Can Recycled Vinyl Records Help Reduce Waste?

In the market for glasses made from recycled materials, old vinyl records have overtaken a good position. Recycling and repurposing them to make something stylish and fashionable like eyeglasses is definitely a sustainable movement. But do these recycled vinyl records do anything to reduce environmental waste? Let's find out today in this blog.

The environmental impact of vinyl records

As vinyl records are made up of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a durable plastic (that stays in the environment for longer), they are highly resistant to degradation. In simple terms, when people throw away old records that are not in use anymore, they do not degrade. Instead, being plastics, they are a hazard to the environment. They stay in the same position for hundreds of years once thrown away. And because they survive in nature for longer periods, it is a concern of waste. As long as these old records stay in landfills, they are a serious problem contributing to plastic pollution.

In addition to creating pollution towards the environment, these old records are produced from a process that is highly energy intensive. Not only this, but its production process also involves the release of harmful chemicals. You might have heard of dioxins. These are released during the production of vinyl plastic which is harmful to both humans and wildlife. So as long as these are going to stay in the environment (either lying at homes or in landfills), they can create problems for everyone.

Vinyl Recycling: A solution for waste production

As one cannot destroy vinyl records once created (because they are not biodegradable), it is a smart step by the eyewear fashion industry to make eyeglasses made from recycled materials like these old records. This way, although reduction does not come hand-in-hand, at least the recycling process can provide something functional for everyone in addition to reducing waste as well.

Below we are going to discuss how the process of making eyeglasses from recycled vinyl records helps reduce waste in the environment:

Diverting waste from landfills

Every time an old record is used to make glasses, one item is reduced from the huge amount of waste present in the landfills. So, the process of making eyeglasses from old vinyl records prevents the load of non-biodegradable waste in landfills. But why are we calling it nonbiodegradable? Because PVC (being a form of plastic) takes centuries to decompose and hence can be a threat to the environment.

Reducing demand for new materials

If the industry of vinyl glasses sustains, there are two possibilities to get the raw material. Either the brands might have to produce new vinyl or they can use the already existing products such as old vinyl records. So by getting into the process of vinyl recycling, the demand for new materials (virgin plastic and other resources) which are energy consuming and release carbon dioxide, depleting natural resources, gets reduced.

Minimizing chemical pollution

Whether it is about producing PVC vinyl or disposing of it, the processes are not without the release of toxic pollutants. By getting into the process of making eco friendly eyeglasses, it is for sure that chemical pollution will be minimized up to a larger extent as production and disposal processes will not occur at a large scale. Because there is use of recycled vinyl in the process of making eco-friendly sunglasses, chemical pollution comes to a lower level.

Inspiring a shift in consumer behavior

As many consumers are becoming eco-conscious today, sustainability has become a part of people's lives. These glasses made from recycled materials are a perfect way to spread awareness among society about the positives of using these glasses. It's a perfect way to inspire a shift in consumer behavior in the eyewear fashion market from traditional spectacles to eco-friendly eyewear.

Supporting a circular economy

The circular economy has a simple concept that every industry on this planet uses materials to make their durable products, stay as long as possible, minimize waste, and if they are in favor of sustainability, it is the best part. By introducing recycled vinyl glasses, the environmentally conscious eyewear brands are supporting the global circular economy as well because there is no loophole in the whole process. Once existing vinyl is reused and recycled again and again to create something fashionable.

Promoting sustainable innovation in the fashion industry

For many years, the fashion industries were behind in supporting the global mission of sustainability. But as the eyewear fashion industry has taken a step ahead in the form of eco-friendly glasses, they are also promoting sustainable innovation for their customers.

Conclusion

Overall, yes, recycled vinyl records, when converted into eyewear, help reduce waste in the environment by not letting old records stay in landfills for longer. In addition to this, they also make sure that fewer chemicals go into the environment that can create chemical pollution. Also, the glasses made from recycled materials like recycled vinyl records are in favor of human life as well.