SUSTAINABILITY AT NOLKE OPTICIANS AND HEARING

Nolke Opticians & Hearing is increasingly aware of the role that we play in environmental stewardship and community engagement. We have made an earnest attempt and both minimising and mitigating the impacts that we have on the environment and community around us, and have established an achievable and accountable plan of action for further reducing our negative impacts. 

Our Environmental Sustainability Policy aims to:

• Implement meaningful environmental actions within our company
• Monitor improvements and track progress against measurable targets
• Communicate our initiatives openly with staff, customers, and the wider community

Sustainability in Action at Nolke Opticians

We have already introduced a range of practices to reduce our environmental impact, including:

• Following a strict Switch Off and Shut Down policy, ensuring equipment, lighting and heating are turned off when not in use
• Reusing all incoming packaging, including boxes, bubble wrap, and protective plastics
• Providing a visible recycling station for old and unused glasses, collected by the Lions Club for recycling
• Encouraging responsible disposal of contact lenses to prevent microplastic pollution
• Stocking a selection of eco-friendly spectacle frames, including biodegradable and wooden options where available
• Using pre-glazed lenses wherever possible, significantly reducing water use in our operations
• Separating waste throughout our premises, including recycling, general waste, and clinical waste
• Actively supporting local charities, hospitals, and youth sports clubs through sponsorship and donations
• Calculating our carbon footprint on an annual basis

Our Ongoing Commitments

We respect our relationship with the natural environment and are committed to continuous improvement. Our principles and commitments include:

• Monitoring and reducing electricity, water, and waste using a biannual tracking system
• Complying with all relevant environmental legislation and industry guidance
• Conserving natural resources by reducing unnecessary consumption of energy, water, and materials
• Exploring more sustainable energy sources, including renewable providers
• Expanding our range of sustainable products as supplier availability improves
• Supporting staff development through sustainability training such as SEAI’s Energy Academy
• Reviewing and updating our sustainability policy annually to reflect progress, new goals, and emerging opportunities

By embedding sustainability into the way we work, Nolke Opticians aims to make a positive contribution to our community, our customers, and the environment we all share.

How Our Customers Can Act Responsibly 

We believe that sustainability is a shared responsibility. As a valued customer, here are some simple ways you can help reduce environmental impact:

• Recycle your old glasses: Drop them into our in-store collection point for the Lions Club Recycle for Sight programme, where materials are reused or responsibly recycled.
• Dispose of contact lenses correctly: Never flush lenses down the sink or toilet. Place them in your general waste to avoid microplastics entering waterways.
• Choose sustainable products where possible: Ask about our range of biodegradable or wooden spectacle frames, designed with the environment in mind.
• Reuse your packaging: Keep and reuse the protective cases, bags, or boxes your glasses or hearing aids come in, or bring them back to us if you don’t need them.
• Bring a reusable bag: Use your own bag when collecting new glasses or hearing products to help reduce packaging waste.
• Recycle batteries responsibly: For hearing aid batteries, use local recycling drop-off points or civic amenity centres to prevent harmful materials from entering landfill.
• Switch to rechargeable options: Consider rechargeable hearing aids or accessories to cut down on disposable battery use.
• Care for your products: Clean and store glasses and hearing aids properly to extend their life and reduce the need for replacements.

By working together, we can reduce waste, protect our environment, and ensure that eye and hearing care remains sustainable for the future.