Mykita equips all optical demo lenses with Eastman Tritan Renew

Specialty materials company Eastman has announced that German eyewear brand Mykita will begin equipping all of its optical demo lenses with Eastman’s Tritan Renew in April.

According to Kingsport, Tennessee-based Eastman, demo lenses remain an essential part of presenting optical eyewear. Inserted into frames for display and fitting, they are replaced with prescription lenses once a purchase is made. While Eastman says this practice remains unchanged, Mykita will replace traditional plastic demo lenses with Tritan Renew, a copolyester product with the equivalent of 50 percent certified recycled content.

Eastman notes that optical frames make up the majority of Mykita’s business, and demo lenses represent the company’s largest single lens purchase. The company says the full switch will deliver a “meaningful reduction” in material impact across the collections, equivalent to saving 150,000 single-use water bottles from landfill each year.

Tritan Renew is ISCC Plus certified and produced using a mass balance approach. Eastman says Mykita’s use of recycled material is verified through annual third-party audits, ensuring traceability and credibility.

“Demo lenses have always been a small yet unavoidable part of every optical frame,” Mykita founder and creative director Moritz Krüger. “With Tritan Renew, we reduce the impact of this component without compromising function or quality, further advancing the use of recycled materials across our collections.”

Eastman says its Tritan Renew product is made using the company’s molecular recycling technology, which turns hard-to-recycle plastics such as carpets or plastic trays into new material. The company adds that while this does not create a recycling loop for demo lenses themselves, it does reduce reliance on virgin resources.

Eastman claims that Tritan Renew meets, and even exceeds, the clarity, strength and scratch-resistance requirements required for optical demo lenses. The material is compatible with all Mykita frame materials and with industry-standard antireflective coatings.

“Material improvements, even in overlooked components, can add up to meaningful progress,” says Rachel Oakley, segment manager at Eastman. “We’re pleased to support Mykita in expanding the use of Eastman Renew materials.”

The transition follows Mykita’s switch to Eastman’s Acetate Renew in 2022 and is part of its commitment to reducing its environmental impact.