Being green and environmentally friendly can be daunting to most of us but as we’re becoming more aware and start to make little changes it opens our eyes to what is possible for the planet. This year for World Environment Day on June 5th 2011 why not do something simple that is easy on the planet and your wallet; replace your sunglass lenses instead of buying new sunglasses.

Replace your sunglass lenses?

Not only can you buy sunglasses at many online sunglasses stores you can also buy replacement lenses online. It’s easy with the internet today where there are many online sunglasses stores to choose from. But if you have your favorite pair of sunglasses that are in good shape why not turn them into looking like they’re brand new by buying a new set of lenses.

Sunglasses and recycling?

Everyone can play a part in restoring the planet by recycling just a little more. We all have one or two pairs of sunglasses and if we tossed away a pair a year into landfill that’s a huge environmental waste that takes hundreds of years to break down.

Standards Australia estimates that 20 million pairs of sunglasses are purchased every year in Australia Alone. This is enough sunglasses to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground or the San Francisco AT&T stadium almost a 1/2 metre deep.* globally the figure most likely exceeds 1 billion pairs of sunglasses annually.

Before you throw away your sunglasses consider the following for the planet:

1. Replacing the lenses to bring your sunglasses back to life. You’ll be surprised at how great an old pair of sunglasses look and perform with new lenses. Search for replacement lenses online to buy a good quality set of lenses.

2. If you don’t like your old sunglasses because they’re no longer in fashion or no longer fit your face send them to the Lions Recycle for Sight programme. For more information click here: http://www.lionsclubs.org.au/recycle-for-sight.

"Lions distribute sunglasses, not only for adults, but primarily so that whenever our regraded spectacles are distributed in a school or village in remotest Africa or Asia, every child, whether they need prescription glasses or not receives a gift from the Lions of Australia. No child misses out." *Lions Recycle for Sight Australia

3. Donate them to the Fred Hollows Foundation who also distribute and recycle sunglasses and prescription glasses to third world countries providing eye safety for those in need. For more information click here: http://www.hollows.org.au.

It’s easy to be green by upgrading your sunglasses with new lenses or recycling your old sunglasses. Replacing your lenses can be a fraction of the cost of buying new sunglasses so it’s also a fantastic way to save money to spend on other recycling ideas such as refitting energy efficient light bulbs in your house or installing solar panels.

Learning about simple solutions to the age old issue of scratched or damaged lenses or unwanted sunglasses adds to your ‘being green’ knowledge and helps you feel good about taking another step towards resorting our wonderful planet.