Image courtesy of © GHM
MUNICH—The 2024 edition of opti wrapped up in Munich earlier this month, welcoming 21,500 visitors from 70 countries to visit nearly 390 exhibitors. In addition to the trade show’s standard fare, this year also highlighted sustainability in the eyewear space with the first-ever opti Sustainability Award, as well as the third opti BOX award.

Andreas Schmidt from Augenblick Brillen Kontaktlinsen GmbH, in Germany, took home this year’s sustainability award. The award is a development of the goals of the Sustainability Interest Group (IG), which forms the jury for the award. The IG is an association of experts from manufacturers and opticians who have been committed to greater sustainability within the industry since opti 2022.

Augenblick Brillen Kontaktlinsen was recognized for its commitment to lowering its ecological footprint through practices such as switching to LED lights and motion detection lighting, as well as replacing a direct water connection with a closed system.

Danish eyewear label SKANS – Eyewear with Impact was awarded the third opti BOX Award, and recognized for its sustainable practices as well. Founder Johanna Skans, a second-generation optician from Sweden, said, “At Skans, every decision we make is via the sustainable lens. We always ask ourselves, can this be done even more sustainably? So, being at opti as an exhibitor is a fantastic experience.

“It has been of great value to show my frames to the German market, the Central European Market in general as a Nordic brand. I got new clients, my presence here spreads my sustainability message—which is good. I am overwhelmed still about winning the opti BOX AWARD, I am super honored and flattered and still running on adrenaline. It means a lot to me, because it shows that people and the industry itself believe in my sustainability concept. I hope it will inspire more people into joining the sustainability journey,” Skans said.



(L to R) Emcee Frank Sonnenberg; opti Sustainability Award 3rd place winner Thomas Doeha, A. Dornseifer e.K.; 2nd place winner Johanna Förster, Förster Optik GmbH; 1st place winner Andreas Schmidt, Augenblick Brillen Kontaktlinsen GmbH; and Lidia Ricco, opti trade show. Image courtesy of © GHM
Johanna Skans from SKANS Eyewear is honored with the coveted optiBox Award at opti 2024, in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the optical industry. Image courtesy of © GHM