- Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE Recycling Program has collected more than 690,000 pounds (approximately 114 million units) of used contact lens, eye care and lens care materials in the U.S.
- The program continues to grow year-over-year, driven by the collective efforts of eye care practices, patients and consumers
- For every qualifying shipment of 10+ pounds, a donation is made to Optometry Giving Sight – supporting global efforts to reduce preventable blindness
Bausch + Lomb Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BLCO), a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, today 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.
About the ONE by ONE Recycling Program
The ONE by ONE Recycling Program is Bausch + Lomb’s exclusive U.S. initiative that collects certain used contact lens, eye care and lens care materials. Accepted items include used contact lenses, blister packs, top foils, contact lens cases, small contact lens solution bottles and caps, single-dose eye drop vials, Bausch + Lomb-branded eye drop bottles and LUMIFY® Preservative Free plastic trays and paperboard sleeves. Consumers can bring their used materials to participating eye care practices, which collect them in custom recycling bins provided by Bausch + Lomb. Once full, the bins are shipped to TerraCycle®, where the materials are recycled and repurposed into new products. To learn more, visit www.bauschrecycles.com.
About the Every Contact Counts Program
The Every Contact Counts Recycling Program is an exclusive initiative from Bausch + Lomb in Canada that collects used contact lenses, blister packs and top foils from consumers, patients and eye care professionals. By targeting these small, often overlooked items, the program helps ensure they are properly recycled and repurposed. To learn more, visit www.bausch.ca/every-contact-counts.
About Bausch + Lomb
Our mission is simple – we help people see better to live better, all over the world. For nearly two centuries we’ve evolved with the changing needs of patients and customers, and our commitment to innovation and improving the standard of care in eye health has never been stronger. From contact lenses to prescription products, over-the-counter options, surgical devices and more, we’re turning bold ideas into better outcomes through passion, perseverance and purpose. Learn more at www.bausch.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Contacts
Media Contact:
Kristy Marks
kristy.marks@bausch.com
(908) 927-0683
