Safilo produces first branded glasses made from Evonik's sustainable transparent polyamide TROGAMID® myCX eCO

• CO2 footprint reduced by 50%

• High quality confirmed for branded products

• Expansion of long-standing partnership

Essen/Marl. Safilo, a leading Italian global eyewear design, manufacturing, and distribution company, will be the first eyewear manufacturer to introduce TROGAMID® myCX eCO, a sustainable transparent polyamide optimized specifically for the optical industry and introduced by Evonik Industries in March, in the licensed market for premium lenses for sunglasses. The high-performance polyamide is produced partly from a bio-based monomer and entirely with renewable energy, reducing its carbon footprint by 50 percent.

"This innovative transparent polyamide will enable Safilo to increase the sustainability of its products across its broad portfolio of brands," explains Vladimiro Baldin, Chief Licensed Brand and Global Product Officer at Safilo Group. "We have been working closely with Evonik's developers for 20 years. We are pleased that for Evonik, just like for Safilo, sustainability is an integral part of the business philosophy and that the company provides us with this material as another building block on our path to sustainability." Safilo will launch eyeglass lenses made of TROGAMID® myCX eCO in January 2022 with the BOSS Spring Summer 22 collection and gradually expand its use across its broad brand portfolio, especially in its Made in Italy brands.

"It was particularly important for us to offer a premium manufacturer like Safilo a sustainable polyamide whose properties differ in nothing from those of the TROGAMID® myCX they already use," says Viviane Papa, who is responsible for Evonik’s high-performance polyamides granules and compounds business. "We are working in many areas to make our products sustainable, but their quality must not suffer in the process. Premium lenses or high-quality visors for ski and snowboard goggles made of TROGAMID® myCX eCO stand for long durability and high safety, as well as excellent wearing comfort due to the low material weight." The material offers transparency of more than 90 percent, excellent mechanical properties, stress crack resistance, and fracture strength.

TROGAMID® myCX eCO is a high-purity microcrystalline high-performance polyamide specially optimized for the optics industry. The name eCO stands for "eliminate CO2". On the one hand, this is achieved by replacing a petrochemical-based raw material with a biomass-based one. In the mass balance, this results in a proportion of 40 percent biobased raw material in the polymer. Secondly, only renewable energy is used in the production of the granules. This and the resulting halving of the carbon balance compared with the fossil-based product are confirmed by a certification from TÜV Rheinland. The analysis was prepared in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 and includes the Cradle to Gate stage.

TROGAMID® stands for a product family of transparent polyamides that have been successfully used in the optical industry for over 20 years. The portfolio includes innovative high-performance plastics for lenses and frames as well as other materials, for example for UV protection or pole films for high-contrast vision.

Visit your Evonik contacts for the optics industry at our virtual booth from June 5 to 7 at the Mido Digital Edition. There you can learn more about TROGAMID® myCX eCO in the presentation by Dr. Florian Hermes on June 7 at 1 p.m. during the Product News lectures.

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The company is active in more than 100 countries around the world and generated sales of €12.2 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €1.91 billion in 2020. Evonik goes far beyond chemistry to create innovative, profitable and sustainable solutions for customers. More than 33,000 employees work together for a common purpose: We want to improve life today and tomorrow.Asia Pacific is a strong driving force of the global economy and an important source of innovation. Consequently Evonik endeavors to further grow its business in the region. Sales reached €2.84 billion in 2020 and the company employs over 5,000 people at more than 50 production sites in Asia Pacific. In Taiwan, we now employ over 200 employees which including 1 office based in Taipei and 1 production site based in Taoyuan.

The Smart Materials division includes businesses with innovative materials that enable resource-saving solutions and replace conventional materials. They are the smart answer to the major challenges of our time: environment, energy efficiency, urbanization, mobility and health. The Smart Materials division generated sales of around €3.24 billion in 2020 with about 7,900 employees.

Established in 1934 in Italy’s Veneto region, Safilo Group is one of the eyewear industry’s principal players in the design, manufacturing and distribution of optical frames, sunglasses, sports eyewear, goggles and helmets. The Group designs and manufactures its collections by blending stylistic, technical and industrial innovation with quality and skillful craftsmanship. With an extensive global presence, Safilo’s business model enables it to monitor its entire production and distribution chain. From research and development in five prestigious design studios, located in Padua, Milan, New York, Hong Kong and Portland, to its company-owned production facilities and network of qualified manufacturing partners, Safilo Group ensures that every product offers the perfect fit and meets the highest quality standards. Reaching approximately 100,000 selected points of sale worldwide with an extensive wholly owned network of subsidiaries in 40 countries and more than 50 partners in 70 countries, Safilo’s well-established traditional wholesale distribution model, which encompasses eyecare retailers, chains, department stores, specialized retailers, boutiques, duty free shops and sporting goods stores, is complemented by Direct-to-Consumer and Internet pure player sales platforms, in line with the Group’s development strategies.

Safilo Group’s portfolio encompasses own core brands: Carrera, Polaroid, Smith, Safilo, Blenders, Privé Revaux and Seventh Street. Licensed brands include: Banana Republic, BOSS, David Beckham, Elie Saab, Fendi, Fossil, Givenchy, havaianas, HUGO, Isabel Marant, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, kate spade new york, Levi’s, Liz Claiborne, Love Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Missoni, M Missoni, Moschino, Pierre Cardin, PORTS, rag&bone, Rebecca Minkoff, Tommy Hilfiger, Tommy Jeans and Under Armour.

The parent company, Safilo Group S.p.A., is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange (“MTA”) organized and managed by Borsa Italiana (ISIN code IT0004604762, Bloomberg SFL.IM, Reuters SFLG.MI). In 2020, Safilo Group recorded net revenues for Euro 780.3 million.

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.