Day family of products and expanding the partnership with Plastic Bank, CooperVision has set the goal of collecting the equivalent of 55 million plastic bottles this year, which is more than double the impact made in 2021.

Hsueh expressed that the practitioner and offices can benefit from aligning with CooperVision’s net neutrality plastic products and initiative. A majority of US consumers report that sustainability is a significant factor in maintaining loyal patients. When practices align themselves with the values of their market, it creates an emotional connection. Emotional connections lead to word-of-mouth referrals. Doctors can gain a competitive edge in their market with this differentiator. Furthermore, 8/10 surveyed that wear contact lenses would be more interested in wearing them if the lens was net plastic neutral.

CooperVision is committed to sustainable practices. Plastic is vital to the hygienic delivery and sterile production of contact lenses. Both facilities that manufacture One Day and My Day products focus on four pillars of sustainability which include water, energy, recycling, and the individuals involved in manufacturing. The facilities aim to conserve water and recycle plastic use in production.