Branded Glasses Made from 40% Biobased Nylon Compounds

Italian global eyewear design, manufacturing and distribution company Safilo will be the first eyewear manufacturer to introduce Trogamid  myCX eCO, a sustainable partially biobased transparent nylon compound optimized specifically for the optical industry by Evonik Industries and introduced in the licensed market for premium lenses for sunglasses.

This high-purity microcrystalline high-performance nylon has the eCO name which stands for "eliminate CO₂". On the one hand, this is achieved by replacing a petrochemical-based raw material with a biomass-based one. In the mass balance, this results in a proportion of 40% biobased raw material in the polymer. Secondly, only renewable energy is used in the production of the granules. This and the resulting halving of the carbon balance compared with the fossil-based product are confirmed by a certification from TÜV Rheinland. The analysis was prepared in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and includes the Cradle to Gate stage.

Said Vladimiro Baldin, Safilo Group’s chief licensed brand and global product officer, "This innovative transparent nylon will enable Safilo to increase the sustainability of its products across its broad portfolio of brands. We have been working closely with Evonik's developers for 20 years. We are pleased that for Evonik, just like for Safilo, sustainability is an integral part of the business philosophy and that the company provides us with this material as another building block on our path to sustainability." Safilo will launch eyeglass lenses made of Trogamid myCX eCO in January 2022 with the BOSS Spring Summer 22 collection and gradually expand its use across its broad brand portfolio, especially in its Made in Italy brands.

Said Viviane Papa, who is responsible for Evonik’s high-performance nylon granules and compounds business, "It was particularly important for us to offer a premium manufacturer like Safilo a sustainable nylon whose properties differ in nothing from those of the Trogamid myCX they already use. We are working in many areas to make our products sustainable, but their quality must not suffer in the process. Premium lenses or high-quality visors for ski and snowboard goggles made of Trogamid myCX eCO stand for long durability and high safety, as well as excellent wearing comfort due to the low material weight." The material offers transparency of more than 90%, excellent mechanical properties, stress crack resistance, and fracture strength.