VAUGHAN, Ontario — Bausch + Lomb Corp. announced its one-of-a-kind ONE by ONE Recycling program, created in collaboration with international recycling leader TerraCycle, has collected a total of 691,180 pounds, or 114,037,136 units, of used contact lens, eye care and lens care materials in the United States – the equivalent of more than 2.2 million baseballs.
“Each America Recycles Day, we celebrate the collective efforts of eye care professionals, patients and consumers who are helping to properly discard and keep these materials out of the environment,” said Amy Butler, vice president, Global Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Bausch + Lomb. “Thanks to their commitment, the ONE by ONE Recycling program keeps growing and making a more meaningful impact every year.”
Due to their small size and the type of plastic, these materials aren’t accepted in local recycling facilities and may inadvertently end up in landfills or waterways. Considered forgotten waste streams, these materials are often overlooked given how commonplace they are today. In the U.S., it is estimated that six to 10 metric tons of contact lenses end up in wastewater each year, which can pollute aquatic environments and eventually impact the human food supply. The ONE by ONE Recycling program helps ensure these materials are properly recycled and do not end up in our environment.
“It’s reassuring to know that the everyday eye health materials we use – from contact lenses to lens cases – are being properly recycled through the ONE by ONE Recycling Program,” said Kriti Bhagat, OD, FAAO. “For my patients and practice, it’s a simple but powerful way we can help make a difference.”
For every qualifying shipment of 10 pounds or more from a registered ONE by ONE Recycling Program practice, a $1 per pound donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight – a global initiative dedicated to preventing blindness and vision impairment.
In addition to the ONE by ONE Recycling program, Bausch + Lomb established the Every Contact Counts program in Canada, which has collected more than 70,000 pounds (5.2 million units) of used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils since launching in 2019.
Bausch + Lomb is committed to implementing, maintaining and enhancing sustainable business practices that support patients, customers, consumers, employees and communities around the world. Its impact initiatives are measured against several key environmental metrics called “FEWW” – fuel, energy, water and waste. Each Bausch + Lomb facility has annualized goals against these metrics to harness new opportunities and evolve in a sustainable way as the company delivers on its mission of helping people see better to live better.
Visit www.bausch.com/impact for more information.
