CooperVision Production Site Receives Environmental Sustainability Honors

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:30 AM SAN RAMON, Calif.—CooperVision announced in June that its manufacturing facility in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, received top honors at the 15th annual Puerto Rico Sustainability Best Practices, Health and Safety Summit. The Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association (PRMA) recognized the site with six awards for its programs and practices relating to its sustainability, and occupational health and safety commitments, according to the announcement. The company was given the Platinum Recycling Award, which is presented to an organization that exemplifies best practice standards in alternate energy and sustainability by achieving greater than 90 percent recycling rates, as reported in VMAIL.

Renewable Carbon Initiative Publishes a Position Paper Outlining the Importance of Chemical and Physical Recycling

By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:25 AM HÜRTH, Germany—Chemical and physical recycling play essential roles in realizing the objectives of the Green Deal and advancing the circular economy, according to the Renewable Carbon Initiative’s (RCI) latest position paper titled, Home - Goals and Vision of the Renewable Carbon Initiative. RCI advocates for a pragmatic approach, emphasizing that while closed-loop recycling is a noble goal for sectors such as packaging, textiles and automobiles, it should not be approached too dogmatically. Flexibility is essential to prevent environmental and economic inefficiencies, RCI said.

Ray-Ban Presents Pulse Collection, With Bio-Based Styles

By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:20 AM What’s New: Ray-Ban, from EssilorLuxottica, is presenting nine new next-generation silhouettes as part of its new Ray-Ban Pulse collection.

Europa Shares Bio-Based DB4K React Collection, Named Finalist in Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards

By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:15 AM What’s New: Europa Eyewear’s DB4K React collection of flexible eyewear for kids has been named a finalist in the Consumer Products category of Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas Awards.

The Environmental Protection Agency Allocates Funding for the Clean School Bus Program

By Staff
Thursday, June 27, 2024 8:10 AM NEWARK, N.J.—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking steps to lessen the impact of diesel gas pollution from aging school buses on the environment. More than $6.7 million has been allocated for the purchase of clean propane autogas buses in round three of the EPA's Clean School Bus Program funding, according to a statement from the Propane Education and Research Council. Fifty-eight districts have been tentatively selected to receive a total of 269 propane autogas buses to replace the nation's aging diesel bus fleet.

NOAA Predicts Active Summer Hurricane Season for the Atlantic

By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 3:49 PM Forecasters at the NOAA National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center are warning that there may be above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year. NOAA issued the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season outlook this week, which predicts an 85 percent chance of an above-normal season, a 10 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 5 percent chance of a below-normal season.

NOAA predicts 17 to 25 total named storms this season, of which 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher. Of these, NOAA predicts 4 to 7 major hurricanes will be category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher.

Record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, the development of La Niña conditions in the Pacific and reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, are expected to increase the overall risk of tropical storm formation.

NOAA experts also predict an above-normal West African monsoon season, which can produce African easterly waves that “seed some of the strongest and longer-lived Atlantic storms.”

Climate change is also playing a major role in the development of more severe hurricanes, according to NOAA. Warming oceans globally and in the Atlantic basin paired with melting ice on land is leading to a rise in sea levels, which increases the risk of storm surges. 

NOAA stated that sea level rise represents a clear human influence on the damage potential from a given hurricane.

EssilorLuxottica Will Convert 40 Hectares of Industrial Land into Solar Farm and Natural Food Crops

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 8:30 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—As reported in VMAIL earlier this week, EssilorLuxottica announced its plans to create a large solar farm and a green area hosting sporting facilities and natural food crops on nearly 40 hectares of industrial land near Pescara, Italy. This land surrounds the site of Barberini, a world-class optical glass lens manufacturer and part of EssilorLuxottica. This recovery and reconversion project will produce renewable energy along with natural food crops for the corporate staff restaurants, all with a sustainable and circular approach.

Sight Sciences Releases Its First Sustainability Report

By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 8:25 AM MENLO PARK, Calif.—Sight Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGHT), an eyecare technology company focused on developing and commercializing technologies that elevate the standard of care, has announced that it has published its first sustainability report, highlighting the company’s sustainability activities, performance, and results from the last three years. “We are proud to issue our first annual sustainability report, showing our commitment to corporate sustainability initiatives and enhanced disclosures,” stated Paul Badawi, co-founder and chief executive officer of Sight Sciences.

Eco Eyewear Debuts Retrospect

By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 8:20 AM What’s New: Eco Eyewear is debuting Retrospect, a new category, with its Spring/Summer 2024 collection.

Arnette Launches SS24 Collection

By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 8:15 AM What’s New: Arnette, from EssilorLuxottica, launches its Spring/Summer 2024 collection.

The Key to Reducing Environmental Impact Starts With Turfgrass, TurfMutt Foundation Says

By Staff
Wednesday, June 12, 2024 8:10 AM Everyone strives for the perfect lawn, but that doesn’t mean you have to rely on chemicals and pesticides to make it happen. The TurfMutt Foundation works with corporations and homeowners to find alternative ways to keep their lawns looking great without risking the health of animals or humans. The foundation’s stewardship and education platform stresses the importance of caring for grasses, shrubs, trees and flowering plants in communities, family yards, parks and school grounds.

EssilorLuxottica to Convert 40 Hectares of Industrial Land into Solar Farm, Natural Food Crops

By Staff
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 12:21 AM CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—EssilorLuxottica has announced the implementation of an innovative project near Pescara, Italy which involves the recovery and reconversion of industrial land surrounding the site of Barberini, a world-class optical glass lens manufacturer.

Interest in Electric Vehicles Declines in 2024, AAA Reports

By Staff
Friday, June 7, 2024 2:39 PM Interest in Electric Vehicles (EVs) has fallen, according to a new survey from the Automobile Association of America (AAA). New data shows that only 18 percent of U.S. adults would consider themselves “very likely” or “likely” to buy a new or used EV, down from 23 percent in 2023. 

Sixty-three percent of respondents reported that they are “unlikely or very unlikely” to purchase an EV for their next car purchase. 

Experts at AAA said one of the main reasons for the drop in interest in EVs was the lack of convenient charging options, coupled with anxiety about how long an electric charge may last. Many respondents said they also found the vehicles' cost prohibitive, while 30 percent also cited the inability to install a charging station where they live. 

AAA stated that for people who live in an apartment or condo, at-home charging options are likely not possible. The organization added that an EV might be a great choice for households with more than two cars, but it might not fit the consumer who has to rely on their car for everyday use and travel. 

The organization believes hybrid options could bridge these gaps, broadening consumer interest in owning an EV. 

The survey found 31 percent of respondents said they would be “very likely” or “likely” to buy a hybrid, due to fewer anxieties about how long an electric charge might last and the potential disruption to lifestyle and travel plans.

CooperCompanies Publishes 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance Report

By Staff
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 12:27 AM SAN RAMON, Calif.—CooperCompanies (Nasdaq: COO) has released its 2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, which describes the company’s “progress on enhancing the health and wellness of people around the world while protecting the planet and serving its communities.” The company notes in the report that it made significant investments in learning and development programs for global employees, maintained its commitment to protect the planet, and continued making its health care solutions more accessible in underserved communities.

Gearing Up for World Environment Day

By Gwendolyn Plummer
Thursday, May 23, 2024 8:30 AM NEW YORK—Earth Day has come and gone, but the year’s environmentally focused holidays are not totally behind us. June 5 marks World Environment Day, a United Nations international day that “celebrates environmental action and the power of governments, businesses and individuals to create a more sustainable world,” according to the official World Environment Day website. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) leads the day; this year, Saudi Arabia hosts World Environment Day, focusing specifically on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.