Costa Sunglasses’ Untangled Collection Honored with REI Root Award for Sustainable Innovation

Costa’s Untangled Collected was honored with the annual REI Root Award, which recognizes industry-leading sustainable product design. The award was given during the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show this past week in Denver, Colorado.

Read more in the press release below. 

Costa® Sunglasses’ Untangled Collection Honored with REI Root Award for Sustainable Innovation

Daytona Beach, Fla. – February 1, 2019 –  Costa’s Untangled Collection received the annual REI Root Award, recognizing industry-leading sustainable product design, during the Outdoor Retailer Snow Show this week in Denver.

Each year, REI celebrates sustainability by giving a brand the award, which celebrates the most responsibly designed, innovative new product sold at the co-op. Costa collaborated with Bureo to create this sustainable collection of sunglass frames made from recycled fishing nets.

“What is so innovative about this collection is that it addresses and integrates sustainability from end to end—through the whole life cycle,” said Gregory Gausewitz, manager of product sustainability at REI.

The raw material for the Untangled Collection frames, recycled fishing nets, is sourced from Bureo’s Net+Plus recycling program. The recycling program works to prevent fishing net pollution by partnering directly with fishermen in South America to collect discarded nets at their end of life and provide funds to local communities for every pound of fishing net collected. In addition, the styles in this collection use other lower-impact materials such as recycled nose and temple pads and recycled aluminum logo detail. The Untangled Collection is part of Costa’s effort to educate consumers about the importance of protecting the oceans, while also providing an option for recycling the sunglasses when they reach the end of their lifecycle.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by REI for our efforts in sustainable product design around the Untangled Collection,” said T.J. McMeniman, Vice President of Marketing for Costa Sunglasses. “Protecting our oceans and waterways is at the core of our brand mission and we take that commitment very seriously – from product design to boots-on-the-ground efforts like beach cleanups and direct partnerships with conservation organizations.”

A leader in color-enhancing sunglass lens technology, Costa has also invested in sustainable product design as part of the company’s Kick Plastic initiative – creating awareness around the single-use plastic issue and looking at internal processes to rethink and redefine how the company utilizes plastic. In addition to The Untangled Collection frames made from recycled fishing nets, Costa offers two other more environmentally responsible frame materials – a bio-resin sourced from the castor plant and a plant-based acetate (Del Mar Collection).

The REI Root Award is an industry-wide guidepost, seeking to encourage companies across the outdoor industry to place sustainability at the center of the design process.

For more information on The Untangled Collection, visit CostaSunglasses.com/UntangleOurOceans.

About Costa
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Still handcrafted in Florida, Costa has made the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its mission to provide high quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation and strong partnership with shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.

Media Contacts:
Heather Miller, (864) 607-7922, [email protected]
Carie Breunig, (414) 412-9155, [email protected]