Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. developed a new technology that chemically recycles shavings and waste lenses generated from the production and processing of MR™ ophthalmic lens materials so that they may be repurposed into MR™ ophthalmic lens materials. The company has launched efforts toward the practical implementation of this technology.
Ophthalmic lenses go through various processes on their way to becoming final products, including lens moulding by the lens manufacturer, prescription processing, surfacing, edging, and fitting into frames at retail stores. Currently most of the lens swarf and waste lenses generated throughout these processes are simply discarded.
Mitsui Chemicals aims to recover the lens swarf and waste lenses to subject them to chemical recycling utilizing the company’s new technology. The technology allows the materials to then be reused for MR™ ophthalmic lens materials while maintaining the highest quality standards.
This requires high levels of transparency, strength and more. Mitsui Chemicals aims to achieve a circular economy by building a business model that spans the entire ophthalmic lens value chain.
As manufacturer of ophthalmic lens materials, Mitsui Chemicals provides lens manufacturers worldwide with the highest quality products.
The products offer high weather resistance, a variety of refractive indices and more, including the MR™ series of high-refractive-index lens materials. The brand is committed to technology and offers coating materials that help improve the lifespan and performance of ophthalmic lenses through our subsidiaries.
The company is also working to make an environmental impact with its range of eco-friendly products, including Do Green™, a plant-derived ophthalmic lens material.
As per the press release, Mitsui Chemicals intends to continue providing the world with high-added-value sustainable products, as well as sustaining product development efforts that leverage the concept of Quality of View (QoV) in pursuit of better vision, from vision correction to broader eye health.
