Adding MyDay® Lenses Boosts Trailblazing Initiative that has Already
Prevented Equivalent of Over 22 Million Plastic Bottles from Entering the Oceans
Richmond Hill, ON, April 22, 2022—CooperVision has announced that its full portfolio of silicone hydrogel 1-day contact lenses1 is now net plastic neutral2 through credits we purchase from Plastic Bank1 in Canada, expanding the company’s leadership in sustainability and increasing the environmental impact of this trailblazing initiative. The MyDay® daily disposable family now joins the clariti® 1 day family, which was the first net plastic neutral2 contact lens in Canada3. In the year since the venture began, the U.S. effort has already prevented the equivalent of more than 22 million plastic bottles from reaching the world’s oceans. Globally, the initiative’s impact has grown to a total of nearly 28 million plastic bottles7.
CooperVision’s net plastic neutral initiative is made possible through a partnership with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that builds ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain. For every box of clariti® 1 day or MyDay® distributed in Canada, CooperVision contributes to the collection, processing, and reuse of general plastic waste that is equal to the weight of the plastic contained in the lenses and packaging.1 Over the last year, thousands of eye care professionals and their patients have already contributed to the cause, simply by prescribing and wearing clariti® 1 day.
“Many current and prospective contact lens wearers are invested in improving the environment, and they make conscious purchasing decisions based on those values,” said Michele Andrews, OD, Vice President, Professional & Government Affairs, Americas, CooperVision. “By expanding the CooperVision net plastic neutral initiative to include two full families of silicone hydrogel 1-day lenses, we’re providing eye care professionals and their patients more options—and greater opportunity—to make a difference.”
In a 2021 survey 95% of Canadian contact lens wearers say being plastic neutral has a positive impact on their interest in trying a daily disposable lens.4 Similarly, 89% of Canadian contact lens wearers agree that having a sustainable, daily disposable contact lens would make them feel better about using daily disposable contact lenses.5
Over the last several years, CooperVision has continuously deepened its commitment to sustainability. In addition to pioneering the net plastic neutral concept for the contact lens sector, the company has developed best-in-class manufacturing processes resulting in award-winning conservation efforts in Puerto Rico and prestigious sustainability certifications in Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Spain, and the United Kingdom. On average, more than 95% of the materials in CooperVision’s production process are recycled.6 And as part of the company’s effort to use renewable resources, all of its operations in New York and Mountpark, U.K. are powered by renewable energy.
“While net plastic neutrality is an unprecedented commitment in our industry, it is only one part of our holistic effort. We’ve built a strong foundation to make an impact today, while working on longer-term innovations to create even bigger change tomorrow,” said Brian Filan, Director of Marketing, Canada, CooperVision.
For more information about the CooperVision net plastic neutral initiative and its commitment to sustainability, visit one-day-better.ca
# # #
1 clariti® 1 day / MyDay® daily disposable] is defined as orders and includes [clariti® 1 day sphere, clariti® 1 day toric, and clariti® 1 day multifocal/ MyDay® daily disposable, MyDay® daily disposable toric, MyDay® daily disposable multifocal product sold and distributed by CooperVision in Canada. 2. Net plastic neutrality is established by purchasing credits from Plastic Bank. A credit represents the collection and conversion of one kilogram of plastic that may reach or be destined for waterways globally. CooperVision purchases credits equal to the weight of plastic in clariti® 1 day / MyDay® daily disposable orders in a specified time period. clariti® 1 day / MyDay® daily disposable plastic is determined by the weight of plastic in the blister, the lens, and the secondary package, including laminates, adhesives, and auxiliary inputs (e.g. ink). 3. CVI Data on file, 2022 4. CVI data on file 2021. Decision Analyst online survey with 1-day soft CL wearers in Canada, n=300. 5.CVI data on file 2020. Decision Analyst online survey with 1-day soft CL wearers in Canada, n=300. Top 2 box on 5- point scale. Post Concept Review 6 As of Q1 FY 2018. Data subject to change. 7 CVI data on file, 2022 for a complete list of participating brands by country. Total bottles as derived through Plastic Bank's impact dashboard through as of 12/31/2021.
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit www.coopervision.com.
About CooperCompanies
CooperCompanies ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE:COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., Cooper has a workforce of more than 12,000 with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.
Media Contact
Heather Kowalczyk, APR
McDougall Communications for CooperVision, Inc.
heather@mcdougallpr.com or +1-585-434-2148