Eco Series: Costa Del Mar's Journey Towards Sustainable Sunglasses

At Costa, we don’t just make high-performance eyewear. We’re on a mission to protect the watery world we call home. Every step we take aims to reduce our carbon footprint and positively impact the environment. We’re all about protecting what’s out there.
This commitment to sustainability shapes who we are and the products we create. We’re proud to offer eco-friendly eyewear that reflects our dedication to preserving marine environments and conserving ocean life.
We aim to make a difference, one pair of shades at a time. Read on to learn about our sustainability efforts and our eco-friendly sunglasses. 

The Costa Untangled collection turns discarded fishing nets into high-performance eyewear. Made from at least 97% recycled fishing nets, these shades play a part in conserving the ocean’s ecosystem.
Discarded fishing nets are extremely harmful to ocean life. But through our partnership with Bureo, nets are collected from Chilean fisheries and transformed into sustainable sunglasses. Each year, we repurpose one ton of discarded fishing nets for our Untangled series.
Our Untangled collection features 580 lens technology, offering visual clarity and comfort. These recycled sunglasses also come in a range of frame options to suit your taste.

Our bio-resin sunglasses are another key part of Costa’s sustainability efforts. In fact, they’re central to our Kick Plastic initiative. (Read more about this project below.) By using bio-based materials, we’re reducing our carbon footprint. But we’re also crafting sustainable sunglasses that don’t compromise comfort, function or style.
Designed to withstand the gnarliest conditions, our bio-resin frames showcase the strength of eco-friendly sunglasses materials. By using bio-resin instead of petroleum-based plastics, we lower our carbon emissions while maintaining frame durability.

Our bio-resin raw material process involves:

• Harvesting castor plant seeds

• Processing the seeds into castor oil 

• Creating bio-based plastic resin from castor oil 

• Crafting plastic frames from bio-based resin 

Costa’s bio-based sunglasses also feature 580 lenses for superior optics. They come in a variety of frame shapes and styles to meet your needs.

At Costa, we take eco-friendly one step further. We’ve implemented the following measures to ensure our packaging and shipping practices reflect our commitment to the environment: 

Packaging 

We use paper packaging certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). This organization sets standards for sustainable forestry practices.
By using FSC-certified materials, we’ve reduced single-use plastics across our entire brand. In just six months, we cut out one million polybags by transitioning to paper packaging.  

Shipping 

Costa offers green shipping options that reduce or offset carbon emissions. These include:  

• Full ground service – Shipping is completed entirely by ground to lower emissions. 

• Emissions compensation program – Shipping providers help offset carbon emissions by supporting environmental efforts. These include projects like reforestation and renewable energy. 

For over 40 years, Costa has been dedicated to protecting the watery world we call home. As we continue to push the boundaries of sustainability, we strive to find new ways to incorporate eco-friendly practices into everything we do.
Join us in kicking plastic, embracing sustainability and protecting what’s out there. Check out our sustainable sunglasses collections today and take part in the movement to preserve our planet.