"Sea" Beyond the Sea
Investigating the secrets of environmental conservation glasses
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Fulfillment of Environmental Conservation
Environmental Benefits of Hibāng’s Circular Eyeglasses
The company Hibāng hopes to make eyeglasses from marine waste to let the public know that all waste is valuable and can be recycled to be reused. Hibāng cooperates with fishnet recycling companies, allowing them to have a stable source of materials to make eyeglasses, which reduces the burden on the ocean. Hibāng also adds value to these abandoned fishnets, which reduces the number of individuals abandoning these fishnets and attracts more individuals to focus upon ocean issues. When discarded fishnets become valuable, a new production chain is established and the goal of a circular economy is achieved. We know that the deaths of many marine species are due to the entanglement in abandoned fishing nets. For example, coral reefs are restricted by abandoned fishing nets and cannot absorb nutrients, causing coral bleaching. However, recycled eyeglasses become an opportunity to raise awareness towards the issue of marine pollution and influence more people to help marine life.
Concerns Regarding Performance Reduction of Eco-Friendly Eyeglasses due to Eco-Friendly Raw Materials Used
The company Hibāng uses discarded fishnets to make recycled glasses. We learned that fishnets are produced with nylon. In which, nylon has two characteristics, including that it is very lightweight to suit the production of fishnet production and that it is very tenacious, which fulfills the needs of eyewear production. Although fishnets are generally softer than traditional nylon, only the necessary physical properties remain after adjustments through communication between the manufacturer and the industry. Consumers will want to buy products with good performance, such as lightweight glasses that are not easy to break. Therefore, using environmentally friendly materials will not reduce the performance of environmentally friendly eyeglasses.
Comparison of Advantages and Disadvantages of Hibāng’s Circular Eyeglasses
The company Hibāng hopes to continue to progress and reach greater goals. For example, the first generation products they produced still remained flawed, which require an additional layer of matte paint spray to improve the appearance and texture of the eyeglasses. Furthermore, the screws connecting the glasses are also unable to be recycled. In the past two years, Hibāng has made changes to produce the second generation of eyeglasses. In which, they mastered the physical properties of discarded fishnets, allowing them to no longer rely on spray paint, while also removing the screws. Thus, the eyeglasses can be completely recycled and reused, achieving true circular economy.