Global contact lens manufacturer daysoft has reduced the plastic used in its manufacturing process by some 35 percent, with reductions being made across the firm’s 10 production lines.

Research carried out by daysoft also revealed the Scottish-based company uses more than
50 percent less packaging than other major contact lens providers such as Bausch + Lomb.

daysoft’s research compared the weight of the materials used in the packaging of daysoft’s
32 lens Polypropylene Blister Pack and comparable packaging for its direct competitors.

One customer’s annual supply of daysoft’s daily disposable lenses would use close to 800g
less plastic than Bausch + Lomb, according to the findings. Other brands in the comparison
included Alcon Laboratories, Bausch + Lomb, CooperVision, Waldo, Yung Shen Optical and
Unicon Optical.

daysoft compared the weight of the cardboard, foil, plastic, and solution used for every lens
produced.

Sustainable innovation has been a core component of daysoft’s business model since its inception in 2001.

In January 2022, daysoft’s 2 Mould process came online across all ten
production lines. This reduced the amount of plastic waste by one-third.

Despite this new initiatives, this has not impacted the cost price for customers, with
daysoft remaining the world’s cheapest contact lens manufacturer at just 20 pence (23
cents) per lens.

Separately, market research company Mintel found there is a growing demand for products
that are sustainably made. 2022 saw nearly 60% of consumers reporting that they actively
seek to recycle the packaging from everyday household purchases.

Since launching operations 16 years ago, daysoft now produces more than 1.5 million
lenses each week at its manufacturing and order fulfillment facility in Blantyre, near Glasgow,
Scotland.

All plastic byproducts generated during the manufacturing process are upcycled in the UK,
with all contact lenses produced at their single factory in Blantyre, near Glasgow.

The announcement comes after the European Parliament’s recent ban on exporting plastic
waste, with daysoft now upcycling 100% of its plastic waste during production. This has
contributed to daysoft reducing its carbon emissions during the manufacturing process by 30
percent.

daysoft’s online-only operations and direct-to-customer model also further helps to reduce
carbon emissions by cutting out delivery to high-street stores or third-party sellers.

The company recently celebrates the sale its one billionth contact lens to one of its more
than one million customers across 93 countries.

Ron Hamilton, daysoft founder, said:

“Growing a sustainable company is not just good for the planet, it’s good business. As a
manufacturer, we are particularly conscious of our carbon footprint, and I am constantly
challenging our team to find ways to reduce this further.

“The cost of purchasing sustainable products can sometimes put customers off, particularly
during a cost-of-living crisis, because of the premium they may have to pay.

“The investments that we have made over the past couple of years has meant that the cost
has not been passed on to daysoft contact lens wearers who continue to enjoy the world’s
most affordable contact lenses. Long may this continue.”